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So you have decided you want a puppy? You have done all your homework to decide the breed you want and you know you have the finances, time and energy to take care of it. Next step is to find a breeder and purchase a puppy.

Be warned…purchasing a puppy from a breeder can be fraught with risks. As in any business there are those breeders who are genuine, who care for their animals and whose reputation is important to them and others, often known as backyard breeders, who are only interested in making a fast buck. It is now up to you to find a honest and reliable breeder.

Do some research before contacting any breeders. Contact the kennel club of the breeds you are interested in and request a list of their breeders. The Internet can also be a good source to find and research breeding kennels. Ask friends who have dogs of that breed where they purchased them from and if they are happy with their chosen dog.

Shows are another place where you can meet breeders and see their animals, both in a show environment and in kennels before and after the show. Just remember this is a busy time for the breeder and they may not have a lot of time to chat. Get their details, observe their animals and contact them at a less busy time.

Visit the breeders facilities before even choosing a puppy to see how the animals are cared for. Do not buy the first puppy you see. A good breeder will want to ensure you are a suitable owner just as much as you want to ensure they breed quality animals. Look for clean facilities with healthy, clean dogs that are free of parasites. The dogs should behave in a manner you would wish your future dog to behave e.g., if the majority dogs appear to be timid and afraid it is a safe bet any pups will be of a similar disposition.

Ask the breeder questions…

- How long have they been breeding dogs?
- What is the pedigree of the animal you are considering purchasing.
- Are both parents at the kennel?
- Are there veterinary certificates available for both parents and offspring?
- What screening has been done for any common health issues for the particular breed?
- What guarantee will they offer if the pup proves to have any major health issues within a short time of purchase?

The breeder should also ask you questions like…

- Do you have a house/yard suitable for the animal?
- Do you have the time to care for it?
- Are you fully aware of what is required to care for the animal?
- Will the dog be a pet or for breeding/showing?
- Do you have children and their ages?

Breeders are well within their rights to refuse to sell a pup to anyone they consider not suitable as an owner of their dogs.

A sales agreement should be signed by both parties outlining the obligations of both purchaser and seller.

The breeder will possibly offer advice on feeding, grooming, health care and equipment you may need as well as a schedule for all necessary immunizations.

A reputable breeder will also ensure you do not take your puppy home too early to ensure it gets early socialization with its siblings. A puppy removed from its litter too early may fear other dogs for the rest of its life. While six weeks is the time many puppies are taken to new homes, many breeders prefer to retain the pup until they are around nine weeks old.

Once you have collected your puppy keep in touch with the breeder as they will be a fountain of knowledge for you regarding your new dog and often like to keep track of their animals.

If you do all your homework and purchase from a reputable breeder you will have a dog that will be a wonderful part of your family for the next 12 to 15 years. Enjoy…

Student credit cards annually bombard freshman as they enter college. It has become a fall ritual. Parents should be vigilant in discussing the importance and responsibilities that go along with having a credit card before the students ever leave home. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a great idea that students have their own credit card when they go away to school, but it is extremely important that they get the right card and use it wisely.

The best student credit cards are the ones that have low spending limits. A high limit credit card given to a college student could be a recipe for disaster. It should be made clear to the students that their credit card is for emergency use only, unless they want to get a job and pay for any of the charges that are made on it. That sounds like a good idea, but probably isn’t very realistic.

When finding the best student credit cards, it is imperative to seek out the lowest interest rates that you can find. This is really obvious, but nonetheless needs to be stated. Many credit card companies will offer 0% teaser rates for the first six months. Beware of these rates because they’re often followed by exorbitantly high interest rates and then you are stuck. It is most certainly not uncommon for students to carry balances for more than six months, so I suggest that you avoid this option.

Just about all student credit cards offer some type of incentives such as rewards points or cash back incentives. This is done for obvious reasons. The most common of which is to entice the cardholder into using it more often. Overall it is a pretty good deal to receive rewards for credit card charges as long as you bear in mind that this is not free money. Whether you realize it or not, you have already paid for those points.

Managing your account online is a great feature for students. For starters, just about every student has access to the Internet and can easily access their credit card statements. The second great reason for this is that the parents can also monitor the activity on the card even if they are thousands of miles away. This kind of accountability for impressionable young students is an excellent way to keep them from getting themselves into trouble. It also keeps the parents from getting stuck paying their kids huge credit card bills.

For a student credit card it is important that they have a lost or stolen card feature that guarantees protection against unauthorized activity. Lets face it, sometimes kids are not as responsible as we might like them to be. Having this protection goes a long way in easing the parent’s mind when they hand their student a credit card.

Camping for most people means a tent and sleeping on a mat on the ground. If that doesn’t really appeal to you, then camping in an RV is what you need. It is the ultimate camping adventure.

RV’s come in many sizes and shapes. They start with campers that fit in the back of a pickup truck. These can have full kitchens, beds, a shower and toilet in them.

Next there are van conversions called Class B motorhomes that are basically a cargo van converted into a camping vehicle. These can have a raised roof for more head room. They also contain the same amenities as the truck camper.

Next up is the Class C motorhome. The front end looks like a pickup truck, but the similarity ends there. There is a sleeper extension over the cab and the back end looks like any motorhome you are probably familiar with. Basically a cargo box with windows, but much prettier. The Class C has all the amenities of home. A kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room. You could live in a Class C.

The next step us is the Class A motorhome. This is roomiest of all motorized RVs. These motorhomes are like a mini one bedroom apartment. They are fully self contained. From the queen sized bed to the dinette that seats four people you find luxury. A refrigerator and stove are complimented by a microwave oven. You might even have an ice maker capable of making over 20 pounds of ice a day. Party ready!

If that weren’t enough choices, there are still the trailers. First is the travel trailer you can pull behind a larger sedan or SUV. Then the 5th wheel trailer that hooks into the back of a pickup truck. Both of these trailers are equally as luxuriant as the best motorhome. An advantage is they cost a lot less.

You can buy new or used. Whichever way you choose, you should do a lot of research on the internet first. Learn all you can about RVing. There are RV forums that you can find by doing a search in your favorite search engine.

When you decide that an RV might be for you, attend an RV show or two. There are major RV shows at fairgrounds and stadiums where many dealers and vendors are selling every type of RV there is. There are also local RV shows usually put on by one or two dealers to show and sell some of their inventory.

If you really are not sure you would like to spend $40,000 or $250,000 on a hobby you are not sure you would like, buy a used RV. You can get into RVing in a 34 foot used Class A motorhome for under $10,000.

The older and larger the motorhome the less fuel efficient it will be. You may get 5 to 7 miles per gallon on many older motorhomes. 7-9 mpg is realistic for mid 1990’s motorhomes and up to 12 miles a gallon on new ones.

Camping in an RV is a fun adventure awaiting you and your family.