this is not should I get a puppy - I grew up with dogs, so did dh, we've been planning this for months, looking into what breed, we know what we're letting ourselves in for, etc etc.
it's a more nuanced question - I went to see a litter yesterday - all lovely, happy things, they'd been brought up outside (which suprised me a bit) they had lots of space - which was all clean - but have to confess I didn;t see inside their shed. they were well-socialised - including not batting an eyelid at the chickens, geese and cats! mum was lovely - came to say hello and then left us alone - gentle and happy with the pups. mum and dad had had all the right checks for inherited stuff. KC registered etc. the place was a bit, well, not quite me - a slightly tatty at the edges small-holding / living the dream probably pretty close to self-sufficent idyll (depending on your outlook)but why that should be relevant I have no idea!
but I have this odd thing - there was only one dog left and I didn;t fall in love with him! his coat was a bit dull, I'm annoyed with myself for not looking inside their shed to see if it was nice in there, and, oh I don't know - there's not a lot I can put my finger on. dh thinks I'm being completely precious coz he wasn;t quite as gorgeous as the others. maybe I am... he pointed out that I didn;t fall in love instantly with dd2! (who I am now utterly besotted with...). he thinks it's horrible to reject a dog on account of not being quite the right colour/ not quite as shiney. but, on the other hand, coat can be an indicator of health. oh help. what should I do? dd's will be heart broken and dh annoyed if I insist in looking for another...