I think it pretty much comes down to "you get what you pay for" although the phrase "buyer beware" comes to mind also.
Personally, if I did not have a dog that was the best I could possibly get, I would not be at all happy with it, and would rather not have one at all. This attitude has left me breeding my own dogs and only keeping the pick of the litters for myself, for generations.
Not sure if that is a high horse, but if it is, I am comfy on it.
My thought is that people should get a dog that suits their every desire. If you have low expectations, then you will be satisfied with less. This has always worked out for me, as a person just looking for a pet will usually not pick the better conformation dogs and goes by color or personality, leaving the genetically superior pups for the more decerning buyer down the road.
In a perfect world, ALL BREEDERS would be responsibly breeding genetically clean stock, and giving iron clad guarantees as to the future health of the dog. In a perfect world, gene pools could be manipulated beyond that of merely increasing the odds in your favor by good breeding of sound stock, and bad genes would be detectable, and dogs possessing them would be eliminated from the gene pool.
Just in case we live in the real world, puppy buyers need to educate themselves, and buy responsibly, giving themselves the best possible chance at getting a healthy puppy.
Other than that, pray...I personally consider even pups of the best linage, a shooting match for genetic perfection. A lot of getting a healthy dog is just luck. The rest is research...

Well, you would make a fine dog breeder and educator, Katz, go for it...
Me, I'm tired of talking to fools...

I understand what Kitty's saying. It's not that someone who is strictly a pet owner doesn't deserve a good dog, it's just that why would they want to pay for a show quality dog that they are not going to show or breed, just so that it can play frisbee with them and go on walks and snuggle on the couch? Only thing I can think of is bragging rights, maybe? My dog with his "splayed toes," (a conformation fault) catches a ball and goes for walks with me just as well as a show quality dog would, so the only reason I (as a non-shower and NEVER breeder) would go to a breeder is if I just had way too much money and didn't know what to do with it. I pick a dog based on temperament and it's always nice if I find its appearance to be pleasant too. Now personally, I could care less if someone who wants a pet wants to get it from a breeder as long as it is not a byb. I cannot understand why they would, though.

I think the main problem here is that people don't know a thing about Chows. They have a lot of health and temperment issues. Finding a GOOD Chow Chow breeder is almost next to impossble it seems. Finding a pure bred Chow at a shelter? Yet to see one. Most of the time Chows fail the tests that a shelter would give. Not anyone can go out a buy a Chow bring it home and act like it's a Lab. They are a VERY protective breed, I would NEVER jump into a back yard with a Chow. It's hard to discribe the Chow breed sometimes.

I think that a lot of the comments made to Katz are uncalled for. Everyone has their reasons and I fully understand her's, knowing the breed. Getting a poorly bred Chow can be a danger to her family.

NO shiny it's was to what you said.

Chows usually do fail temperment tests. They are a very reserved breed, and a one family dog. Re-homing a Chow is very hard. I have looked threw the Chow rescuse here in the South and it's usually Chow mix's. The pure bred Chows that they do have usually have to go to one dog families with no children and no cats.  Poorly bred Chows have temperment problems, they aren't like "normal" dogs and can be raised different. Chows normaly do not mix well with children of course there are Chows that live happiely with them. My hubby had 2 Chows and 2 children.

As far as my comments, I am always talking about Labradors when I write.
My favorite dog is the Doberman, but I could never fathom their thoughts, and know little about the breed, so I stick to Labs.
I also know nothing about Chows, except that a vet has told me they are considered the most likely dog to bite, by vets [neato]. I like Martha's dogs but who knows how much expensive training went to make them that way. A dog that is a perfect angel with one owner could be a virtual hellion to another.
I think education is very important. I also realise I am not going to save the entire world on my own, so I stick to communicating with people that are more receptive and let knotheads go to the next teacher for their lessons. You may say I am not a patient person, other than that, some people just give me a headache. When you have bred and sold dogs for 30 years, you will know what I mean. The nice thing is for every 10 boneheads that I have to redirect to another breeder [oh, yes, I call the breeders for them, and find the kind of dog they want, exactly...at my own time and expense, with rarely a thank-you back], or talk out of getting a dog that they are getting for the wrong, although often well meaning reasons, etc. etc....there is that one person that really is who I am looking for, that exclaims when they see the dog that they have always wanted one just like it, that they have a name, toys, crate, containment and trainer all waiting for the dog [invariably, I prefer wealthy owners- but that is not part of my screening process] the dog is to be kept in the house, which they own, and they spend lots of spare time taking the dog for car rides, and loving them....they are not 1st time dog buyers, although that is ok, if they sound ready for a Lab [if they don't pass muster there, they won't be wasting our time puppy shopping at my house] their previous Labrador [or other large breed dog] died of old age... That one person makes talking to all the fools worth it.
I educate people along the way, but I hold out on selling just anyone a puppy. My grandma[ in her 90's] in a shrill annoyed voice, said"why don't you just sell the dogs to anyone that wants one and get your money? Why do you DO all that?" My calm reply was," because I CAN, Grandma, because they ARE MINE until I choose to sell them, and I want them to have a rich and happy life with someone that will cherish them and provide their every need, and truely appreciate what they are buying from me...the product of countless generations of intelligent, sound dogs that provide their owners with what they have been bred for for 100 years".

Oh and Katz, all my pups have correct temperament, with a couple rare exceptions that I did not sell, but kept into young adulthood and gave away, fully trained, to their lifetime owners that remain thrilled with them to this day [they were shy, err, but are quite out going, now] You need to not confuse choosing a dog for personality, for having a correct temperament. I only assume most breeds have both personality and temperament, Labradors are usually judged for temperament, but a judge can be swayed by a sunny personality as well