Jackie when we were looking for Bella we also used the internet. I corresponded with several breeders, via e-mail, some as far away as Virginia. I even kept in touch with one of the breeders that I found in Delaware. The breeder who we finally got Bella from also ships puppies out of state. I don't think it's possible to really know a prospective owner from either meeting them in person or meeting them online. Sometimes what you see isn't what you get as far as the people who will be adopting. I do feel, though, that when someone is going to be spending hundreds of dollars for a pedigreed dog from a breeder they are most likely going to be serious buyers. I even found a breeder, actually very close by, who wanted to come and do an inspection of my home to see if I would qualify for one of her dogs. I thought this was a little bit way over the top! She also doesn't sell her dogs to families where there is no one home during the day. You must be a stay-at-home mom to buy one of her little ones. I am really not faulting her, because I know she has her pups' best interests at heart but I found it a little unusual. Hopefully the large majority of breeders out there are respectable and love their breed and feel they are helping to produce happy, healthy pups for people who also love that particular breed and will care for and love them as much as they do.