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Hi everyone, I have what is probably a really stupid question...how do you know that the pure-bred maltese--or any other dog-- you are buying is the real deal? We are getting our first puppy in November from a very reputable breeder. She shows and is listed with the AMA, and has come highly recommended from a couple of friends. I trust that her dogs are who they say they are. But I have another friend who just bought a havanese. To my untrained eye, this dog does not look like a pure-bred havanese. It looks more like a shih-tzu/maltese cross. It's as cute as can be, but my friend bought the pup from a breeder who said the pup was from Ireland (where his parents are located). She got him at 11 weeks. She paid $1200 for the dog. I have another friend who has a pure-bred havanese and that dog looks like a havanese to me. It is all white (I know there are variations allowed) and doesn't have a "pushed-in" kind of face. She paid $3000 for the dog from a good breeder. I know this is a long lead in, but do breeders often provide genetic (DNA) proof that their dogs are pure-bred? Or are there any other ways to tell?