How To Choose A Puppy From A Litter
When you go to view a litter of puppies, it can be very tempting to go for the cutest, the smallest or some people prefer the largest but you need to remember that just as each person is different, so are dogs. You need to find the puppy that will fit in with your home and family life, and not just pick a random puppy because you wanted ‘a black and white one’.
You should never choose a puppy at less than 6 weeks, and in an ideal world, you should wait as late as possible so that their personalities have developed as much as they can. It can be difficult to wait when the puppies are selling like hot cakes and most breeders let them leave around the age of eight weeks.
Many breeders and authors say that it is impossible to just a dog’s ability or personality from a puppy and it is true that the adult dog will have learnt more from its owners and surrounding than it did from the mother. However, I think that from a pet point of view, there are some indications from the behaviour in the litter that you can use to make your decision.
There is a story, whether it is true or not I don’t know, that the senior resident trainer from Queen Elizabeth’s kennel was once asked how he always seemed to pick the puppies that would be future winners and champions and field and obedience. Queen Elizabeth’s kennel is renowned for its champions. Apparently, the old gentleman merely smiled and said that he let everyone choose the puppies they liked and then he just worked with what was left. Up to ten weeks of age, he believed they were all equal and capable with the right upbringing and training.
Most people want a dog that is trainable, will do little damage in the home and adapt well to its new surroundings. A breeder should be happy for you to spend a little time with the litter and to observe them. Usually, whilst playing, you can spot the puppies that have nice, outgoing personalities, neither behaving too dominantly or too submissively. Friendly puppies will usually run to your feet, particularly once you have sat or crouched down and no longer seem so overbearing.
When you pick up the puppy, support them well and they won’t normally struggle to get away. Does the puppy seem to like people? Well socialized puppies should be used to being handled and shouldn’t be overly frightened of noise or sudden movement, merely curious about new experiences.
Remember that what you see is just one particular day so remember that the dog will be affected greatly by its new environment and surroundings and the more time that you can spend with him or her, the more chance he will grow into the dog that you want. You can’t just choose a well socialized puppy and expect him to continue to be well socialized and grow up how you want without your guidance. The breeder only starts the process, the rest is up to you to continue. Choosing the right puppy from a good breeder simply means you have an easier start.
It’s important for a puppy to spend time with people and the breeder should ensure that the puppies get to play with young children or be handled by different adults. If they haven’t got enough time, then where possible you should visit your puppy a few times between the ages of six and eight weeks old.
No matter how early you choose the puppy and naturally you want to take him home as soon as possible, a reputable breeder should keep the puppy until around eight weeks, as recommended by the Kennel Club, the Dog Lovers Reg Club and other animal authorities. The breeder should be more concerned for the welfare of the dog than with getting rid of the extra time they have to spend cleaning up after the whole litter.
Up until between seven and eight weeks of age the puppies are still learning from the mother dog and also from their siblings. Spending time with their littermates gives them confidence and they aren’t alone when they encounter new experiences or noise, such as the vacuum cleaner, sounds of the street outside or exploring a new room in the house.
Until the day comes when you can take your puppy home, you’ve got plenty to do and over the new few days I’ll be publishing a checklist of what you need.
Feb 09, 2008 | 0 | Buying A Dog
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