After much consideration, you've finally decided it's time to have a new furry friend in the family. You've researched dog breeds to find the one that fits your lifestyle and you have found a serious and responsible breeder who has a new litter. Now you just have to choose the right dog among the various siblings, the last step to bring your new friend home. Keep in mind that there is no foolproof test for finding the perfect puppy, instead focus on finding the right one for you and your family.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Observe the Litter
Step 1. Purchase the puppy from a breeder instead of a pet store
You may be tempted to pick one you've seen in a pet shop window, but it could be risky; in most cases these puppies are kept in individual glass cages and you do not have the opportunity to see how they interact with other siblings, thus making it more difficult to assess their personality and attitude.
- These little dogs are often weaned too early and as a result never have a chance to learn to interact like their mother or other siblings. A puppy that is weaned at five or six weeks and is taken to a pet store has not been taught by its mother or by a reputable breeder; without this guidance there is a good chance he will engage in fearful or aggressive behavior, rather than become man's best friend.
- You should also know that most of the time the puppies sold in pet shops are born in "lager-breeding" (adult specimens remain in cages for life!) And kept in terrible conditions; you should never buy these puppies if you want to put an end to such horrible practices.
Step 2. Visit a breeder to see the litter immediately after birth
You shouldn't get your little dog when half of the siblings have already been sold; usually, the best ones are sold first, so you should go to the retailer immediately after the babies are born. The breeder may not want to show you the pooches until they are 7-8 weeks old, but it's best to be among the first visitors.
- Get a friend you trust or family member who has the most practical sense to accompany you, who can help you evaluate the best puppy for you, as this is an important decision.
- Maintain contact with the breeder even before puppies are born; should let you know how the mother is doing, how she behaves and when the birth is due.
Step 3. Don't buy your new friend from the first litter
Ask the breeder how many births the mother has already had. The ideal would be to take a puppy of the third litter always generated with the same "father"; this should ensure that the mother has already given birth to healthy creatures with the same male specimen.
The mother plays a fundamental role in the health and personality of the puppies; if she is weak, she is likely to give birth to equally sickly puppies, although the father may be strong. It is therefore important to spend time with the parturient before the puppies are born and to talk to the breeder to know their health status
Step 4. Review the puppy's health with the breeder
A responsible and serious professional should be familiar with the condition and behavior of their puppies, as well as be sure of the mother's well-being; it should also allow you to interact with both (mother and babies) when you visit.
- If you are looking for a qualified, reliable breeder and spend time at his kennel, you should be able to create a good relationship with him, so you can rely on him and get help to find the right puppy for you; he observes the litter as it grows and knows which creature has a dominant or restless behavior and which one is more timid or problematic.
- While visiting the kennel you shouldn't be afraid to ask his opinion about the puppies; However, be sure to check them yourself, to confirm their personality and health.
Part 2 of 3: Observe the Puppy Behavior and Attitude
Step 1. Observe the entire litter
Pay attention to how the puppies interact with each other; even if you want an active and playful one, you must avoid the one with a dominant temperament with your siblings or the one that is too shy.
- Make sure they are friendly, curious and confident towards other puppies and their surroundings. They should crowd around your feet, pull on your shoelaces, climb onto your lap and hang around you; they might even start playing with you and / or playing with each other.
- If there are four puppies and three run off barking at you suspiciously, you may not find the right one; the fourth, even if not aggressive or frightened, may be too shy. Shyness and distrust could be genetic characteristics that lead him to engage in antisocial behavior once he becomes an adult.
- Don't let the breeder mock shy puppies or puppies with aggressive personalities. If it seems to you that the creature has this nature, it could mean that the breeder has not done his job well; his job is to socialize creatures, so that they feel comfortable with people.
- Do not choose the largest or smallest specimen; instead, you should look at the number of puppies in the litter - generally speaking, the greater the number, the healthier they are.
Step 2. Identify the puppy personality type that's right for you
Consider the traits you are looking for in your new friend: Are you and your family interested in a compliant little dog or a more independent one? Discuss the creatures' various personalities with the breeder. You may encounter several, such as:
- The bully: At first, he may seem very sociable and active with others, but be careful if he steals their toys or interacts abruptly. He may also try to climb the cage or climb onto the siblings' backs; these are signs that indicate determination, intelligence and desire for supremacy, but this personality is not suitable for home life. You should spend a lot of time managing and caring for this specimen; therefore, if you already have many other commitments during your free time or are subject to a lot of stress, this puppy is not suitable for you or your family.
- The rebel: this puppy thinks fast, is fun and engaging; he can be playful and very energetic like the bully, but he is more sensitive and less aggressive; is a dog with a strong personality without being stubborn, so it could be an excellent playmate for an active owner or a family with older children.
- The independent: this puppy is interactive and playful, but he is also fine when he simply remains crouched or entertains himself with a toy; it represents a good playmate in a balanced and quiet family, preferably with owners who are already adults and without children.
- The one eager to please: it may seem like an obvious choice; after all, who doesn't want a lively, eager puppy? However, this specimen needs a direct and determined owner; with this personality type a lot of training and reinforcement is required, but with good teaching and discipline this puppy is able to show full cooperation. Makes a great playmate for a family.
- The relaxed puppy: it may seem the less intelligent personality than its siblings, but it is able to develop a good balance between the moments of play, interaction and sleep; it is perfect for relaxed and compliant owners. Choose this type of puppy if his personality matches that expected for his breed and you are looking for a new member to place in a family with young children.
- The shy: this specimen was not born with great self-confidence; he may then crawl on his stomach or arch his back as a sign of total submission as he approaches you. You may be moved by this tender and shy nature, but remember that this type of puppy needs a lot of time and patience to build up their self-esteem and feel comfortable with others. This dog is more suited to singles who have more time for training and attention than families with children.
- Keep in mind that race can greatly affect traits and personality type; examine these characteristics with the breeder to get a clearer idea of how the breed can determine its character aspects.
Step 3. Observe the individual puppies in the litter
Focus on someone who is not too energetic but not too shy. Even if you have a certain personality in mind, more often than not it is best to get a puppy that is not too bossy or too submissive; look for a specimen that has a good disposition, a well-balanced character and that does not bark or bite. You need to find a self-confident specimen that confidently approaches you and family members with pricked ears and tail wagging in excitement.
Don't think about "healing" a shy puppy. If this trait has deep genetic roots, the shy little dog will become a shy adult and it can be difficult to live with a dog that has such a personality, as it may even attack you if it feels uncomfortable or surprised
Step 4. Interact with the puppies individually
Once you have limited the field to a few specimens you like, ask the breeder if you can spend a few moments with each of them.
- Take one arm, hug it and cuddle it. If he reacts by moaning and wriggling, that's not a good sign; if he is shy or unwilling to be picked up, he may have behavioral problems. However, if he tends to react and fight a little at first, but then quickly gets used to it and looks at you, that's a positive indicator.
- Touch his paws, mouth and ears to gauge his reaction. if it has already been handled from an early age, it has no problem letting you touch it in the same areas.
- Sit or kneel on the ground and call to bring him closer; snap your fingers or tap them on the floor to get their attention. If he approaches quickly, it means he has a strong bond with people.
- If he's distracted and doesn't come to you right away, he may have an independent personality; if he doesn't come close at all, he may have a hard time bonding with people.
Part 3 of 3: Examine the Pup's Physical Health
Step 1. Look closely at the physique of all specimens
They should be chubby, not fat but not skinny either; even naturally slender dogs, such as the Greyhound and Whippet, are a bit rounded as puppies until they reach four months of age.
Step 2. Pay attention to the eyes, ears, gums, teeth and back
A healthy puppy should have clear, bright eyes, with no scabs or secretions; he should also have clean ears, gums and teeth.
- The fur should be shiny and shiny, with no dirt or residue marks on the body or around the butt.
- You shouldn't notice any traces of pus or feces around the genital area.
Step 3. Perform an auditory and visual test
Once you've narrowed the search down to a couple of specimens, you can run two tests on both to check their hearing and visual abilities.
- For the hearing test, clap your hands behind the puppy's head to make sure he reacts or stamp your feet behind his body or move a nearby set of keys. Keep in mind that it is difficult to distinguish a deaf puppy among many other puppies; you should therefore do this test when the animal is alone or away from siblings.
- To perform the vision test, throw a ball into his field of vision and see if he reacts by approaching and playing.
Step 4. Observe the creature's gait and breathing
When healthy, breathe calmly, without coughing or sneezing too much; you should also not see any crust or discharge around the nostrils.
It is important to check if he walks and runs normally without showing any signs of pain, stiffness and without tripping. Make sure he doesn't have any hip or joint ailments that could develop into something worse once he reaches adulthood
Step 5. Examine mandibular control
Let the puppy take your hands in his mouth; when he tries to give you a more intense clamp, you react by exclaiming "Ouch!" out loud and see how she reacts. If he is excited, the test may need to be retested; see if he notices your expression of pain and if he shows fear or worry instead of excitement.
- Don't worry too much if he realizes your reaction, stops biting for a moment and then goes back to "chewing" your fingers; this is completely normal behavior at this age.
- Puppies who react appropriately to people and dogs who experience pain are more likely to develop good jaw control in adulthood; this means that your furry friend can play wrestling with another dog without causing injury, as well as showing caution and delicacy when grabbing food from people's hands or playing with them.
- A puppy that reacts to your pain tends to be even more obedient to you as its owner.
Step 6. Take him to the vet a few days after welcoming him into your home
Bring a copy of the register of vaccinations and deworming treatments, as well as any other notes concerning your state of health; the breeder should provide you with all this data before buying the puppy.
Consult your vet about the care and attention you should give your new friend
Step 7. Plan to keep the puppy indoors, excluding veterinary visits, until he is 12-16 weeks old
Puppies take up the antibodies through their mother's milk, but as they grow up, an "immune vacuum" is created until they start getting vaccinated. You must therefore ensure that the creature remains healthy and reduce the risk of it contracting diseases by limiting its outings to vet visits only until it reaches 16 weeks of age.
Advice
- Taking the puppy from the litter is only the first step on your journey as an owner; the next is to take care of them properly. Talk to the breeder about the responsibilities that come with your role and do some research to find helpful tips and tricks. Stay in touch with your vet and don't be afraid to ask any questions you think are appropriate about the care your pet needs.
- Be sure to check how the puppy interacts with all of your family members and not just one member.
- The breeder should tell you the brand of food he is feeding the puppies on to make it easier for you to transition to the new diet in your home.
