CHOOSING A PUPPY

What To Look Out For

Although a lot can be accomplished with training, it is very advantageous to choose a puppy carefully in a couple of areas where genetics matter the most.

These are:
1) Outgoingness/sociability with strangers. If this isn’t present in the basic personality make-up of the puppy, it can be very hard to compensate even with heroic socialisation. So evaluate puppies with this in mind. Puppies who are clearly shy or who don’t immediately approach to greet you wagging and wiggling are suspect. A puppy who isn’t friendly and outgoing is at greatly increased risk to be fearful or aggressive to unfamiliar people once an adult. Information about sociability can also be ascertained by the behaviour of the parents of the puppy. If the litter is still with its mother, check whether she approaches readily to make contact when you enter the area where the litter is.

2) Enjoyment of body handling. Dogs have to undergo all manner of procedures, including grooming, veterinary exams, vaccinations, being picked up in the case of small dogs, and, of course, patted and handled by the family. This can be greatly improved with training (especially early training!) but one can get a head-start by selecting a puppy who likes it from the start. To gauge this, pick up the puppy and handle them all over. Do their muscles seem slack and relaxed or are they stiff and struggling to get away? The more relaxed and loose the puppy the better.
Other things to be mindful of when choosing a puppy are:

Are the premises clean?
Are the puppies clean?
Is fresh water always available? Sometimes in an attempt to have less of a cleaning chore (and so less urine), unscrupulous sellers of puppies restrict water. This is extremely bad for the health of the puppies.
If the puppies are really young (six weeks or less), are they together in their litter and with their mother, or separate? It is much, much better for young puppies to be with their siblings and mother until at least seven weeks. It can not only be traumatic to be taken out of their litter too soon, but valuable socialisation to other dogs can be compromised.
Have the puppies been vaccinated?
Are they free of fleas?
Are their eyes and noses clear of discharge?

Often, people say a puppy chooses you but choose wisely.... all puppies are cute but having the right temperament genetically built in is the best you can hope for