Selecting Your Puppy
I’ve searched for a good reference to share with our puppy families that might assist with their selections, most were ridiculous – in my opinion. Some of these generalizations need to be clarified by defining age appropriate reactions to new situations. At five weeks – our selection age, puppies can be a little fearful of new situations and lots of loud unfamiliar noises. That same puppy at eight weeks wont demonstrate any signs of fear because it’s matured and has naturally become more confident in his world. I define a fearful puppy as one that balks when I’m picking the puppies up – and I’m happy to point out any personality traits you may or may not be looking for.
1 Assess your needs. You should ask yourself the following questions: What sort of dog behavior is appropriate for my family? Are we an active family with bold personalities? Do we want a bold puppy who will become a bold dog? Or do we prefer a gentle, submissive dog? Will the dog be spending a lot of time alone during the day? Do you need a dog that you can take to various social functions? Decide what personality would fit best with your family. These are questions you should take into consideration before choosing a puppy.
2 Identify the puppy personalities. When you greet the litter, do so calmly. Do not deliberately attract their attention. Instead, wait to see how each puppy responds to your presence. When a puppy runs up and playfully jumps without fear, you can be sure they are a ‘bold’ puppy. Bold puppies are engaging, playful, and social. Some puppies will only approach after others have sniffed you out to make sure you are okay. These puppies are generally more submissive followers in the pack. They will likely lie down, or roll on their back, offering their stomach for you to pet. These are all gestures of submission in a litter or pack. Submissive puppies can be just as playful as bold puppies, however, they are generally first interested in establishing a friendship. Other puppies will not approach you at all. Some may even scurry away from you or cry when you attempt to reach them. These are possibly fearful puppies. ** My observation is that a “fearful” puppy at five weeks is typically a submissive puppy at eight weeks.
4 Observe which puppies hold back. These are the submissive puppies. The slow approach to play and interaction may give the impression that a puppy is lazy or unfriendly. This is not true. Puppies know that there is an important social structure they must respect. Submissive puppies interact slowly in an effort to respect your position in the social structure. The fact that the puppy approaches you at all, or at least doesn’t run when approached, is a good sign that it is interested in socializing. Submissive puppies are generally easy to train. They walk well on a leash and will conform to the rules of their environment more easily than ‘bold’ puppies. They are often cuddle-bugs who enjoy physical affirmation of the bond they share with family members. They do well in various social settings because of their intuitive respect for hierarchy. They may briefly struggle to establish dominance over children, but resume their submissive attitude once the hierarchy has been established. These are the puppies a family with a special needs child wants.
5 Watch for signs of fear. Don’t choose a fearful puppy unless you have a lot of experience raising dogs. While all puppies may experience some fear, a ‘fearful’ puppy takes it to the extreme. These puppies may run or hide when in the presence of unfamiliar persons. However, fearful dogs can be extremely loyal companions. Once they grow comfortable within a family, they may assume a more dominant personality. While your fearful dog may be quite comfortable with family members, her fears often return when faced with unfamiliar people or environments. If the puppy will be at home all day alone, avoid fearful puppies – they thrive with the love and attention of their family but don’t benefit from daily extended periods of isolation.