After much deliberation, you've finally decided that it's time to add a new furry member to your family. You've researched dog breeds to find out what breed fits your lifestyle, and you've located a reputable breeder with a large collection of dogs. Now you need to choose the right pup from the pack, the final step of finding a dog for you. Keep in mind that there is no perfect “test dog” to choose from from that set of dogs. Instead, focus on finding the right dog for you and your family.
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Part 1 of 3: Visiting the Dog Breeder
Step 1. Try to buy a dog from a breeder, not from a pet store
While it may be tempting to buy a puppy from a pet store, buying a dog this way can be risky. Most dogs in pet stores are solitary dogs in small glass cages. So you don't get a chance to see how the dog interacts with his friends. This will make it difficult for you to assess the dog's personality and demeanor.
- Most dogs in pet stores have been weaned too soon, so they never have a chance to learn how to behave from their mothers or from their friends. Puppies that are weaned from five or six weeks of age and taken to a pet store will not receive guidance from their mother or from a reputable breeder. Without this guide, there's a high chance that these puppies will become creepy and aggressive instead of being human's best friend.
- It's also worth noting that most puppies sold in pet stores are born from factory dogs (the mother lives in a crate for the rest of her life!) and is in poor condition. Don't buy the puppy if you want to end this cruel practice.
Step 2. Arrange a time to come with the breeder right after the puppy has just been born
You don't want to pick a puppy from a batch of puppies that are already half sold. The best puppies are usually sold first, so try to arrange a visit with the breeder right after the mother has just given birth. While the breeder probably won't allow you to come before the pup is 7-8 weeks old, it's best if you go early.
- Bring your most practical family member with you or go with a trusted friend. It helps if you get someone to rate your dog with you, as this is a tough life decision.
- Before the puppy is born, keep in touch with the breeder. The breeder should keep you updated so you know how the mother is doing and when the mother will give birth to the chicks.
Step 3. Don't buy a puppy from the first litter of a dog
Ask the breeder which group of mother dogs. Ideally, you want to buy puppies from a breed of three female dogs from the same father. This will ensure that the mother has previously produced healthy puppies with the same male dog.
The mother of the puppy will have a great influence on the health and personality of the puppy. A female dog who is not good will produce weak children, even though the father is strong. So it's important to spend time with the mother of the pup before the puppies are born and talk to the breeder about the health of the mother dog
Step 4. Discuss with the breeder the health of the dog herd
A good breeder will know about the general health and behavior of his pack of dogs. Breeders should be confident in the health of their female dogs. The breeder should also allow you to interact with the mother dog and puppies when you come to visit.
- If you are looking for a reputable breeder and you have spent some time on the premises, you should now have a good relationship with that breeder. So you can count on him to narrow down your choices from his pack of dogs. The breeder has seen how his puppies are developing, so he will know which puppies are dominant or more difficult to handle, and which puppies are shy or mischievous.
- On your visit, don't be afraid to ask the breeder what the breeder has to say about the dog herd. However, make sure you also check the puppies themselves to ensure their health and personality.
Part 2 of 3: Checking the Puppy's Behavior and Attitude
Step 1. Observe the entire set of puppies
Watch how the pack of puppies interact with one another. You want an active, playful puppy, you also want to avoid a puppy who is dominant in the pack or shy in the pack.
- Make sure the puppies are friendly, curious, and trusting with the pack as well as with you. They should be around your feet, pulling on your shoelaces, crawling onto your lap, and looking at you. They may start playing with you and/or start wrestling with each other.
- If there are four puppies and three of them run away or bark suspiciously at you, you probably won't find the right puppy in this puppies. A fourth puppy, while not aggressive or scary, may be shy. Shyness and distrust may be in the dog's genes, and this can lead to an antisocial personality when the puppy becomes an adult dog.
- Don't let the breeder ignore the puppies' shy or aggressive personalities. If the puppies appear too aggressive or too shy, this may be a sign that the breeder is not doing a good job of raising the puppies. Breeders should socialize with their puppies so that the puppies feel comfortable around other people.
- Avoid buying the largest or the smallest puppies in the pack. Instead, look at the size of where they congregate – in general, the more puppies there are, the healthier the puppies will be.
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You need to identify what type of dog personality is right for you. Consider the type of personality you are looking for in your new dog. Are you and your family interested in a puppy who always wants to be pampered or a puppy who is more independent? Discuss the personality types at the dog farm with the breeder. There are several personality types for puppies, including:
Pick a Puppy from a Litter Step 6 - Bullies: Bullying puppies may seem very social and interactive at first. However, see if he steals other puppy toys or likes to play rough. He may also try to climb the cage or try to climb on the backs of his friends. These are signs of determination, intelligence, and willpower. However, this bully's personality may not match your home lifestyle. You will need to have plenty of time to challenge and take care of this puppy. So if you have other demands on your time or you're already experiencing too much stress in your home life, this type of bullying puppy may not be right for you or your family.
- Rebellious Type: This type of puppy is quick-thinking, cheerful, affectionate and captivating. This type of puppy may be playful and active like a bullying puppy, but more sensitive and less aggressive. This rebellious type puppy will be charming and not stubborn. So, this type of puppy will suit the owner of an active dog or in a family where the puppies are old enough.
- Independent Thinker Type: This type of puppy is interactive and playful, but likes to sit or play alone or with toys. This type of puppy is suitable for stable and quiet home conditions, possibly with an elderly owner or no children.
- The Pampered Type: the pampered puppy may be obvious from the start. At the end of the day, who doesn't want a passionate and happy puppy? However, you need to be a controlling and assertive owner for this type of puppy. With good practice and discipline, these pampered puppies can show full cooperation. These puppies are great companions for the family.
- Relaxed Type: Puppies with this personality type may not be as smart as their siblings, but they can balance play, interact and get enough sleep. This type of puppy is also very suitable for easy-going owners. Look for an easygoing puppy if his personality matches his breed and you want to complement the home environment with young children.
- Shy Type: puppies of this shy type, are not born with strong self-confidence. So this puppy may crawl on his stomach towards you or arch his back in resignation. You may be attracted by the sweet and shy nature of this type of puppy. However, a shy puppy will take a lot of time and patience to develop his confidence and become comfortable around other people. This type of puppy is more suitable for single owners who have plenty of time to train and care for this puppy, not with owners who are married and have children.
- Keep in mind that the breed of the dog will have an effect on his character and personality type. Discuss the puppy's personality with the breeder so you can better understand how the breed of the dog relates to his personality.
Step 2. Watch each individual puppy in the pack
Focus on finding a puppy who is not too active, but not too shy either. Even if you've thought about what type of personality you want in a puppy, most families will prefer a puppy who is not very lead or submissive. Look for puppies who have an intermediate personality between leading and submissive who don't growl or bite. You want a confident puppy who walks up to you and your family with ears up and tail wagging excitedly.
Don't try to convince yourself that you can change a shy dog. If the puppy's gene is shy, then he will continue to be a shy dog into adulthood. A shy adult dog may be difficult to live with and may bite you if he feels startled or uncomfortable
Step 3. Interact with the puppies, one at a time
Once you've narrowed down your search to a few puppies you like, ask the breeder if you can interact with the puppies individually.
- Pick up each puppy, cuddle it and rock it. If his reaction is to scream and sway, then that's not a good sign. You may have a problem with your puppy screaming or being embarrassed when picked up. However, if the puppy is a little difficult to pick up at first, but quickly gets comfortable and starts looking your way, that's a good sign.
- Touch the puppies on their paws, mouth, and ears to gauge their reaction. A puppy who has been well cared for from a young age will allow you to touch these areas.
- Sit or kneel on the floor and call the puppies to come over to you. Snap your fingers or pat the floor to get the puppy's attention. If he approaches you quickly, the puppy has a strong bond with humans.
- If the puppy is distracted and doesn't come straight to you, it may be that it has an independent personality. If he doesn't approach you at all, he may struggle to form bonds with humans.
Part 3 of 3: Checking the Puppy's Physical Health
Step 1. Perform a visual inspection of each puppy
The puppies should look nice and round, not fat, and certainly not skinny. Even skinny breeds like Greyhounds and Whippets will look round until they are four months old.
Step 2. Examine the puppy's eyes, ears, gums, teeth, and hindquarters
A healthy puppy should have clean, bright eyes without any scale or debris. The puppy should also have clean ears, gums, and teeth.
- Puppies should have light fur and no dirt or debris on their bodies or around their backs.
- There should be no pus or discharge around the genitals.
Step 3. Perform a hearing and vision test
When you've narrowed your search to a puppy or two, do two tests on the puppies to make sure they have good hearing and eyesight.
- To run the hearing test, clap your hands on the back of the puppy's head to make sure he reacts or not. Or stomp your feet behind him or drop your keys near him. Keep in mind that it's hard to tell if a dog has a hearing loss in the midst of a group of other dogs. So try to do this test when the puppy is alone or away from the pack.
- To run the vision test, roll the ball within the puppy's field of view and see if he reacts by going over and playing with the ball.
Step 4. Check how the puppy is breathing and walking
A healthy puppy will breathe calmly, without frequent coughing or sneezing. There should be no crust or dirt in the puppy's nostrils.
It is also important to check that the puppy is walking and running normally without appearing limp, stiff, or sick. This will ensure that the puppy does not have any hip or joint problems that could develop into something worse as the dog matures
Step 5. Test how the puppy controls his jaw
Do this by letting the puppy bite your hand. When the puppy starts biting hard, you need to say "Ouch!" in a high tone. Then, watch the puppy's reaction. If the puppy is happy, you may need to repeat this test. Notice if the puppy's responses and reactions are fear or worry, not pleasure.
- Don't worry too much if the puppy notices your reaction, stops biting for a while, then starts biting your finger again. This is a normal reaction from a puppy.
- Puppies who react appropriately to people and dogs that show pain are more likely to develop into adults who can control their jaws well. Good jaw control means your dog can play fights with other dogs without causing injury. This also makes them softer when taking food out of people's hands or when playing with people.
- Puppies who react to pain will be more obedient to you as their owner.
Step 6. Take your new puppy to the vet after a few days of bringing him into your home
Bring along photocopies of vaccination and deworming prevention records, as well as other medication records for puppies. The breeder should provide you with these records before you buy a puppy.
Ask your veterinarian about how to care for and care for your puppy
Step 7. Plan to keep your puppy at home, except for quick doctor visits, until he is 12 – 16 weeks old
Puppies get immunity to disease from their mother, but as the puppy develops, there is a gap in immunity until he gets all these shots and vaccinations. So keep your puppy healthy by limiting short visits to the vet until he is 16 weeks old.
