25/07/2021
How to pick the right pup?
by Arindam Ghosh
For most people chances for picking a pup from a litter doesn't arise too frequently.
Therefore opportunities for learning how to pick the right pup from a litter comes fewest times in life for general mass. A person who doesn't have much experience in this area, may pick a pup instantly and may end up making a mess, while for me I would take more time in choosing a pup than I would probably take to choose a jeans or a pair of shoes for myself!
I would suggest knowing the breed first. If you are picking a Shi Tzu pup or an Irish Wolf Hound you got to know the particular breed in and out - starting from the breeds typical anatomic built and psychological parameters to the impactful genetics and lines related to the particular breed. And it requires a more time than you may think of understanding a breed in depth.
Is there a way? Yes certainly! Talk to the breed people, reputable breeders (not those puppy millers out there, who call themselves breeder), get in touch with experienced guys in the dog world, pay your visit to conferences and events... etc.
The first step to get a good (physically & psychologically healthy) pup is to find the right breeder (not a puppy miller again). Ask him about his breeding program and reasons for selecting the specific breeding partners that he/she chose for the current breeding. It's always good to visit the kennel.
"Observation is the key". Once you drop by the kennel, observe minutely, where the puppies are born, take a note of the cleanliness/ hygiene of the kennel. In an unclean kennel, the dam cannot be in good health, and so won't be the pups. If you are convinced, request the breeder to set all pups free together. Please note... The time should be at least 1-2 hours before or after the pups feeding time.
Do a kind of Campbell Test on Puppy Personality! And as you are a Stanger to the pups, it's easy to carry on such a test! The 5 most important stages of Campbell Puppy Personality Test are (i) Social attraction, (ii) Social domination, (iii) Facility to follow, (iv) Response to obligation and (v) Acceptance to be lifted. And all of these are simply based on observation - No Rocket Science involved! Ask the breeder to release all pups and let them play all by their own. Take time and observe the puppies minutely! Observe how they act, move and play. This will give you a lot of untold information about them.
Watch them carefully, and you can notice the dominant member of the litter. The weaker and shy ones won't readily approach you; the smarters will! The shy and the weaker member of the litter will move away to a corner of the room. I would still not pick the one that will approach me. I will still see if the pup is approaching in fear and/or confusion or is he approaching me (stranger) with his tail carried normally and wagging! This is the Social Attraction Phase
Next is Social Domination test that would help understand the temperament of a puppy and to evaluate to what extent a pup is naturally socialized by birth. Strike it softly. Is he still approaching you (stranger)? Is he trying to grab your finger for chewing or licking and start playing? I would probably reject the one that would move away.
Next Facility to Follow test, in which you should put the puppy behind yourself and walk slowly. Observes how efficiently the puppy follows you. Is the pup following you at all? Or has he stayed back? Or is he moving around according to his will and decided not following you? If he follows you, then notice if he is following close or maintaining a distance! If he is following close, notice if he is biting the your heel or shoes. A puppy with a strong personality trait will follow you close and will try to nip your heels/shoes with confidence.
Response to obligation test will help you assess how efficiently and confidently the pup handles stress when put to obligatory situations. Put the pup on his back softly, holding down on to the surface, and place the palm flat on his chest. Observed how intensely he is protesting & trying to get back to his normal position. A pup with a weak character will instantly and intensely try to get rid of the situation. A pup with a strong character will enjoy it and try to lick you. I would certainly pick a a pup with a strong character.
Acceptance to be Lifted is the final phase that will reveal a a lot about the temperament and personality. Lifting the puppy from the back (so that he can't see you) by placing the hand flat beneath its chest. If he is feeling disturbed and lack of confidence and trying to bite, then he is not the right pup for me. I would love bringing a pup home that is enjoys the lift with confidence.
Note: Pups with "Extreme Test Results" are not advisable to be picked. Extreme Results - too dominant and too submissive are both bad. while too submissive/shy puppy will grow to be a possible biter and will be difficult to manage. Too dominant pup will also grow to be a challenging dog and will demand super experienced handlers/ family.
Apart from the character diagnosis, I would also request you to check for the pup's health. A healthy pup should not have a running eyes and nose. Should be a proper bone density. Movement should not be sluggish and loose. Good coat quality is an indicator of a strong internal health. Check out the pedigree line and do a deep research on the parents' lines, their characters, traits, and possible genetic contribution to the offspring.
If you are serious about owning a dog you can be proud of, he should be a well-bred and balanced (physical + psychological) specimen.
Personality Test for Puppy How to test a puppy’s personality has always been an important question usually asked by many dog lovers. Jus...
