Spending the next ten years or so with another being is a big decision so lets get it right. You have decided on the perfect breed or opted for a cross breed/mongrel, where do we go from here?  This is your quick guide to picking the perfect puppy for you.

It is one of the most exciting times for you and your family; I know there is nothing better than seeing a litter of puppies and being head over heels with that special little pup that shows you it loves you by jumping all over you and licking at your face, but how do you know how to pick your perfect canine companion. The most important thing to remember is to avoid puppy farms and mills.

Before Picking a Puppy.

• See the breeder on multiple visits.
• Puppies should be around 7-10 weeks before being homed
• Always insist on seeing mum, preferably dad as well
• Spend time with the parents; it is very likely your dog will carry many of their characteristics, both behaviourally and physically.
• Are all of the dogs (parents and puppies) in good health?
• Do they appear happy and relaxed?
• Don’t take the kids with you on the first visit its easy to get carried away
• Is the breeder pushy or do they make you feel pressured into taking a puppy immediately? This is a red flag!
• Take somebody that is objective, they can let you know how they feel about the place without being overwhelmed by the excitement of getting a puppy.

When Picking Your Puppy

• Spend at least an hour familiarizing yourself with the whole litter ( a good breeder won’t mind )
• Avoid the pup that runs up to you immediately or barks at you, these pups tend to have a lot of confidence or are acting out of anxiety either way this can be overbearing in the home. Great if you have a strict regime but if there are times of inconsistency they can become trouble makers.
• Avoid the quiet puppy sat alone in the corner, they may be under confident which can lead to fear related problems.
• The ideal puppy for most inexperienced owners is the puppy that greets you without jumping all over you (don’t worry you will be eventually licked to death once it gets to know you)
• Pick up some toys, see how the dog interacts. Do you want a dog that is keen to play? Throwing the toy could be an indicator of its chase drive. Highly toy motivated dogs may be worth avoiding if you have young children due to chasing and rough housing.
• Don’t panic if the puppies mouth you – they all do it and you can sort that out by reading
• Drop something like some keys nearby – do the puppies look and appear inquisitive or ignore the noise, these are good signs. Puppies that growl/bark/wince or hide may not be the best choice
• Once you have a puppy you like ask to spend some time alone with him/her. You can then repeat the toy and key test to see the reactions of the pup alone. These are likely to be more pronounced here so don’t panic, they just don’t have their brothers and sisters to back them up. If the responses are not at either extreme this is a sound puppy.
• Calling the puppy over is a good way to gauge how interactive they are but please remember you are a perfect stranger to them.

Just remember … dogs can change dramatically as they grow up as their hormones kick in and their worlds are shaped by you and the environment but this guide will get you off to a good start!