For many of us, when we decide it is finally time to bring a puppy into the family, we lose all sense of reason. We see the adorable faces staring up at us longingly and we end up going home with the pup with the biggest, saddest eyes. Or maybe it was the pup with the most outgoing personality that caught your eye or maybe you felt sorry for the reserved pup that stayed to themselves. No matter what it was that attracted you to that pup, a little forethought might have saved you some headaches down the road.

 

Selecting a Puppy

 

Too often, we use our heart when selecting a puppy instead of our brains. We all do it; it is nearly impossible to resist a litter of pups unless you have done some homework. Studying what breed is best for you and your family, interviewing breeders so you know everything you need to know about their breeding program, and then what it is you want from your new pup so when selecting a puppy from the litter, you are using your head instead of your heart.

 

Picking a Breed

 

Picking what breed of dog best suites you, your family and your interests is a vital step in selecting a puppy. The first thing to look at is what energy level will best mesh with your lifestyle.

 

Are you an active person who spends your weekends hiking, canoeing, hunting, or camping? Or maybe you are an avid runner and would like a four-legged running companion? Maybe you work from home and although you are able to take your new pup for a walk twice a day, you need a mellower dog that is content to relax and entertain itself for most of the workday. Maybe you are retired and spend your days traveling in your RV and you would like a dog that is content to be your co-pilot.

 

Whatever your activity level is, select a breed that matches or compliments your energy levels. If you lead an inactive lifestyle, selecting a high-energy puppy thinking that it will make you be more active is a mistake. Any breed of dog will get you out for a walk twice a day but a high-energy dog needs far more then a walk around the block. Be realistic when assessing your lifestyle and deciding how much time you have available in your day to properly exercise your dog.

 

 

The next consideration when selecting a puppy is what size they are going to be when fully grown. Many people think small dogs need less space and exercise but that is not always the case. Many of the large and giant breeds require far less space or exercise then a fifteen-pound Jack Russell terrier so deciding on a small dog for an apartment might be a mistake. Do you have a small house but a giant backyard? Picking a breed that is comfortable spending a few hours outside every day balances out the problem of a small house and the same fits in reverse. There are breeds that are content to live a calm life inside the house and thrive on only two walks a day.

 

Size is also a factor in  grooming  and handling, as well as the associated cost of feeding and vet fees. A large or giant sized dog takes a lot longer to bath, brush and dry and manhandling, say, an injured big dog is far more difficult then small to medium sized breed. Large breeds generally eat more food, significantly more during the first few years and many veterinarian fees are based on weight – surgery costs, dental costs, medication, even euthanasia and cremation.

 

The amount of grooming required is another consideration. Longhaired dogs and dogs with a thick undercoat may look pretty but they also require significantly more grooming time. If brushing your dog is not your idea of a great way to spend an hour every day bonding then you may want to consider a shorthaired dog or a breed with a ‘wash and wear’ coat such as an Australian shepherd or Labrador retriever.

 

Lifespan and overall health is something many people do not think about when selecting a dog breed. Life spans range from eight years to twenty depending on the breed and ask anyone who has had a dog die at eight, from natural causes or not, it is far too young to lose your best friend. Also, if training the dog for a certain purpose such as search and rescue, hearing ear dog, assistance dog or anything that requires up to two years of training before certification, choosing a breed known for long, healthy lives only makes sense.

 

The overall health of the breed is a difficult one to assess without a background in animal health but a little research could save you a ton of heartache. There are many breeds plagued with health problems and knowing what you are getting yourself into is paramount to enjoying your new puppy. Bulldogs, for example, are the wonderful and friendly clowns of the canine world but with their popularity came a cornucopia of health problems as the fanciers desired a more extreme looking dog. The more extreme a breed becomes, the more problems are interlaced with the dogs. Trying to swing the pendulum back, breeding the health back into the breed is an uphill battle.

 

Selecting a breed of puppy is a major decision not to be taken lightly. Libraries have wonderful breed reference and once you narrow down your choices to a few, visit a dog show, spend time on breed forums on the internet and interview owners about their dogs. Each breed has their own quirks and advantages, matching these to your lifestyle will save you a ton of future headaches and heartaches.

 

Choosing a Breeder

 

Choosing a breeder is as important to selecting a puppy as choosing the right breed. A good breeder, the breeder you want for your puppy, does it for the love of the breed and always puts what is best for the breed and their individual breeding program before any other consideration.

 

Good breeders do to not make money off their pups; the money from the sale of the puppies is reinvested in genetic health testing, education, obedience classes, entries for confirmation shows, top quality food, and  vet bills .

 

Good breeders also only breed one or two different breeds of dogs, not whatever breed is popular or sells for the most amount of money.

 

Lastly, good breeders on have a litter when the majority of the pups are already spoken for so instead of advertising the litter, they collect a waiting list of potential homes. This means that once the breeder approves you as a potential puppy home, you may have a wait of several weeks or months before your puppy is even born. Breeders use this to screen puppy homes; if someone is not willing to wait for a pup then they may be buying the pup as a spur of the moment and not thinking through the decision.

 

When approaching a breeder, realize that they are interviewing you just as much as you are interviewing them. They will ask you about your doggy background, why you want this breed, who have you spoken to about the breed, where did you get their name and what are you intending to do with the pup i.e. is it for you, do you have a family, are you going to train it, do you have a fenced yard, etc.

 

The breeder should provide pedigrees and genetic testing results from both parents and some will even provide the information on grand and great grandparents of the litter. Most often the bitch or mother of the litter is available for viewing but breeders often use studs from other kennels or even other countries if necessary. Make sure to meet the bitch and assess her  temperament . She should look and act like how the breed is described in various breed books meaning if you are looking at getting a Labrador retriever puppy, does the mother look like a Lab and is she friendly and out going? If she is barring her teeth at you or hiding in a corner, her temperament is not matching the breed standard and you do not want to buy one of her puppies. However, you would expect a certain amount of aloofness and distrust from a German Shepherd as they are a protective breed who bonds to their family and do not have much interest in being friendly with strangers.

 

Picking your Puppy from the Litter

 

Obviously, there has to be a bond between you and a puppy but the best person to pick a puppy for you is the breeder. They know their puppies better then anyone and they should have asked the important questions to assess correctly what it is you want in a pup. Matching the puppies to the appropriate puppy homes is part of breeding process and if the breeder truly has the interest of each individual puppy at heart, they will work diligently to make the best ‘fit’ possible amongst the homes they have lined up.

 

 

Selecting a puppy is part of the fun and excitement of bringing a new family member into your home. Take your time, listen to the professionals and do your research; you will be blessed with a long and rewarding relationship with your four-legged best friend!