Instructions
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 breed. They are also relevant when choosing a puppy.
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 at your legs 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 at your feet, 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 fearful puppies. Fearful puppies may require extensive exposure to new individuals before they are willing to interact. Some fearful puppies may even panic when approached by a stranger and resort to biting or hiding.
Look for the puppy that comes right to you. This would be a bold puppy. You may be charmed by the puppy that runs up demands your attention. However, this is more about the puppy than it is about you. Puppies with little or no stranger fear are generally the alphas or leaders of the pack. You can count on their bold and vibrant personality continuing into adulthood. This can be good or bad, depending upon your needs. Bold dogs are generally more independent and less needing of attention than their submissive counterparts. Once trained, they can feel comfortable on their own for hours at a time and may even keep other family pets in line with the rules. They are also very active and make great hiking, swimming, sporting partners. They have a wonderful way of influencing the house by asserting their positive energy.
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.
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. They may also cry or give unfriendly nips when approached. However, fearful dogs can be extremely loyal companions. Once they grow comfortable within a family, they may assume a more dominant personality. They can be great protectors of their families. But they become fearful dogs. Fearful dogs often display intolerable social behavior. While your fearful dog may be quite comfortable with family members, her fears often return when faced with unfamiliar people or environments. Fearful dogs can be unfriendly barkers. They may also be biters. Unless you are an experienced dog handler, avoid fearful puppies.
How to Find Your Pick of the Litter Puppy
Once you have done your homework and decided on the breed of dog that is best for you, it's time to choose the right puppy from the litter. "Pick of the litter" is a phrase that means the breeder of the litter has awarded the courtesy of choosing the first dog from the litter to a prospective puppy buyer. Simply put, if you have pick of the litter, you are the first one allowed to see the litter and choose the puppy you want. There are certain qualities one looks for in a dog that are evident even in a puppy.