SELECTING THE RIGHT PUPPY FOR YOU

I found this test in a Dog book; I can't recall which one.  I added my own comments that don't necessarily reflect those of the author.  My intension is to help people who want a family pet, not a show or work dog, to find the right dog for them.  Too often people pick a puppy because it's CUTE and don't think about personality until it's too late. ALL puppies need homes, but someone with little experience or patience should be steered away from certain pups. People with experience and knowlege of dogs may want the very pups I steer these people away from for obvious reasons.

My definition of the trait names I use:

Dominance is not good in a family dog - unless you're looking for a guard dog and have a lot of experience training dogs. This means the dog wants to be the boss. I tried to find a breed of dog that is protective by nature, but submissive. While it's not impossible, it isn't usual.  A dog is either the boss or you are. ANY DOG CAN BE A GOOD WATCHDOG.  If he LOVES you  he will protect you.  You don't have to get an agressive dog to feel safe.  My lab is SO friendly, but when threatened, she will protect us.  I feel as safe with her as I did with my Rott, and she is SO much easier to live with!

Independence is not a good quality in a family dog.  She will be hard to train and get into mischief.

Shy is not good - this can lead to fear biting.  Be careful there is a thin line between shy and fearful. This pup needs a saintly owner who never raises her voice in anger - especially not to the dog.

Submission is a good quality in a pup/dog, but there is a fine line between submissive and fearful/skittish.  Fearful dogs may bite, and can have nervous habits leading to trouble around the house - chewing and urinating.  REALLY submissive dogs will roll on their backs and urinate. That can be a real mess.

GOOD TRAITS?  Well, take a touch of independence, a pinch of submission add a bit of caution,  and LOTS of affection.  THAT'S the kind of dog I love! Now you have a smart dog, who is an excellent watchdog, but who loves most everyone she meets - and most importantly is easy to train and fun to be with.

KEEP in mind that individual breeds have temperament TRAITS.  Each dog is an individual.  Each litter will have at least one dominant pup and one submissive pup. Each litter will be slightly different due to the experiences and inherited charateristics of their ancestors.  That's why people pay more for pups that are decendants of successful show or work dogs.

TEMPERAMENT TESTING Keep in mind that the time of day can make a big difference to the outcome of this test.  You don't want the puppy to be ready for her nap when you test her, or have a full belly.
1)	Watch the parents, or at least the mother. Studies have shown that pups pick up both good and bad traits by from their mother's examples. Observe the setting.  Is this litter healthy?  Do they have fleas?  Is the area kept reasonably clean? Have they had their first shots?  If they are purebred, do all the pups look similar?  One litter can have 2 or more fathers, or they may just not be of a good quality.  You don't want to take home a puppy that is sick, or may become sick. (unless you are a saint)
2)	Make sure that the puppy isn't overly afraid of noise: Throw your keys on the floor. The puppy should run up to see what the noise is. If she runs away and yipes, she is skittish and may be hard to train/ live with.
3)	Take the puppy outside alone. Put her down and walk away. Clap your hands, squat down and call her. a)  If she bounds over, jumps up on you, and is overly friendly, this     is a dominant puppy.  She may be stuborn and hard to train. b)  If she doesn't come at all, then she's independent.      She may be stubborn & hard to train. c)  If she comes over, falls to the ground and rolls over on her back, then she may be overly submissive.  She may be really hard to train - she'll need a lot of patience and understanding by an experienced dog handler. * *d) If she comes over in a friendly but not overbearing way, but seems to be glad to see you, then she's mildly submissive.  This is MY favorite kind of temperament.  She can be easily trained by an amateur. She will aim to please and a simple scolding may be all the reprimand she'll ever need. e) If she keeps staring at you and doesn't come, she's probably shy. She'll need a lot of patient training and NO harsh treatment.   ** f) If she stares at you but comes over hesitantly, she's being cautious. This is a smart puppy. She will make a great watchdog and be easy to train if handled properly. SOCIALIZATION  IS ESSENTIAL !!  She must be around other dogs and people, especially kids often.  This will enhance her natural ability to detect who to trust and who to be leary of.  SOCIALIZING IMPROVES A WATCHDOG.
4)	Put her down and just walk away. * a) If she follows you, then she is submissive. She'll be a good companion and easy to train.   b)  If she runs in front of you and jumps all over you and nips at your pants, then she's  very dominant and aggressive. This pup will need professional training and lots of it. c) If she runs away, then she's independent, and hard to train. She will need an experienced handler and lots of training. d) A shy puppy will sit and watch you * e) a cautious puppy will probably follow you once he is familiar with you.
5)	Pet the puppy. a) An aggressive puppy will jump up and or try to nip at your hand. b) An independent puppy will walk away. c) A submissive puppy will roll over and give you her belly. (an overly submissive pup will urinate) * d) A cautious puppy will let you pet her. e) A shy puppy will back off, and possibly cry
6)	Pick up the puppy around the middle. a) If she wiggles wildly, she's dominant. b) If she lies quietly, she's being submissive. * c) If she wiggles at first and then takes it, she's fine.

Tips on training: ALWAYS BE CONSISTENT DON'T work if you are tired, angry, upset or distracted. Avoid all distractions to the dog at first. Keep sessions short, end on a good note, after she did something right and is still willing to go on. Positive training! Not to enthusiastic praise, it will get her too excited. Respect & love & understanding Use only one name, use it only to get her attention.