Done with your research over dog breeds? Know which type is going to be suitable for your family? Successfully located a well-reputed breeder with a litter of puppies? If yes, then you are ready to add a furry member to your family.
It might seem simple, but making the right choice of a puppy from a litter is not easy. You to be extra cautious because a wrong choice can negatively affect the health of the puppy and even upset you when your pup is not that active and playful.
No test can help you adopt the right puppy from the litter if you are thinking about it. You have to trust the word of the breeder, your observations, and your instincts.
Step 1: Meeting the Breeder
If you are sure you need to adopt a puppy, you must look for reliable breeders in the town. Thinking why not get a puppy from a pet store? It is convenient and the simplest way of adopting the pup, but it is very risky. Most of the puppies at the pet stores come from the puppy mills. By heading to the pet store to get a puppy, you will become a promoter of puppy mills. In addition to this, the puppies at the pet store are aggressive and fearful as they are weaned too early.
Try setting up a visit with a breeder right after the birth of puppies. It is something you must-do if you want the best pup from the litter. The breeder will not let you have a look at the puppies until they are seven to eight weeks old but by visiting the breeder at the earliest will help you be at the top of the visiting list.
When you meet the breeder, ask them if it’s the first Litter of the mother, if it is the case, you must look for another breeder. It is ideal for taking home a pup from the third or the forth Litter of the mother by the same father. It ensures that the mother gave birth to healthy pups before with the same father. Discuss the health of the mother and the Litter with the breeder. The health of the mother has a significant impact on the personality and health of the pup from her Litter. You can even ask for the breeder’s opinion.
Step 2: Checking the Behavior
The next step is the check the behavior and the demeanor of the puppies of the litter. It is important to observe all the pups so that you can choose the one which has a personality that will suit your family the most.
The first thing you need to observe is how all the puppies are behaving among the Litter. The way the puppies interact with each other will tell you a lot about their personality. You need to observe the puppies for dominance, playfulness, level of activity, and shyness. Getting a puppy that is not trusting, or barks suspiciously at you, or is too shy is not the right choice. Evaluate the Litter as a whole, if all the puppies are aggressive towards you, avoid adopting a puppy from that Litter.
If you are not in a rush, you must observe individual pups from the Litter. By interacting with each puppy individually, you will have a better chance of choosing the right one.
Step 3: Appearance of Puppies
There are different types of puppies in a Litter such as the bully, rebel, independent thinker, eager to please, relaxed pup, and the timid. Look for a puppy that is neither too submissive nor too dominant. Choose a furball that is mildly energetic and not aggressive. Hold each puppy in your hand, hug, and cradle them. If the pup reacts by wiggling or squealing, it is not a good sign. Try different interactive exercises to observe the reactions of the puppy.
Touch the puppies on the paws and mouth; if the puppy does not respond too aggressively, they are a good fit to be adopted. Try sitting, kneeling, and snapping fingers to engage them if they respond too quickly; they will not take much time to get attached to you. If they do not, it means they have an independent personality.
Step 4: Checking the Physical Health
The state of the physical health of the puppies is essential when adopting one. Bringing in a puppy that does not have stable health will be difficult to handle. Any negligence in the care of such puppies might result in their death. Therefore, make sure you check the health before you bring your furry buddy home.
Check the state of health visually; make sure they are round and healthy. In addition to this, take a look at the ears, eyes, gums, and teeth carefully. Conducting a hearing and vision test is also a smart way to ensure that the puppy is perfectly healthy.
For a better checkup, it is best you take the puppy to a vet or bring along a vet who will help in analyzing the health of the puppy in the most professional manner.
If you are willing to adopt a dog from a Litter, you need to follow all these steps. You do not want to end up adding a puppy as a family member who is not well and has a personality that does not suit your home and family members.