Question about an experience I'm having with picking a puppy - Page 4

Multiple visits to litter and breeder input is a ''must'' for the educated buyer. I had a puppy client tell me '' that is my pup, he picked me'' because the first pup from a large litter had run over to her. I told her '' he did not pick you, he came over to pick-on -you.'' as he was the most dominant in the litter and not the right pup for her.

Student is absolutely right, of course, but in this case, that's been done and this stand-out girl has been consistent since birth. Additionally, the OP knows both parents well, so that further increases the likelihood that she will be happy with her puppy, since the chances that a pup will resemble the parents are higher than the chances a novice buyer will "pick" the right pup at random, as Student illustrates in the example stated about the dominant pup.

The flip side of the "he picked me" is the more aloof, serious pup who will mature into quite a handful in terms of aggression, and the novice buyers want to pick that one because he's "calmest." He's not "calmest." He's ignoring you because you're beneath him and plotting world domination and you'll hate me in 6 months if I let you take that one home.

I don't allow puppy-choosing by buyers. I choose all puppies. That's the way it is, my way or the highway. I am the one responsible for the match, I am the one guaranteeing the fit, I am the one responsible if it doesn't work out, and it will be my checkbook upon their return and my mess to clean up if someone returns a dog because they can't handle it. Having said that, in a case where the buyer knows my dogs well and is close enough to spend that much time with them, I have no problem with allowing personalities to choose each other, since the "real homework" has long since been done. I always try to choose a couple or pups that would be suitable and then let the buyer choose between those.

This is an interesting thread. I am hoping it turns out that the OP will see the behaviors everyone has seen all along as she matures. I have had that happen where a pup *always* acts one way, then has an off day where they act differently (for better or for worse) and a buyer is hesitant because they haven't seen what they expected/wanted to see. In every case, the pup has reverted to the consistent behavior pattern demonstrated, and not the one "off" day the buyer visited where maybe a calmer pup was crazy hyper or maybe a ball crazy pup was only half-interested in the ball. Patterns are so much more important than one moment in time.

Sorry, although I believe in "magic connections" between puppy and prospective owner, I want to see the behavior / temperament / drives I am looking for prior to taking my new pup home.

In the best case I will spend 10+ years with a dog, I am willing to deal with genetic deseases in case they pop up, I am willing to deal with any sickness, I am willing to deal with conformation problems, but I am not willing to deal with major "temperament" faults.

The OP is not able to judge the temperament of this pup yet ( we don´t know about the goal with this dog - IPO, companion, agility, what else...).

I may be neurotic, but in case of temperament, drive, behavior, I don´t believe anybody, be it the breeder or be it a friend.

Once again - I´d either ask someone to videotape the pup´s behavior, or ( in the best case ) I´d try to watch the behavior of the pup without the pup being aware I am there...

The aloof, independent dog you describe is the litter’s sire to perfection. He’s a fantastic dog as long as he knows you are in charge, but give him an inch and he’ll take a mile. A very civil dog who means business.

Puppies are old enough now to go out side with supervision and be away from Mom for good stretches of time, so we’ve started taking them for rides in the cab of the truck and introducing them to more new situations and places. Turns out the little sable girl is a big old fraidy cat when put in new places. Freezes like a little statue until she figures it out and then reverts back to ornery and confident, and is quite clearly very pleased with herself for being brave, but the confidence isn’t there right away. Waiting to see if this is a phase or if this is going to be her. The other 2 I like have not been phased by anything to this point. Since I will eventually be traveling and competing pretty regularly with whatever female I pick, definitely not wanting a dog who doesn’t deal with unfamiliar surroundings. I know they can be socialized and worked with to improve this tendency and have done so with dogs in the past, but it can be quite a lot more work and can make competition difficult if the dog doesn’t settle quick enough at a new venue.

GSDKeira,

SOMEtimes, the pups who are not fazed by ANYthing are that way because they are not paying attention and/or they have more drive than brains. Just playing devil's advocate, here- something to look for. How alert are those pups? How much are they noticing their surroundings vs. avoiding them? There are people who love that their pup/dog tugs on the leash in new places- I can't stand that. In many cases, I think it's a form of avoidance- "I am not comfortable here so I'll try to control the situation and go to my happy place." You see it a lot- people bragging that the pup they just picked up from the airport is pulling and tugging on everything in new places without even seeming to notice what's going on around them. It can be a tricky read to tell the high drive, confident puppy from the high drive puppy who is using that drive to avoid an uncomfortable change in scenery. Depending on the application, that can be ok. Just something to think about as you look at the big picture.

But at 5-ish weeks...they are just starting to learn that things can be threatening- like a human baby who is just learning that heights, etc. can be dangerous. Not all go through that in an obvious way and not all do it at the same time, so the ones you say are unfazed now, might just spook at something new next week. Or not at all. Only time will tell. But I think "big ol fraidy cat" is a bit harsh if she recovered as quickly as you described. This is just outstanding that you get to spend so much time with them and see them in different scenarios.

To me, the key is how quickly they recover and if they never ever show stress at anything, I want it to be because they are super confident, not because they are oblivious. I won't dismiss a puppy who freezes for a minute when put down on new ground, in a car, shopping cart, etc., but they darn well better be over it quickly and not repeat the same behavior *in the same scenario* once it's proven a non-issue. I did once sell a puppy to a pet home who would spook at the SAME thing daily. That is a nerve issue. Startling or freezing as a tiny baby and then thinking through it and relaxing are not necessarily indicative of nerve issues imo.