Puppy Selection: Which One Do I Choose?

It's not easy looking at a litter of pups and making the painstaking decision of which puppy you should chose! Our first instinct is to say, "Oh, I want them all!" (Especially when our kids cuddle each one of them.) Oftentimes, we are partial to one puppy because of colouration, but like the temperament of another. Here are some important factors to consider!

It is very true that males and females have very different personality aspects! Venus and Mars? As a general rule, male puppies have a tendency to more business oriented. Even Dr. Mandy's male therapy dog Fitzgerald (as seen in the photo), while extremely sweet, is focused on providing good therapy! They are task driven and carry out goals without complaint. Female pups have a tendency to be more affection and emotionally driven. Even female service K9s look for ways to be emotionally driven (oftentimes being more toy driven.) When determining what gender you would like your puppy to be, use your heart AND your head! Know that females do cost more to spay and can become owner possessive, but males are more prone to behaviors such as "marking." 

Even when rescuing or adopting your "furever pet" you will need to be breed educated. Dr. Mandy considers this as one of the most crucial aspects of knowing breed specific behaviors. For example, if you are thinking of buying or adopting a Great Pyrenees dog, know that they have tendencies to be personality objective. This comes from their background in being bred in herding dog qualities. A herding dog tends to be an "observational" dog, they only step in when they feel the need to protect or interact with the "herd master." 

Having a new puppy is just like having a baby in the house! Their memory recall is limited and their bladders are tiny and not yet fully developed. Simply knowing that you are committed to their crucial education for the next at LEAST two years is a reality that you should accept. 

Having someone with diverse knowledge in breed specific behaviors can help you save a lot of agonizing pain when realizing that you may not have a good breed/family fit. A short consult with Dr. Mandy can answer your breed specific questions and help determine if a puppy is a good match for you! 

Have questions? Simply click the text bubble on the bottom right corner for a no obligation consultation with Dr. Mandy.