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THE PICK OF THE LITTER
By Lisa Mullinax
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How
many times have dog owners bragged that they got the pick of the
litter, that they chose which puppy out of 6, 8 or 12 puppies
they took home? Many owners assume that breed, in and of itself, is an indicator of good temperament. Some even base their decision on a dog of the same breed that they know or grew up with. However, within every litter of every breed, there are widely varied temperaments and personalities that begin to emerge as early as 3 weeks old. |
For example, the bold, friendly puppy that pushes her way to the front of the pack, which many potential owners may see as a sign of a friendly personality, could actually be a very confident, assertive puppy that would not be good with small kids, scratching and biting in rough play.
Take a look at the picture above. The black puppy on the right is playfully biting the girl’s pigtail. The picture of a cute, playful puppy. The light puppy to the left of him is sitting nicely next to the girl, barely noticeable. Now, add 50-60 lbs. to each of those puppies. Which one would be the better choice around small children? Which one would YOU rather live with?
Often, when trainers are brought into homes to evaluate behavior problems, we do not see a bad dog. We see a bad match. A large, confident puppy from working lines (protection, hunting, herding, etc.) is not bred to live in a house of first-time dog owners with small children. Without an outlet for their energy and purpose, they become destructive and can even become aggressive.
There are precious few breeders who will turn away a buyer because it is not the right home for the puppy they so carefully bred. Instead, buyers are often given that coveted “pick of the litter” without taking into consideration the puppy’s temperament and whether or not it will suit the buyer’s family or lifestyle. Not every Labrador Retriever is a perfect family dog and not every Rottweiler is a good watchdog.
Fortunately, there are tests that even the first-time dog owner can perform on-site before choosing a puppy. Wendy and Jack Volhard developed the Puppy Aptitude Test. This easy-to-follow test can reveal a puppy’s temperament.
Potential adopters are often frustrated with rescue groups who seem too particular about who they adopt their animals to. However, many of these groups understand that a loving home is not always enough. Other factors, such as small children, owner experience, household activity levels and lifestyle must be taken into consideration.
There is so much more to a good family dog than breed and pedigree. Temperament plays a huge role in how well a new puppy will fit in with your family and lifestyle. Performing this simple test before making a final decision can save a potential adopter or buyer weeks or even years of frustration and disappointment and can even prevent the heartbreak of having to surrender or return a puppy who just isn’t right for you.
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