How to Choose a Puppy Out of a Litter

It is important to know how to choose a puppy when you are considering buying one from a litter. With the knowledge of a few things to look for, you can feel more confident that the cute puppy today will turn into a good dog later.

Things You'll Need

• A litter of puppies to choose from

Instructions

1. 

   Before you go, repeat to yourself- "all puppies are cute. All puppies are cute". When you go, remember that. You are making a 10-12 year commitment, so it is important that you don't decide to buy a puppy on looks alone!

2. 

   Look over the whole litter. Observe how the puppies play together. There is almost always one puppy that will stand out. This is the puppy that may run to you, chew on your shoe, and jump on his littermates. Unlike what you may have heard, this is probably not the puppy that you want to buy. This puppy will most likely be dominant and very energetic, and those are not qualities that most people are looking for in a pet. If you are looking for a working dog, those may be positive qualities.

3. 

   Make a loud noise by closing the door loudly or dropping something. Watch the reaction of the puppies. You want to avoid the dog that cowers or shows serious nervousness, as this puppy may be a nervous dog.

4. 

   Ideally, you want to choose a puppy with a temperament between the above extremes. Look for a puppy that is friendly and not afraid of you, but is not the first to greet you. You want to find that middle ground between being the top dog of the totem pole, and the insecure nervous puppy.

Tips & Warnings

• Also be aware of the cleanliness of the litter and their surroundings

• Check the puppy's sense of hearing