Evaluating a Litter of Puppies

Source Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer’s Guide by Michele Loweell, Henry Holt and Company 1990

SUBMITTED BY Phil & Kieran Sadler, Skartik Alaskan Malamutes
ORIGINALLY PRESENTED BY Mrs Jan Richards U.S.A

If the breeder allows you to make the choice of which puppy you buy there are some reasonable steps to take before you choose you puppy. When you walk up to the litter try not to make a quick decision. Look at the whole litter and observe behavior. Watch for the puppy that may be bossy, strong, outgoing, noisy, quiet, submissive, or gentle. Most families do best with the middle type puppy, not the one that is the boss of the litter or the one at the bottom of the pecking order. Look for the puppy who does not start the fights or games but joins in and holds its own.

Gently clap your hands, snap your fingers, whistle softly, and cluck you tongue. Which pups are curious? Which pups run and hide? Get a general impression of the whole litter and individuals in it.

Ask if you can see each available puppy individually so that you can do some simple tests to find out the puppies temperament. People can watch but there must be quiet arid not play with the puppy while you are testing it.

Test 1: Kneel five feet away from the puppy and gently clap your hands.

	Normal:		When the puppy notices you it comes readily to you, with its tail wagging with a happy expression.
	Dominant:		The puppy rushes wildly it you and jumps or nips.
	Submissive:		The puppy comes hesitantly. The tail may be down and a worried expression.
	Independent:		The puppy does not come to you, even after it notices you, and it might wander off to explore.

Test 2: Walk away from the puppy. Bend over gently clapping to encourage it to follow you.

	Normal:		The puppy follows with its tail up and wagging.
	Dominant:		The puppy is under your feet or nips at your clothes.
	Submissive:		The puppy follows hesitantly with its tail down.
	Independent:		The puppy wanders off.

Test 3: Roll the puppy gently onto its back and hold him there with one hand on its chest for fifteen seconds.

	Normal:		The puppy struggles a little bit and then settles down.
	Dominant/Independent:		The puppy struggles fiercely the whole time. It may nip or yelp.
	Submissive:		The puppy lays there passively

Test 4: Lace your fingers together and hold the puppy off the ground with you fingers under the puppies chest. Make certain that all four feet are just off the floor. Hold the puppy there for fifteen seconds.

	Normal:		The puppy struggles a little bit and then settles down.
	Dominant/Independent:		The puppy struggles fiercely the whole time. It may nip or yelp.
	Submissive:		The puppy lays there passively

Test 5: Sit beside the puppy and stroke it from the head to the tail alone its back. Repeat the stroking. be firm.

	Normal:		The puppy wriggles with pleasure or plays with you. It may lick your face.
	Dominant:		The puppy jumps wildly on you or nips at your fingers.
	Submissive:		The puppy rolls onto its back.
	Independent:		The puppy gets up arid wanders away.

Test 6: Using a small ball or toy get the puppy’s attention. Roll the toy or ball across the floor. Encourage the puppy to run after it and bring it back.

	Ideal:		The puppy chases it, picks it up, brings it back to you, and drops it or lets you take it.
	Normal:		The puppy chases it, picks it up, carries it away to chew on, but lets you take it.
	Dominant:		The puppy chases it, picks it up, carries it away to chew on it, and growls at you or holds onto it stubbornly when you try to take it away.
	Submissive:		The puppy is nervous when the toy rolls past, it’s nervous to go to the toy when it stops rolling.
	Independent:		The puppy shows little or no interest in chasing or pick up the toy.

Most families, especially those with children do best with a puppy that has normal ratings in three, or four tests. The puppy who scores dominant or independent in three to four tests will need firm training and may be overly bold or even aggressive. A puppy that scores submissive on three to four tests will need gentle, careful training. Often an overly submissive, timid, or nervous puppy grows to be a nervous adult. A puppy that scores with a really mixed scoring is probable unpredictable and not a good choice for an inexperienced owner.

Keep in mind the breed that you are testing and know what general and normal breed temperament characteristics are. Some breeds are by mature border (fox terrier) or more submissive (Shetland sheepdogs).