How do I choose a puppy?

The first step, obviously, is choosing the right breed for you, your family, and your environment. You may want to visit the pound or rescue shelters to look for mixed-breed pups who have been brought in off the street – mixed-breed dogs can make some of the most intelligent and well-behaved pets you’ll ever find. If you decide to go with a purebred, you need to figure out which breed will work best for you.

This is a common sense decision, but it should be backed by a fair amount of research. Don’t get a high-energy puppy if you’re living in an apartment and know you won’t take it for more than three walks a day. How do you know which breeds are high energy? Get to the library! Get online! Go to the bookstore! Talk to people! There are a vast number of ways you can do the research to figure out which breed is best for you, just don’t go into puppy ownership without doing that research.

Once you’ve done that (seriously, do it), your next step is to choose whether to go through a breeder or a local rescue group who can help you find homeless or rescued puppies of the breed you want. The second option often has a much longer waiting period, but you’ll be helping an at-risk little munchkin who needs some love. If you’d rather have a shorter turnaround time for your pup, you have another round of research on your hands. Quit groaning! Do you want a healthy puppy or not?

To find a good breeder, do a quick search for groups of enthusiasts or owners of the breed you’d like. If you find a few, you should be able to contact them and get a list of preferred breeders or kennels in your area. These breeders are usually very meticulous about making sure none of their dogs carry the negative traits, disorders, or diseases associated with the breed, which means your puppy stands a much better chance of being healthy throughout life. While their prices may run slightly higher than other breeders, the extra cost is worthwhile. Would you rather your puppy were in the care of someone who had only birthed and cared for one other litter, or someone who has been breeding for decades?

After you’ve selected both a breed and breeder, you’ll have the fun of visiting the litter and deciding which pup will come home with you. You probably don’t want the most rambunctious one in the litter, but you also don’t want a dog who is too submissive and has trouble socializing with other dogs. How can you tell which is which? A quick and easy test is to pick up each puppy individually and cradle them in your arms like a baby. The pup that squirms the most is the dominant (or alpha) puppy in the litter. Cross him or her off the list. Likewise, cross off the pup who allows you to hold him in that position without any struggle at all – he is the most submissive puppy in the pack. While submissiveness may seem like a positive trait in a dog, it actually ends up resurfacing in many negative behaviors and can prove an even greater detriment than dominance.

If at all possible, take each puppy away from the litter into a quieter, secluded spot and interact with them on an individual basis. This will give you the best feel for each of their personalities and provide you with more information to make your decision. In addition, this will give you the opportunity to more closely inspect the pups and make sure they look, sound, and feel healthy before you take one home. Pay close attention to the following aspects:

• Eyes: They should be bright and clear with no weepy discharge from the corners
• Ears: Floppy-eared puppies should still have very clean, shiny inner ear areas. There should be no excess wax or black material in the ear.
• Nose: Ideally, it should be cool and wet to the touch. If the pup has just gotten up from a nap, his nose may be dry. If you notice no other signs of illness but the dry nose and he interacts well with you, you’re probably safe.
• Coat: His fur should be silky, shiny, and well-maintained. No puppy available from a breeder should have a matted or tangled coat – this would indicate lack of proper care on the breeder’s behalf and you should be very cautious.

Once you’ve made your selection, schedule a pick-up date with the breeder. In the meantime, ask for the puppy’s shot records and any other health treatment he’s been given, then take the information to your vet so they can begin assembling a chart for your new family member. You should try to take the puppy to your veterinarian as soon as possible after bringing him home. A general check-up and exam can help detect any illness or conditions you may not have detected and, if necessary, can give you enough time to return the puppy to the breeder.