I've got four clients right now who are preparing for the arrival of spring or early summer puppies. They've put down their deposits with the breeders they've chosen and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their newest canine family members. I worked with each of them on the process as these four clients are unique: They all worked with me with a previous dog who had serious behavior problems rooted in anxiety and aggression. Each wanted to avoid ever having to go through that again, if they could help it. They told me how helpful they felt it was for me to break down the process for them, giving them guidelines for choosing a breeder, and then, for choosing their puppy. Because of that, I figured it was time to share that same information here, just in case you are gearing up for puppy fever too.
First, you certainly don't have to work with a breeder to acquire a puppy. I will say, however, that working with a reputable, knowledgeable breeder or fancier can make the puppy selection process a bit more reliable. When you instead choose to acquire a puppy at a shelter, rescue, or an online marketplace (e.g. Craig's List or a puppy broker), you are going to have a harder time getting any of the background information that you need on the dam and sire (i.e. the puppy's mom and dad), especially with regard to their physical and mental health. You also won't be able to check references and talk to other people who acquired a puppy from this same person. You will have to rely on the limited experiences noted by the shelter, foster, or Craig's List seller. And if you are using a puppy broker, you will find that the information you are given is even more limited because these folks just move puppies between puppy mills and prospective pet owners, despite their frequent protestations to the contrary.
How do you even find a reputable breeder? Sure, you can go on the AKC's website and research breeders, but remember that just being on that website doesn't insure that the puppies produced by that breeder are going to meet your needs. Instead, I encourage prospective puppy owners to talk to breeders in person at dog shows where you can see them with their dogs and then interact with them online via social media. So many breeders use Facebook and Instagram to show off their puppies, dogs, show results, and breeding programs. Interacting with them and their followers who are often previous or current owners of their dogs, allows you to see, follow, and ask questions of real owners of the breed (and breeder) you are interested in. Look for lots of transparency on their breeding program.
Let's get one thing straight: All puppies are cute. No question about that. So, you need to coach yourself to look beyond the cute and really analyze the way the puppies you are following on a breeder's account are being raised. Even before the puppies are born, you want to look at the dam and sire and see how they themselves are being raised and engaged. Are they always shown running around outside in a pen with a bunch of other dogs, or are they also shown camped out in the kitchen or on a bed, sofa, or someone's lap? Are they only shown at dog shows, or are they also shown running agility, competing in flyball, or doing nosework? How many litters has the breeder produced? How often are they breeding their dog(s)? All of this is just as important to the puppy choosing process. You want your puppy's parents to have been cherished members of your breeder's family, not money-making, puppy-producing machines. You want to feel comfortable knowing that your puppy's mama was fed properly while pregnant, protected from stress and strain, and regularly evaluated by a veterinary professional. Puppies born to stressed out moms come into this world already challenged behaviorally. Puppies born to well-adjusted, happy, and physically sound mothers come into this world with brains that are pliable and open, not already challenged with stress hormones.
Once you've found a breeder that you are comfortable with, and you like the way that they raise and care for their adult dogs, it's time for you to look at the way that they prepare their puppies to go to their new homes. I seek out breeders who use the "Puppy Culture" approach to raising puppies. This approach focuses on the science behind socialization and training. It fosters emotional resiliency and brain development. It encourages puppies to reach their full potential from birth to 12 weeks of age through appropriate behavioral challenges and physical challenges. Even newborn puppies should be handled, stimulated, and exposed to new experiences. This program also includes exercises that prepare puppies for house training, crate training, and checks for resource guarding. Puppies who complete Puppy Culture programs are inquisitive, resilient, and well-prepared for that move from their breeder's home to yours. You really do need to critically expand the way you think about puppy raising beyond just "my puppy was lovingly raised in the breeder's home" to "my puppy was raised to be confident, curious, and successful in their loving breeder's home."
Finally, when you get to the point where you are going to the breeder's home to choose your puppy (and, yes, I think you need to go to their home and choose your puppy), you will likely be one of several people there to pick out their next canine family member. Breeders often have their list of prospective puppy owners, those in line for female puppies, those in line for male puppies, and/or those in line for either sex, but with more concerns about coat color, for example, or temperament. I'm always going to advise you not to choose your puppy based on their coat color or sex, but rather to look at their temperament and the way they engage you when you meet them. And if you want to do a bit of temperament testing of those puppies on your own, especially if your breeder doesn't use the Puppy Culture program, then please revisit one of my previous blog posts on the subject of temperament testing for prospective puppy owners here:
https://juliebondanimalbehaviorist.blogspot.com/2021/06/pick-of-litter.html
While I'm not currently in the market for a new puppy myself, I am closely following a litter of collies that is due this month. The dam and sire of this litter are actually Zelly's parents, so these pups will be full siblings to my daughter's sweet, adolescent collie. I can't wait to see these puppies develop and watch them thrive in those first weeks under the watchful eye of my friend and her pack of sweet, well-adjusted adult collies, including Zelly's grandmother. If I'm lucky, I'll get a chance to visit with my friend before these puppies go off to their new homes. That puppy fix should last me until I'm ready for my next collie puppy of my own, right?
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
