Choosing the
right home
for each
puppy based
on drive,
energy
levels,
confidence,
dominance,
sensitivity
etc
Getting a
dog or puppy
on impulse
is rarely a
good idea.
Remember
that dogs,
like cars,
were
designed for
a particular
function.
You need to
decide what
you want, a
sports car
or a
minivan, a
Fox Terrier
or a
Newfoundland.
When the
various
breeds were
originally
developed,
there was a
greater
emphasis on
the ability
to do a job,
such as
herding,
guarding,
hunting,
drafting,
etc., than
appearance.
If a
particular
breed
interests
you, find
out first
what the dog
was bred to
do.
There are so
many
different
breeds to
choose from
and if there
is a secret
to getting
that
“perfect
puppy”, it
lies in
doing your
homework.
DECIDING
WHAT KIND OF
DOG TO GET
The
well-trained
dog begins
with some
idea of what
role the dog
is expected
to play in
your life
and then
selecting a
dog that is
suitable for
the job.
Following
are some of
the reasons
for
selecting a
dog:
Companionship
Playmate for
the kids
Protection
A special
activity,
such as
hunting,
herding,
breeding,
showing, or
competing in
performance
events
Status
symbol (not
wise)
A
combination
of the above
Some dogs
are able to
fill all of
these
expectations,
while others
have more
limited
talents.
Getting a
dog for a
status
symbol
usually
means one of
the guarding
or rarer
breeds, and
often these
represent
some special
challenges.
If you want
a rare
breed, first
find out why
it is such a
rare breed
and if there
are any
potential
drawbacks.
Conversely,
one of the
most popular
dogs and
number 1 in
American
Kennel Club
registrations
is the
Labrador
Retriever.
The reason
is simple -
it is a good
multipurpose
dog that can
serve as a
companion
and playmate
for the
kids, is
naturally
protective,
generally
enjoys good
health,
makes a good
guide dog,
and with
little time
and effort
can be
transformed
into a well
trained dog.
You also
need to take
into account
your own
life style
and
circumstances.
For most of
us this
means a dog
that can
satisfy our
need for
companionship,
is easily
trained and
doesn’t
require a
lot of
upkeep.
KEEPING
UP
APPEARANCES
Everyone has
his or her
own
preference
and there is
an enormous
choice, from
the
four-pound
Yorkshire
Terrier to
the 100kg
Mastiff.
Many dogs
come in
different
sizes, such
as Poodles,
or
Schnauzers.
Other have a
smaller
version that
is similar
in
appearance,
such as
Collies and
Shelties, or
Dobermans
and
Miniature
Pinschers,
or German
Shepherds
and Corgis,
or
Greyhounds
and
Whippets,
the “poor
man’s race
horse”.
Breeds with
long hair
require more
upkeep than
those with
short hair.
Pretty
obvious when
you think
about it,
but often
completely
overlooked
when
selecting a
puppy or
dog.
Some breeds,
like Briards,
Poodles,
Wirehaired
Dachshunds
and Terriers
don’t shed,
a most
desirable
feature.
On the other
hand, unless
you are
willing to
learn how to
groom your
dog, it
means
regular
visits to
the grooming
parlour,
visits that
are not
cheap.
Some breeds,
such as
terriers and
some of the
herding
dogs, bark a
lot more
than others.
If you live
in an
apartment
such a dog
would not be
a good
choice.
THE TIME
FACTOR
In selecting
a dog or
puppy be
aware of the
time factor.
How much
exercise
does this
particular
breed
require and
are you in a
position to
give it to
your dog?
Some breeds
require less
exercise
than others,
but many
require 2
daily
20-minute
walks, at a
minimum, and
some, such
as the
Sporting
breeds, much
more.
Just letting
the dog out
in a
backyard is
not
sufficient.
In the
selection
process you
need to
remind
yourself
continuously
that your
dog is going
to be with
you anywhere
from 8 to 16
years.
And, the
older he or
she gets,
the more
important
regular
exercise
becomes.
How much
time do you
have
available to
devote to
training
that cute
little
bundle of
fur? If you
have little
or no more
that 10 to
15 minutes a
day, then
you need to
select a
breed that
is easily
trained and
doesn’t
require much
exercise.
WHAT IS
PUPPY
TESTING?
Some of the
tests we use
were
developed as
long ago as
the 1930’s
for dogs
bred to
become Guide
Dogs.
Then in the
1950’s,
studies on
puppies were
done to
determine
how quickly
they
learned.
These
studies were
actually
done to
identify
children’s
learning
stages.
Later on in
the early
60’s more
tests were
developed to
determine if
pups could
be tested
for
dominance
and
submission.
These tests
determined
that it was
indeed
possible to
predict
future
behavioural
traits of
adult dogs
by testing
puppies at
49 days of
age. Testing
before or
after that
age,
effected the
accuracy of
the test,
depending on
the time
before or
after the
49th day.
Present day,
we have what
is now known
as the
Volhard
Puppy
Aptitude
Test, or
PAT.
PAT uses a
scoring
system from
1-6 and
consists of
ten tests.
The tests
are done
consecutively
and in the
order
listed.
Each test is
scored
separately,
and
interpreted
on its own
merits.
The scores
are not
averaged,
and there
are no
winners or
losers.
The entire
purpose is
to select
the right
puppy for
the right
home.
The tests
are as
follows:
1. Social
Attraction -
degree of
social
attraction
to people,
confidence
or
dependence.
2. Following
-
willingness
to follow a
person.
3. Restraint
- degree of
dominant or
submissive
tendency,
and ease of
handling in
difficult
situations.
4. Social
Dominance -
degree of
acceptance
of social
dominance by
a person.
5. Elevation
- degree of
accepting
dominance
while in a
position of
no control,
such as a
veterinarian
or groomer.
6.
Retrieving -
degree of
willingness
to do
something
for you.
(Together
with Social
Attraction
and
Following -
a key
indicator
for ease or
difficulty
in training)
7. Touch
Sensitivity
- degree of
sensitivity
to touch and
a key
indicator to
the type of
training
equipment
required.
8. Sound
Sensitivity
- degree of
sensitivity
to sound,
such as loud
noises or
thunderstorms.
9. Sight
Sensitivity
- degree of
response to
a moving
object, such
as chasing
bicycles,
children or
squirrels.
10. Stability - degree of startle response to a strange object.
|
During the
testing make
a note of
the heart
rate of the
pup, which
is an
indication
of how it
deals with
stress, as
well as its
energy
level.
Puppies come
with high,
medium or
low energy
levels.
You have to
decide for
yourself,
which suits
your life
style.
Dogs with
high energy
levels need
a great deal
of exercise,
and will get
into
mischief if
this energy
is not
channelled
into the
right
direction.
Finally,
look at the
overall
structure of
the puppy.
You see what
you get at
49 days age.
If the pup
has strong
and straight
front and
back legs,
with all
four feet
pointing in
the same
direction,
it will grow
up that way,
provided you
give it the
proper diet
and
environment
in which to
grow.
If you
notice
something
out of the
ordinary at
this age, it
will stay
with puppy
for the rest
of its life.
He will not
grow out of
it.
|