HOW TO PICK A PUPPY

Once you've decided that a puppy is the right pet for you/what you want from a dog (see the 'Should I Get' a puppy section), which breed or mix-breed you want (see the 'Top 20 Breeds' section), and where to get your puppy (see the 'Where to Buy' section) you'll need to finally pick one.

First and foremost the puppy should be healthy.  It should not have any unusual discharge from the eyes, nose or anus.  It should not have a dull or scruffy coat, flaky skin, missing fur or bald patches.  It should be active and not lethargic or listless.  It should also be social with you and the other puppies in the litter.  The puppy you pick should also be up to date on all vaccinations and health exams (this will vary depending on the age of the puppy you are adopting).

When you go to pick out your puppy the adoption agency should be clean, if it's not then your puppy may not be in the best health.  If the mother dog is available at the agency, you should look her over too.  Make sure that the mother dog is not malnourished and is not overly aggressive towards you.  These could be signs of trouble for the puppy you are looking at.  If possible, observe all of the puppies in the litter before you pick one up.  You should be able to pick out which are the dominant ones and which are the shy ones. 

Once you think you've found one that you like, take it away from the littermates.  If it's not with a litter then take it away from any other dogs at the agency.  How does the puppy react?  Is it confident or nervous?  Then, walk away from the puppy.  Does it follow you or is it uninterested in what you are doing?  These things will help you to get a feel for the puppy's personality.

Depending on what you want out of a dog will determine what personality you should choose.  If you are looking for a guard dog you may want to go with the dominant (alpha male) puppy and stay away from the shy ones.  If you are looking for a cuddle buddy and don't have any children then a shy puppy will be a better choice then a dominant one.  If this is your first dog, a puppy that is middle of the road would be a good choice as they will be easier for you to take control over when training (or even a shy one if there are no children in your family).  If you have children, a middle of the road puppy is the best bet for you.  It won't be as likely to intimidate your children as a dominant puppy and will take more abuse and chaos then a shy puppy.

Whatever puppy you choose, you should be comfortable with your decision and remember, each puppy has its own personality and own unique style.  What you observe in your 8-week-old puppy is just a clue of what the puppy will be like as an adult dog.  How you treat your puppy once he comes home will also determine how the puppy will turn out.