Ask The Dog Trainer: How do I grade potential family puppies?

My family will be welcoming a new Labrador puppy into our family next month, and I was curious as to what you suggest we look for when selecting him/her from the litter. It’s a huge decision and we want to choose a puppy who will be a calm and enjoyable addition to our family adventures.

Thank you,

Mary

Dear Mary,

Choosing the newest addition to your family is such an exciting and scary decision to make. I completely understand how overwhelming it can feel, especially when you are sitting on the floor with puppies squirming around and they all look so cute and playful.

When I first walk into a breeder’s home, the first thing I do is stand quietly in a corner and observe the puppies. I spend about 10 minutes observing the puppies as they explore, play and engage with their surroundings. Take your time and make notes on the puppy who most often approaches you, the puppy who appears withdrawn and the puppy who doesn’t pay attention to anyone or anything except his toy. Watch the puppies as they play with one another. Is one puppy very domineering in his play style? How does he react when his sibling squeals in a request to stop the game? Which puppy is sniffing every inch of the room and which is trembling at every loud noise?

When you have spent 10 minutes or so watching the puppies, it’s time to start the selection process individually. There are numerous ways to predict a puppy’s fully developed personality and work aptitude. My favorite is called Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Test. You can find it online and I suggest printing out a copy for each puppy and assigning a member of your family as the scribe.

Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Test begins with testing social attraction by enticing the puppy to approach you and then walking away. You are looking for a puppy who comes readily and happily to you, and follows you with enthusiasm. Puppies who cringe back and flee, or charge straight at you may be too fearful or assertive for your family’s ideal needs.

Next, you’ll be checking social dominance by gently rolling the puppy on his back and holding him in place for 30 seconds. Your touch should be gentle and your posture relaxed. You are looking for a puppy to attempt to get up and when asked to remain still, cheerfully relax and stay calm. One that bites your hand, shrieks and howls or freezes and shivers may indicate a high stress level.

After you have seen the puppy’s reaction, cradle his chest with both hands and lift him up so his front two feet are off the ground. Relax in this position for another 30 seconds. Observe the puppy. When the time is up, release him and roll a ball or throw a toy and see if he shows any interest. A puppy who charges immediately after the ball, snatches it up and shakes it, may have high prey drive, which may present a challenge if you own small animals. A dog who retrieves the ball may indicate a strong retrieval drive.

The next portions of Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Test are testing for touch, sight and sound sensitivity. Ideally, you are looking for a puppy who is aware of his surroundings without being overwhelmed by them. First, gently squeeze the webbing between the puppy’s paws. The goal is not to cause him pain, but to simply observe at what point he draws away. A puppy who dislikes his paws being touched may also display irritation and even aggression when you stroke his head, tug on his tail or examine his mouth.

Next, clap your hands or snap your fingers next to the puppy’s ears, observing him for cringing or ducking, lunging or growling at the sudden sound. Lastly, scuttle your fingers across the floor a couple of feet away from the puppy. You are looking to see if the puppy becomes excited or frightened by sudden movement.

The last test from Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Test involves checking for a trait that dog trainers refer to as stability. This involves opening an umbrella suddenly and observing the puppy’s instinctive reaction. Does he charge the startling object, growling? Run away and hide? Retreat and bark? Ideally, you’ll want him to start, look closer and approach or relax. Stability is a wonderful trait in dogs who are destined to travel and spend lots of time with family, where the ability to resist sudden fight or flight is important.

When you have completed the tests for each and every puppy, add up their scores. The aptitude test has a very detailed explanation of how to add up the results and what each number indicates. From your description of wanting a calm and enjoyable puppy, I would suggest you are looking for a dog possessing a four, or one who tests with mostly fours and some threes. Once you have your top two puppies selected, then present them to your family and ask them to help you choose between them.

Early training and socialization to traveling via car, politely greeting people and exploring spaces safely can be introduced to help round out your puppy’s experiences with the world, resulting in a wonderful, steady-tempered and cheerful adventure companion. I hope this has helped and that you have many happy years with your new puppy.

Kendall and Chandler Brown are owners of Custom K-9 Service Dogs, a dog training business serving Minden/Gardnerville, Carson and Reno. For information go to customk9servicedogs.com or email customk9servicedogs@gmail.com.