Are you looking at getting a new puppy soon? Most people know what they should be looking for when they visit the puppy for the first time. Whether you are buying from a breeder or adopting from a rescue, it is best to try and see the puppy with its mother first. This tells you two things-that the breed you were looking to adopt/buy is similar in size to the mother, and more importantly that the mother has a sound nature she will hopefully pass onto her puppies making your new puppy a wonderful family pet.
Puppies pick up on the body language of the adult dogs in the home and for example when visitors arrive and mom wags her tail and goes forward to be petted the puppies will learn from her that humans are good.
Most people know to look for the puppies being reared in a home environment with lots of social interactions with people and exposure to sounds and experiences of the home
But if you want a SUPER puppy here are three lesser known green flags to look out for breeders.
1.Bitch has access to get away from her puppies whenever she needs to.
This protects the bitch from being pestered constantly and becoming irritable with her puppies. But also as important, it teaches the puppies that the attachment figure will leave them BUT will also come back. This helps prevent separation issues down the line. That means your pup will settle into your home environment much easier, and make those crucial first few nights a lot less stressful on you both.
2. Puppies have safe supervised access to an outdoor area to go to the toilet.
Toilet training is an exercising discrimination of surfaces for puppies. This means they will look to leave the area where they sleep and eat and find a different surface to use as the toilet. Teaching them from an early age that this surface is an outdoor area will make toilet training a breeze. Conversely if you see puppies being kept on only one surface, for example shavings and they are sleeping, eating, peeing and pooping on the same surface, this will make training harder on you the owner. So better to set everyone up for success and educate yourself on what YOU want to see your puppies area.
3. At feeding time, there is an excess of food and an excess of bowls.
For example, if I have a letter of five puppies I will make sure nine bowls of food are put down. This make sure food is readily available for every puppy and decreases the chances of food aggression in the future. Most food aggression/resource issues start in the litter as not enough food is put out and it is put out in one large plate instead of many smaller bowls. Puppies learn to eyeball each other and push each other out of the way in order to get the best morsels. That powerful message that resources must be fought for will transfer into the home and may result in guardian behaviour over food and other items.
So these three extra titbits of information will make sure you go to your breeder or your rescue armed with all the knowledge you need to make your puppies adjustment family life super easy for everyone.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and a good breeder/rescue should ask you plenty too!!
Here’s a handy checklist:
- Mother has a nice temperament and you see her with the puppies. See the father too if possible (this is not always the case but get as much information as you can and a picture)
- Puppies are reared in a home environment with access to separate toileting area
- Mom can escape from her puppies and they learn to spend some time away from her.
- Relevant genetic testing is done on the parents if it’s a breed prone to health issues
- Feeding time is quiet and relaxed with no competition and plenty of food and bowls
- Your puppy has been microchipped
- Your puppy has received a primary vaccination and has a cert stamped by a vet
- Your puppy has been wormed for three consecutive days at 2,5,and 8 weeks of age
- Puppies have access to appropriate chewing items
- Puppies have access to appropriate toys to play with
- Your puppy is happy to be approached and to be picked up
- Your breeder can provide some videos of your puppies growth experiences
- Your puppy has been given a clean bill of health by the vet and is a minimum of 8 weeks of age
- Your breeder has asked you questions about your lifestyle and your home and what you can offer a puppy. (a question most potential owners don’t ask themselves)
- Your breeder or Rescue insist you contact them if you have any issues and offer support
- Your breeder or Rescue will readily take back your Puppy if, for whatever reason, you cannot keep it-some will insist on a contract.
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