Tips for Choosing the Right Puppy
Let’s face it, puppies are adorable. However, finding a pup who will turn out to be the type of adult dog you’re looking for means choosing carefully. A well bred adult dog is made up of several different qualities that come from generations of good breeding.
Remember, picking out the right puppy begins with finding the right breeder. Learn more about finding the right breeder in 9 Tips For Choosing The Right Breeder. Once you’ve found the right breeder here’s how you choose the right pup:
Start with the parents
Avoid picking a puppy who's parents are lacking in ANY of the following areas as they very likely can be passed down to your pup. Often people think a pup will be a better version of its parents when in reality the pup has the potential to carry on any of its parents traits - good or bad. There’s an abundance of excellent parents out there so be choosy.
Health - Parents should be genetically tested and be in good overall health. They should not be over or underweight.
Temperament - How do the parents interact with you when you meet them? Often a breeder will claim a parent’s growling or barking is just his or her protective nature over its pups or home but it’s really a red flag. A parent is normally ready for its pups to go at 8 weeks and should be ok with you handling its pups. If the parent appears to be aggressive, high strung or scared the pup has a high chance of having the same temperament. Read more about temperaments at the blog post What You Need To Know About German Shepherd Temperaments and Drive.
Lineage - If you’ve chosen a breed that has different bloodlines be careful that you’re choosing the right one. Even a well bred pup in the best circumstances will be set up for failure if not placed in a home suitable to their drive. Read German Shepherd Bloodlines Explained.
Conformation - This is about the parent’s physical characteristics and body structure. A dog that doesn’t have correct conformation can have issues such as poor hips and elbows so choosing a parent with a healthy body structure is important.
Both Parents Should Possess Excellent Qualities - I’ve seen litters bred to one parent that has high qualities while the other parent doesn’t. Often people will overlook this. Maybe it’s because puppies are cute, or maybe it’s because they believe the traits from the better parent will be passed down instead of the poor traits from the other parent. The pup will possess traits from BOTH parents so it’s important that both parents are the kind of dog you can see living in your home.
Picking the perfect pup
So now that you’ve found the right breeder and the parents you love, it’s time to choose right pup for your home:
Your puppy should be healthy and strong - A pup who has issues early on, even if they overcome them, can result on other issues down the line. Your breeder should be upfront and give full disclosure to any issues they’re aware of.
Your pup should be within the normal weight range for a pup of their age for their breed. A pup that has been malnourished may not show outward signs that are noticeable to the untrained eye, but that pup has the potential for sudden illnesses and could never reach it’s correct full adult size. Likewise, an overweight pup has the potential for issues like hip or elbow dysplasia.
Your pup should be free of fleas, worms or parasites. As a breeder, it’s totally normal for a pup to have worms or parasites but a good breeder is on top of it. Through proper prevention, cleaning habits and vet checks if your pup has been exposed they should be over it and show a clear fecal sample before going to new homes. At the very least the breeder should be aware of, treating the issue and sending your pup home with meds.
Your pup shouldn’t be fearful or overly aggressive. Because many people want their GSD to be a family protector as well as a companion, they mistakenly seek out an aggressive puppy. The result can be a dog that is hard to handle and untrusting of strangers. An overly aggressive unsocialized dog can be difficult on the entire family. Look for a well-socialized, friendly puppy. It will be more enjoyable for your family and don't worry, it will still have the natural instinct to protect should the situation arise.