Thinking about getting a puppy? What type of dog do you want: small or big, short-haired or long-haired, sweetly mixed or pure-bred? Have you found a litter of available puppies? Do you have any idea how to choose just the right puppy from a litter to call your own?
Table of Contents
How to select a healthy puppy
- Speak with the owner. Ask about eliminations and appetite. Do all the puppies consume dry puppy food? Have they had diarrhea or vomited? Have they been treated for any intestinal parasites? All puppies ought to be dewormed every two weeks starting at two weeks of age.
- Monitor the littermates while in action. Do all of them play or is there a quiet puppy that retreats to a corner? Is there one that always tends to emerge on top of the heap? If you’re looking for an assertive pet, that puppy might be for you. If you’re looking for a more docile furry friend, retrieve that one from the corner.
- Evaluate their general appearance. Do their coats shine? Are they flaky or dull? Do you observe any sores or bald spots? Puppies ought to have healthy coats which shine without any areas of redness or hair loss.
- Observe them move. Does anyone limp? Do the pups hop around on all fours? Puppies have a clumsy gait yet should evenly bear weight on all their limbs.
- A puppy can have a pre existing condition that may not be yet visible or detected. If you get a puppy and it turns out they have some type of health problem, consider pet insurance that covers pre existing conditions so you don’t spend thousands of dollars on vet bills.
There are one or two Maltipoo puppies for sale that I like – what should I search for?
After evaluating the entire litter of Maltipoo puppies for sale, concentrate on one puppy, separate him from his brothers and sisters and look at home a bit more closely. Pay attention to the following areas.
- Eyes. The eyes should be clear without any drainage or redness. There ought to be no hair loss surrounding the eyes. The puppy shouldn’t rub at his eyes or squint.
- Ears. The ears shouldn’t have a discharge or odor. Scratching at the ear is an indication of trouble. Earflaps ought to be covered in healthy hair.
- Nose. It is alright for the nose to have a somewhat clear discharge; however, discolored drainage isn’t normal. The puppy ought to breathe noiselessly and easily from the nose.
- Head. The top of his head might have a soft, small spot. If the soft space is bigger than a dime, it might be a sign of future issues related to “open fontanels.”
- Mouth. The puppy’s gums should be a healthy pink color and moist. The bottom and top teeth ought to align unless the puppy has a breed-specific under-bite (e.g., Pekingese, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs).
- Body Cavity. Check the puppy’s underbelly for a protrusion that surrounds the belly button that might be a sign of an umbilical hernia. If anything protrudes in this space, it might indicate a surgical correction.
- Skin. You already checked the coat while you surveyed the litter. Now get a closer glimpse at the individual pup. There shouldn’t be areas of hair loss, flaking, redness, or pustules.
How to know what the pup’s personality is going to be
Even though accurate temperament testing isn’t possible at a young age, it’s possible to obtain a general assessment of your puppy’s personality. Does he like to play? Does he nudge or sniff your hand once you hold it out and invite your touch? Is he at ease around humans or does he seem a bit shy when you walk toward him? Roll the pup over on his back and softly hold him in this position. Puppies will frequently struggle for a little while then rapidly calm down, which is a sign that they respect the alpha stance of the individual holding them. Dogs resisting too much usually have a more aggressive personality.
Puppy temperament testing: Volhard test
Choose a single puppy to further evaluate. The following list comes right from the Volhard Test.
Social Attraction: Be on the lookout for how the pups engage with you. Which puppies immediately come up to you? Which ones are curious, but might not be the first one to hop on you? Which pups are more curious about doing something other than coming straight to you? Observe their tails: are they down or up?
Following: Walk slowly away from the pups. Which puppies follow you? Do the pups follow with tails down or up?
Restraint: Roll each pup over on his back and softly hold for about 30 seconds. Does the pup: fiercely struggle, struggle a bit and then relax, doesn’t struggle at all.
Social Dominance: Sit on the floor and softly stroke the puppy from head to tail. Allow him to lie down or sit while gently stroking his back while you crouch down. Does he bite, lunge at you, growl, rollover, cuddle, or move away? Check if the dog licks your face.
Elevation Dominance: Pick each puppy up and hold her or him above your head for about 30 seconds. Does he fiercely struggle, or does he struggle to keep a relaxed body? Maybe he doesn’t struggle, whatsoever, but holds onto a rigid position.
Retrieving: Crumple a piece of paper up or use a toy if you have one. Toss it in front of you no more than 4’ then watch what he does.
Touch Sensitivity: On one of the pup’s front paws, pinch the soft webbing, slowly increasing pressure until he shows indications of discomfort. Does he immediately show discomfort, or does it take him a while before he reacts?
Sound Sensitivity: Loudly bang or clap an object then observe his reaction. Does he listen, try and find the sound then run towards it and bark? Alternatively, does he simply listen and try and find where the sound comes from? Some pups will hide or not show any curiosity, whatsoever.
Sight Sensitivity: Use a rag or toy and quickly move it around the pup. Does he run towards it and bite it? He might try and place his foot on top of it to stop the motion. Some will glare with curiosity with either tail down or up, but not react, while other dogs run and hide.
Startle Response: Open up an umbrella and put it on the floor. Notice what he does.
Puppy temperament testing takeaways
Keep in mind, it takes both your head and your heart to pick the proper pet for you.
Also bear in mind, that nothing is written in stone. Pups that may be a little shy at a breeder’s house turn out to be friendly and outgoing when they become a part of a loving family. Active puppies might settle down.
Assertive puppies with training and a loving touch turn out to be the ideal dog for you. Independent pups might be great for the ones who need a bit more personal space.
Lastly, the perfect pet only can grow into the ideal adult with the proper training and socialization. Similarly, a less than ideal pup may become the ideal adult dog with the same training attention.
When to see the vet for the first time?
Bring the new pet to the vet for his “pre-purchase examination” as soon as you can. Though you might’ve already paid the breeder, it’s referred to as “pre-purchase” because the majority of reputable adoption organizations breeders will permit a probationary period (72 hours) before an agreement gets finalized. It is a great idea to arrange an appointment with a veterinarian the same day you pick the pup up to promptly identify all existing issues.
What to do when you bring the puppy home
Bring a towel from home and then rub the mama dog and a few littermates with it. Wrap the puppy in that familiar scent to ease his transition into the new home. Once you enter the front door the first time with the puppy, take a moment to acquaint him with the new surroundings. Allow him to explore your house, sniffing while he goes along. Quietly sit with him, giving him a lot of hugs. Try a bit of playtime to further cement the new bond. Take him for a walk to show him where he can eliminate or present some potty pads to him.
Designate a space of low traffic volume where he can sleep and eat. Have clean water and food bowls available. Feed him the same food during the same points of time his prior owner did the first day. If you and the vet believe it’s better to change foods or change feeding routines, do it slowly. The majority of puppies eat two to three times per day. Do not be surprised if he does not consume too much food the first couple of days while he adjusts to the new home yet be certain that he consumes a lot of water.
Once bedtime arrives, cuddle him a bit, put the towel close to him inside his bed, leave some soft music playing or some other white noise, and say good night. He and you hopefully will sleep well in order for you both to enjoy a lifetime together!