How to Choose the Right Puppy
Research….research….research!…
A lot of research is needed looking into the breed of dog you would like to add to your family. Finding the right breed can often be one of the trickiest tasks to a new dog owner, especially if you have not owned a dog before. Once you have narrowed down your choice, speaking to a Breeder will help you determine if your choice of breed will be suitable for your family and lifestyle.
Where to start?!
If you don’t know where to start, head over to the Kennel Club’s website where they have a plethora of information and guidance covering all breeds. ‘Finding the Right Dog’ (https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/finding-the-right-dog/)
Waiting Lists:
The majority of reputable Breeders will have their own version of a waiting list with families lined up, willing to wait for the right puppy, bred from the right parents, raised in the right environment, to the right standards giving your puppy the best start in life.
Waiting lists will often require families to reserve their puppy at a very early age, so having this knowledge and being secure in everything about where your puppy comes from, is critical.
Breed:
Here is a really helpful overview of so many breeds that can help you narrow down your choice. Choose a breed of dog based on temperament, energy level, and their specific needs…not simply because you think it’s adorable — you may be headed for trouble! This will also determine their adult size, will you have adequate space to house an adult of that breed? Safely transport them? Some breeds have a predicted longer or shorter lifespan, are you able to emotionally and financially manage this? Whilst the Kennel Club would state what sort of garden size you need, my argument is that we do not walk our dogs in the garden! However….at Trinkaurity Cockers, I am looking for committed and dedicated families who can prove they have the capacity to commit to the daily exercise needs of a cocker spaniel, in which case, their garden size is not important to me, but I need evidence that their garden is secure and safe.
For the Cocker Spaniel…click here.
Health:
Consider their health and commonly pre-disposed conditions that are relevant to that breed. Has the Breeder ensured their puppies will not inherit these diseases?
Coat:
Will they be long or short haired? Require 4-8 weekly professional grooming? Can you sustain this for their lifetime? Are you able to dedicate daily grooming provision? Even short coated dogs will require regular grooming. Are you looking for a breed that moults less than others? Whilst all dogs will moult, some will do so more than others. Have a look here and it gives you an overview as to if the breed sheds or not! (https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/)
Nutrition:
Consider the cost of good quality nutrition and research what you would want to feed your puppy? Diet and nutrition plays a huge role in the long term health, welfare as well as mental state of your puppy. A good place to look at for independent dog food reviews is All About Dog Food.
Training:
Is the breed easy to train? Is it fundamental to their welfare that they seek out daily training and enrichment to keep them health and balanced?
Have you looked into training schools near you? Do they have a waiting list?
Exercise:
What level of exercise will they require as adult dogs? do you have time to commit to this daily? What are their projected energy levels as an adult?
Cost:
Can you afford vet bills? preventative health care (flea/worming/annual vaccinations)? Will you neuter/spay your pet? Will you take out insurance?
Gut Instinct:
Ultimately, you need to do what you feel is right for you and your family, if something doesn’t feel right, walk away!
Vet:
Have you looked at local Veterinary Practice’s near you? What are their reviews like?
Breeder:
Find a Breeder you are comfortable with, whilst that goes without saying, it is critical that you feel secure in their practice. If the breeder can’t answer your questions, or makes you feel uncomfortable for asking a question in the first place — walk away!
A good breeder will be transparent, they will have nothing to hide. There are amazing Breeders of all breeds across the world, who dedicate their lives to the raising of healthy dogs and their offspring. They are committed to health testing, preventing the continuation of deadly diseases, they are conscious about inbreeding and they will work tirelessly to ensure the puppy parent receives as healthy and well balanced puppy at 8 weeks as possible. They should be able to speak about their practice with ease, communicating every stage and prepared to keep you informed.
Health & Safety:
It is a good sign when a Breeder has a few health and safety guidelines for you to follow when visiting. Every Breeder has a responsibility to keep all of their dogs healthy and free of disease that could be unknowingly tracked in on shoes and/or clothing from visitors.
Social Media:
Have a look at their social media profiles, do they have them? How far back do they go? Look at their videos, photos, can you see the quality of the setting they are providing to raise their litters? Is it sanitary? Do they meet the developing needs of puppies?
If I was searching for a puppy, I would be looking around in all of the media available, and I would expect to observe a decent level of cleanliness, fresh water, decent equipment (toys and beds) to be available.
Does the Breeder claims to deliver certain programs? Is there any evidence of it? Once you get going with your Detective Mode….you’ll find that you can learn a great deal about your Breeder and how they raise their puppies without having yet had the opportunity to speak with them.
Male or Female Puppy: The Great Debate!
The Male or Female Great Debate!
There is not a massive difference between male and female show type English Cocker Spaniels, that is assuming that your puppy will be spayed or neutered. Dogs of any breed that are sterilised at an age appropriate time do not show significant differences of temperament between males and females. Both male and female dogs will respond in the same way if you are a calm, assertive, and consistent in your leadership.
A Breeder cannot predict, in any dog, that gender of their breed will act in a specific manner or develop a certain trait. Some believe that the male dog is more affectionate and easier to train, while the female dog is more aggressive and protective of its owners and puppies. When it comes to dogs, and puppies, there isn’t a superior gender! Nature will kick in for the majority of Dam’s who have whelped a litter, they will want to protect their newborn puppies. As far as I am aware, no study has been undertaken (I have searched!) to prove that that gender in canines will cause certain behaviour. What has been proven in many studies, and what is widely known, is that the behaviour of a dog, will depend on how it is raised and how it is trained as a puppy.
Environment has everything to do with how affectionate or aggressive a dog is, how well trained they are, if they are reactive or have been abused. A dog’s puppy-hood, will shape their adult-hood and this does not have anything at large, to do with its gender per say. Gender of your puppy is entirely puppy parent to be preference!
Practically speaking, if a new owner was to ask me if I would recommend they have a male or female dog, and they have never had a dog before, I would be inclined to say female. Only for the reason that you are able to sterilise them earlier than a male, which will help greatly in their hormonal balance. Other than that, you will find that the males may be slightly bigger, but again, it isn’t often hugely noticeable.
Trinkaurity puppies of both male and female genders have gone to families with babies, toddlers, children, teenagers, adults, families with individuals with additional and/or complex needs, single families, large families, smaller families, younger adults and older adults! They are all thriving beautifully in their adulthood as the key to success is how they have been raised. Credit is given greatly to my wonderful Trinkaurity parents, who have dedicated their lives to ensuring they are raised to the highest of standard and this in part, has little to do with their gender! I do believe hormones have a part to play in their behaviour however, as I think we, again, often forget that our lovely little companions are first a dog…! They will be driven in part by their genetics, their hormones, their bodily functions.
Shaping a Dogs Temperament
What shapes a dog’s temperament?
The biggest factors that shape temperament of your puppy/dog are:
- Breed temperament: For example … a Spaniel, Chihuahua, Border collie, and Dachshund are all different breeds and will demonstrate breed related temperament behaviours.
- Parental temperaments: Each breed has been bred for a specific character trait, or for a specific job, but temperament and personality traits are based on the individual environment in which the dog is raised and primarily the time, effort and input of their owners to train, socialise, habituate and prepare the puppy for the world we live in today.
- Temperament is shaped by training and socialisation: The input a puppy receives within the first year of life is fundament to how they will react in adulthood.
- Puppies brains are at their peek for training around 2-5 months of age, and should be exposed to various sights, sounds, and other dogs/animals. It is up to their owner to teach them how to respond in each situation by training their puppy/dog with a calm, consistent, and assertive energy
The terms “personality” and “temperament” are often mixed up.
Temperament: outcome of breed, parents, training, socialisation and habituation in the very early days.
Personality: outcome of environment, training and socialisation as the puppy develops.
Ultimately though, every dog is very individual, but we must always remember that before anything, they are firstly a ‘dog’. We are often very guilty of humanising our pups and this can get us a little caught with trying to find the right dog with the right personality.
The message I would urge you to take away from this though, is that dogs have the ability to mirror their owners, they will feed off of your energy and what you provide for them will shape how they behave and are portrayed. If they mirror their owners, chances are that their amazing personality may very well just come from you!