Creative Dog Training

Christmas Puppies: Picking the Right One!

My favorite Christmas memory is the year Santa Clause delivered a Golden Retriever puppy to Damian and Conor. Dami an was six years old and Conor was three years old. They came down the hall carrying Shelly and squealing with delight. I am aware that most dog professionals advise parents not to get holiday puppies. Bringing a puppy into a family with little or no planning on one of the busiest days of the year i s asking for trouble. Your kids may be overwhelmed by everything else going on that they may not pay enough attention to their newest family member. But, it worked well for our family and it can work for you too!

Let me share with you my tips for thinking ahead, choosing places to meet potential dogs, and tips to actually choose the puppy or dog. Your new dog will be with you for many, many years. Thoughtful preparation and informed selection will make the experience as joyful for you as it was for my family. We had thirteen wonderful years with Shelly.

Start with a family meeting to answer the following questions:

• Will the dog live inside or outside? Does your area’s climate allow for an outdoor dog?
• Do you want a puppy or would an older dog fit your lifestyle better? Do you have the time, patience, and energy that a puppy needs from you?
• Do you want one dog or two?
• Do you have preference between male and female?
• Does coat type matter?
• Does size matter?
• Are there any family health concerns, such as allergies or elderly family members, to consider?
• Do you want a purebred, a designer dog, or a genuine mixed breed?
  • Purebreds – are exactly what it sounds like. The dog’s mother and father are both of the same breed, as were their parents.
  • Designer dogs – a combination of two purebred dogs. Ex: labradoodles (a combination of the Labrador Retriever and the Standard, Miniature or Toy Poodle). These types of dogs can be very expensive.
  • Genuine mixed breed – a mutt. Some consider mutts to be healthiest due to their genetic variance.
• Do you want to go to a breeder or rescue your dog?

This is just a ‘short’ list to get you thinking! These questions do not have right or wrong answers. Remember that you are choosing a dog for you and your lifestyle, not for someone else! [Podcast: Pick a great Puppy]

The next step is to choose three types of dog that interest you. Contact local veterinarians, trainers, and dog daycares to try to meet adult dogs that match your list. It is one thing to think you want a Newfoundland and quite another to experience the size and slobber first hand! I strongly encourage you to take this step.

Once you have your three top choices follow these steps:

• List your choices
• Contact local breeders and rescue groups
• Make appointments to meet the dogs

You can research breeds online or in books, but the best way to choose the right breed for you will be to interact with the dogs. Some websites that try to help you choose may steer you in the complete wrong direction. (I tried an online quiz once and it told me I should get a Springer Spaniel…) Choose with your heart. You can find a good dog in any breed. [Podcast: Pick a great Puppy]

Now it’s time to select your dog! Use your head as well as your heart. Remind yourself that the dog you are meeting is not the only dog left in the world. You do not have to take home the first sweet face you meet if you two aren’t a good match.

Understand the importance of stress and be ready to identify stress signs. Use this simple temperament test to avoid big problems:

• Choose the dog that comes to you
• Choose the dog that follows you
• Choose the dog that nestles in your arms when you give her a bear hug

These simple tests let you know how this dog feels about people. The dog that comes to you is saying ‘I like people’. The dog that follows you is saying ‘I like YOU’. The dog that enjoys being hugged is not likely to bite you. Watch for stress signs when trying to hug a dog! If you try to hug a dog and she pulls away or pants, she does not want to hug you. [podcast: Acccepting Handling and Gentle Restraint: Part 1 , Part 2]

Everything else can be taught!

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