Selecting (or having the breeder select) the puppy who is neither first or last when called, is neither shy nor a bully with littermates, and is neither outstanding or underwhelming in the litter will often be the best match for a happy family: easy to train, travel with, manage, and adapt to your daily life.
Should I choose the fattest puppy? The biggest or fattest puppy in the litter can turn out to be the greediest one - he probably pushed the other puppies away to get the most food. The smallest one often can't fend for itself and consequently doesn't get enough food.
Big litters can be dangerous to the mother dog (dam) due to delivery problems, especially in smaller dogs. Some of the puppies may be delivered stillborn, and the dam may become exhausted during delivery.
Along with lack of bite inhibition, typical problems in singletons include being unable to get out of trouble calmly and graciously, an inability to diffuse social tension, inability to handle frustration, lack of social cues and skills, lack of impulse control, and touch sensitivity.
So what is the ideal age for a puppy to be when you welcome him into your home? There are different opinions, as well as a variety of factors, that influence the answer to this question. However, most veterinarians and breeders would put the optimum age to bring home a puppy somewhere between 8-to-10 weeks old.
If you can, collect them in the morning so they can get used to their new surroundings before bedtime.
At first, most pups tolerate this carrying behavior pretty well, but it's not uncommon for puppies to get to a point where being carried is not as comfortable or pleasant as it used to be!
All dogs fall somewhere on the dominance/submissiveness scale. In every litter, there's generally one puppy who's clearly “extra.” He's usually sort of noisy and busy. He takes toys away from his litter mates and he protects them.
Runt Puppy Personality
Runt of the litter personalities are usually very positive. Runt puppies often get handled more and loved on more, so they are usually well socialized and happy. They still need to learn boundaries, however, so don't spoil them. Let their dam handle interactions if she is a good mother.
Furthermore, the temperament was affected by litter size and season of birth. One possible interpretation of this would be that it could be possible to affect adult behaviour of dogs by adjusting litter sizes and birth times, but the present data do not allow this conclusion.
The most common aggressive puppy behaviour warning signs include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominant body language/play, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and persistent biting/mouthing.
Be careful not to choose the fearfully shy pup of the litter. We tend to fall for the underdog, but this fearfulness trait is very difficult to change and is worth avoiding unless you have the skills to train the fearful dog effectively to give it confidence.
Your breeder may be able to tell you why a certain pup is 'leftover' in a litter… in many cases, the pup may just be a quieter, laidback pup who fades into the background during meet-and-greets. In conclusion, having the last pick in the litter is not necessarily a bad thing.
Lift up with your legs. What not to do: Don't pick up a dog by the scruff of the neck. Don't pick them up by the front legs (or “underarms”) like a baby—it can strain their ligaments.
When you kiss your dog, you may notice signs that indicate they know that the kiss is a gesture of affection. As puppies, this is not something that dogs would recognize, although they would feel you doing it. However, as they get older they associate the kisses and cuddles with you being happy with them.
We recommend at least having them in your bedroom with you in the beginning in either a dog bed or crate. Having your puppy in your bedroom with you will make them feel more reassured. Then, you can gradually move them to where you would like them to sleep permanently.
On the first night, and for about three weeks, have the puppy sleep in a dog crate next to the bed. Line the base with blankets so that it is cosy and drape another blanket over the top to help it feel more secure. Give the puppy the stuffed toy that has its littermates' scent on it to snuggle up to.
Sleep in the same room for the first few nights.
For the first few nights, your puppy will need time to adjust to being without their mum. Wherever you decide to settle them in your house, it's a good idea to spend the first few nights in the same room with them so they don't wake up in a panic because no-one is there.
11 to 12 Weeks is Fine for Some Breeds
A few more weeks with their mother and littermates, as well as the people they know in their family, is often best for them. Larger puppies, however, shouldn't wait this long to go to their new homes. Nine to ten weeks of age is fine but any older could be problematic.
It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside. Your puppy's previous living conditions are another predictor.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
Puppies in particular will tend to bond with the person who offers them the most attention and provides them with food and daily care. Adult rescue dogs can also choose to spend more time with one person over another. Certain breeds, such as German Shepherds and Chow Chows often gravitate towards just one person.