Canine Body Language Chart Dog To Human Communication How To Recognize Calming Signals What Is Champing What Is The Hip Nudge
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"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet." Edith Wharton
If you are considering adopting or buying a puppy in the near future, here is some information abaout canine temperament you might find useful before you bring that puppy home. Let's say you've done all of your homework and found a good and reputable breeder. When youo meet the litter, stand and observe the pups. Watch how they interact with each other. Is one submissive? Is one bossy? Who is the most bold? The best advice when picking a puppy is to stay away from extremes. For most people and families, the best dog falls somewhere in the middle of the pack and is neither the most dominant or submissive.
There is a generally agreed upon puppy test that you can use to evaluate a litter of puppies to find the best one for you. Minimum testing age is seven weeks ans accuracy declines with the age of the puppy. The results of six simple exercises will vary depending on the breed of the puppies being tested. Ask the breeder if you can see each available puppy by itself. As you do each test, write down the puppy's general response. The classifications are normal, dominant, submissive and independent.
Test 1 - Kneel and clap: Kneel five feet away from the puppy and lightlyclap your hands. the purpose of this test is to determine the degree of social attraction, confidence or dependence. Normal : He comes readily, tail up. Dominant: He comes readily, tail up, jumps or paws at person, bites or licks at hands. Submissive: He comes hesitanly, tail down. Independent: He did not come at all.
Test 2 - Follow you: Walk away from the pup. Squat down and encourage him, using your voice and gently clapping, to follow you. The purpose is to determine the degree of following attraction. Normal: He follows easily, tail up. Dominant: He follows easily, tail up, gets under foot and jumps or nips. Submissive: He follows you with uncertainty, tail down. Independent: He wanders off and ignores you.
Test 3 - Rollover: Gently roll the puppy over onto his back. Hold him ther with one hand on his chest for a full 30 seconds. The purpose is to determine how the puppy accepts stress when socially and/or physically dominated. Normal: He resists youo at first but then accepts it with some eye contact. Dominant: He struggles the entire time. He might be vocal about his unhappiness and might nip at you. Submissive: He doesn't resist at all and might lick your hand. Independent: He doesn't resist at all and avoids eye contact.
Test 4 - Petting: Sit next to the puppy and stroke him firmly from head to tail repeatly until a recognizable behavior is established. The purpose is to determine the degree of social dominance. Normal: He cuddles up next to you and tries to lick your face. Dominant: He jumps up, paws and tries to nip at you. Submissive: He rolls on his back and licks your hands. Independent: He walks away and stays away.
Test 5 - Lifting: Lace your finger together and place them under your puppy's belly. Gently lift him up so that all four paws are off the floor. Hold the puppy there for 30 seconds. The purpose is to test the acceptance of dominance in a position of no control. Normal: He doess relaxed. Dominant: He resists the entire time. He might be vocal about his unhappiness and might nip at you. Submissive: He doesn't resist at all and might lick your hand. Independent: He doesn't resist and is frozen without any movement.
Test 6 - Playing with a toy: Use a ball or toy to get the pup's attention and roll it accross the floor. Encourage the puppy to go after it and bring it to you. The purpose is to determine the degree of willingness to work with a human. Normal: He goes after it but then carries it away to chew on. He allows you to take it from him. Dominant: He gets it, carries it away and then growls at you or refuses to give it up when you try to take it. Submissive: He is nervous about the toy and is reluctant to approach it when it stops moving. Independent: He displays little or no interest in the toy at all.
When you have finished the tests, add up how many normals, dominants, submissives and independents there were. Most people or families will do best with a puppy that scores normal in three to four tests.
In addition to temperament, here are some other things to consider. Most of us are swayed by the cute and cuddly puppy, giving little or no regard as to what the puppy might eventually grow up to be as an adult dog. If the pup is a purebred, you have a reasonable expectation of what the adult dog will look like, but have you thoroughly researched the breed and the known breed behaviors? Unless you've done your homework, this can come as an unpleasant surprise and is frequently why so many dogs wind up at the local shelter after outgrowing the cute puppy stage. Dogs often meant to become strictly companion animals have had their basic instincts repressed and this comes out in displaced behaviors. Herding dogs like the Border Collie that herd children instead of sheep, sled dogs that pull on the lead and are difficult to train, overprotective Rottweilers said to be aggressive are all dogs that end up at shelters. How do we prevent this from happening? With a little effort and research, it is possible to find a suitable dog that will fit into your lifestyle and your personality.
Should you get a male or female? There is no data that supports one gender over the other with respect to intelligence and trainability. There are some studies that attribute higher levels of aggression to males. In general, certain behaviors will be exhibited in one gender but are not exclusive to that sex. For example, marking is most often seen in males, but females in heat will also exhibit that trait.
To help further your research efforts, we recommend a book called "The Perfect Puppy How to Choose Your Dog by Its Behavior" by Benjamin L. Hart, D.V.M. and Lynette A. Hart, Ph.D. The book evaluates 56 of the most popular breeds of dogs and ranks them by 13 behavioral traits. These traits are: excitability, general activity, snapping at children, excessive barking, playfulness, obedience training, watchdog barking, aggression toward other dogs, dominance over owner, territorial defense, demand for affection, destructiveness and ease of housebreaking. Each trait is well defined, as well as the way they were judged. Breed information is provided including a picture and a one page write-up on the breed. There is also information on how to use the book and suggestions on how to raise the puppy once you have made your choice.
Remember, dogs are like people in the sense that they each have their own personality. Just because a book or breeder says the breed is easily trained in housebreaking or will be a good watchdog, you must realize that there is a chance the pup you choose may not follow the norm. Choosing a puppy should be a thoughtful and deliberate process in that you are making a huge financial and emotional commitment. You are assuming responsibility for a life and the lifetime of the dog. Every dog owner must hold themselves responsible for the decisions concerning our pets. A puppy needs guidance and it is your responsibility to provide him with the training that is appropriate for his age. It is well-worth the effort and it will strengthen your bond and make yours a joyful relationship.
