The Dog Lover’s Guide to Choosing the Right Dog
Meeting the Dog in Person Checklist
- Age: is the dog at least 8 – 12 weeks old? Any younger is too young to be away from its mother.
- Does the entire litter look healthy and happy?
- Are the puppies curious and active?
- Size: is the dog the “middle size” of the litter? Neither the runt or the largest? The average puppy is probably the healthiest and easiest to train.
- Check out the puppy
- Eyes clear and focused?
- Nose free of debris?
- Ears clean with no wax or buildup?
- Mouth and teeth – do the teeth align? are the gums a healthy pink color?
- Body should be slightly plump and tummy slightly rounded. The bum should be clean and free of fecal matter.
- Legs should be straight and without obvious defects.
- Friendly: is the dog friendly toward you and others?
- Is the dog curious, or fearful, or threatening when you approach? You want one who is curious.
- Is the dog afraid of sudden noise?
- How does the dog react to being touched? The pup should love it.
- Does the dog lick or playfully bite? Biting can be controlled if properly trained.
- Does the dog want to play and chase a toy?
- How does the dog interact with kids?
- How does the dog act toward other dogs?
- Food: is the dog possessive or relaxed around food?
- Training questions: Is the dog house trained?
- Leash trained?
- Crate trained?
- Does the dog bark or whine?
- What causes it?
- Excitement?
- Intruder?
- Territorial?
- Separation?
- Attention?
- Fear?
- What causes it?
- Does the pup have the personality you are looking for?
- Did you and the dog connect?
Do you have everything you need to bring the puppy home?
- Collar
- Leash
- Poop bags
- Crate
- Bed
- Dog food
- Food and water dishes
- Dog toys
- Treats for dogs
- Chewies for dogs
Congratulations!
Congratulations on finding your perfect dog companion!
We wish you both long healthy and happy lives together!
