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.
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 you pick the biggest puppy in litter?
Avoid buying the largest or smallest puppy in the litter. Instead, look at the litter size — generally, the more puppies in the litter, the healthier they will be.
Picking a runt puppy is okay if that means the puppy is the smallest pup in the litter but otherwise healthy. Conversely, it’s risky to choose a runt that is abnormally small, has infections or presents congenital deformities at birth. These conditions are usually signs of future health complications.
What to avoid when choosing a puppy
The engagement level of the puppy.
Cowering or freezing upon petting.
Running away or hiding when approached.
Barking or growling at the approach of a person (not in play)
Refusal of food in the presence of a new person.
How to pick out a puppy with a good temperament
Although accurate temperament testing is not possible at a very young age, you can get a general assessment of your pup’s personality. Does he seem interested in play? Does he sniff or nudge your hand when you hold it out and welcome your touch? Is he comfortable around people or does he cower when you approach?
Best age to choose a puppy from a litter
About 8-to-9-weeks: one experienced dog trainer and expert on dog development suggested that the optimum age for a puppy to go to its new owner is about 8-to-9-weeks, when the pup is ready to develop a strong bond.
How to choose a puppy from a litter
Talk to the owner.
Observe the litter mates in action.
Survey their overall appearance.
Watch them move.
How often should dogs have litters
A best practice is 4-6 litters per dog: Remaining active during pregnancy and whelping and being able to maintain a healthy weight during nursing are signs that your dam is feeling good and able to continue producing litters.
The first usage of the term pick of the litter refers to the right to choose first a puppy in the litter. In many cases, this right is in return for the stud. Pick of the Litter is a contractual and legal right to possess whichever puppy of a litter that person wants.
What is sibling puppy syndrome?
As mentioned in our “Picking a Puppy” article, littermate syndrome is a serious behavioral condition. The condition develops when two young dogs end up bonding too tightly with each other. It may sound ideal when dogs are such close friends, but major issues can arise down the road.
How do you tell if a puppy is dominant or submissive?
Dogs with higher dominancy levels will approach standing high and proud, ears perked. While this looks adorable, keep in mind this is how a dominant dog carries himself. A submissive dog will hold his head low, ears back, and slink himself down, trying to look smaller.
Is the biggest puppy in the litter the Alpha?
Size and dominance: Ergo, a large puppy may be more dominant as a result of their size advantage, but equally, a dominant puppy may grow larger than the others as a result of their dominance itself.
Is the last puppy born the smallest?
A puppy born in a litter of many puppies can be labeled the runt simply because it is the smallest among several or more puppies. Obviously, in a litter of six big puppies, a puppy of a smaller size will be easy to spot. This small puppy labeled the runt may actually be of normal size for its age.
Does the smallest puppy in a litter stay the smallest?
In one word, the answer is “No.” In most cases, the smallest puppy in a litter will outgrow his siblings. Despite the puppy’s low birth weight, with proper care and help, the runt of the litter should grow to be as healthy as any other puppy.
Is a dog’s first litter the best?
According to some dog breeding experts, you should stay away from a dam’s first litter. The idea behind this argument is that the first litter is somewhat of a gamble. You practically have no idea how the puppies are going to turn out. After all, the female dog (dam) has never given birth to kids of her own before.
