First and foremost you should be looking for a healthy pup. The pup should have bright eyes, a shiney coat and bright white teeth. His gums should have a pinkish hue and the anal area should not be stained with stool.
Pick a pupppy that suits you and/or your family's personality. The more aggressive pups will take more aggressive training, however, they are often the best puppies.
From the day a pup is born, he will be fighting for rank in his dog pack (his litter). This continues throughout his life as he joins his new family (in his eyes, another dog pack).
The new pup's family needs to be the leader of the pack, otherwise many behavior problems may occur. In order to accomplish this, establish your rules and commands. BE CONSISTANT! Always have the same command mean the same thing. "No" always means "No". "Sit" always means "Sit". Permissiveness leads to an anxious and/or potentially destructive dog- especially a dog with a more aggressive personality.
When watching the litter you will notice the more aggressive pups bite at your fingers and are more bold in general. On the other extreme, avoid the very timid pup as he will need extra care as well. Timid pups hide under things, are shy and avoid the other pups. They will crawl on their bellies and urinate when stressed. They can make excellent pups, but remember, as well as the more aggressive pup may take that extra care.
Dr. Ihrke's next topic will focus on development of your dog's potential.
Dr. George D. Ihrke, a graduate of The University of Minnesota, has practiced Veterinary Medicine for over 40 years, most of which were in his own parctice in Homer Glen, Illinois. He practiced general veterinary medicine with special interests in behavior, orthopedic surgery and sporting dog injuries. He and his wife Ann currently reside in Buckley, Illinois with their 6 dogs and 6 horses.