What Makes Good Character In A Dog?

The first quality you should look for while searching for your potential dog is character. Although we can selectively breed dogs to show us physical and behavioral characteristics, every single puppy will have an individual character of his own.

When a new dog that is not a puppy comes into your life, your first impression may be that he is quiet and depressed. As a potential dog owner, you should be aware that it is possible that the dog will remain this way throughout his life. On the other hand, after a short "getting to know you" period, it is equally possible for this dog to become a lunatic. Frequently, dogs seem extremely placid after being boarded away from home for an extended time (three weeks or more). Some dogs are genuinely sensitive yet strong, while others are soft and emotionally weak.

Many dogs are just not confident enough at first to show their temperament. Nervous dogs are nervous dogs. I have seen numerous dogs with low nerve thresholds, and many tended to be sharp as well. This behavior was very much inherent in the individuals. Commonly, new owners of adult dogs believe that their dog's apparent apprehension is a result of previous abuse. This is rarely the case. The real deal is that these dogs have always acted in this manner.

If a seven or eight-week-old puppy is active, outgoing, and friendly, it is unlikely that he will become fearful and nervous unless he becomes environmentally traumatized. If a puppy of the same age is already nervous, there is no real reason to assume that his nerves are going to strengthen over time. Training a dog with unsound nerves will not net you a super well trained dog. If you need a retriever for some type of work, then be sure you pick a puppy with strong retrieve drives, or you may be struggling to teach your retriever to retrieve.

When you are evaluating a puppy, he is what he appears to be. There are no secrets. If it's a hyper little female yapping a million miles an hour, she ought to settle herself down by the time she is a senior citizen. If a puppy appears independent when you are around him for the first time, leave him behind and look for a puppy who shows interest in you. Don't choose the big active male in the litter unless you are prepared for the potential dominance and for all the time and training it could take to make him a great boy.