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Whenever we are going to add a new dog to our pack I have come to believe in the value of “puppy testing” the entire litter. Using the knowledge gained from Guide Dogs for the Blind, I am convinced it is possible to choose wisely when its time to bring the new baby home. That time is during the seventh week of life. If the breeder tells me they have to keep the pup till it is three months old, then I find a different breeder. I have found it is critical to have the puppy in my care so I can expose it to all the worlds’ strangeness at the right time in its development. Students have brought me so many dogs that had to be rehabbed simply because they were kept cloistered and uneducated in the backyard. I used to buy a puppy with my heart and not my head. When I finally got over choosing because of sex or color and decided to simply get the best puppy in the litter, the outcome was much more rewarding.
After researching the parents, and as far back in the pedigree as possible, it is time to look at the “kids.” I like to puppy test at three, five and seven weeks of age. Each puppy has his own test card where the scores can be compared to each other as the weeks go by. There is a series of tests (noninvasive) that will tell the tester to what degree the puppy is willing to do your bidding. We call it “bid ability.” To what degree is he people oriented, To what degree is he bold or shy. To what degree is he dominant. To what degree is he a problem solver.
It has been a revelation to me over the years to see, time and time again, how this testing proves valid. There have been some clients who have told me, “Ann, you're never going to let me have a puppy!!” My criteria is, if I wouldn't want to take it home, why would I tell you to settle for less? It is your investment in money, time and love, so why not choose wisely. Not easy to do when confronted with a whole litter of cute puppies. I HAVE NEVER MET A PUPPY OR A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE I DIDN'T LIKE. Being “wise” is not always an easy task.