How to Pick a Puppy from a Litter

After much deliberation, you’ve finally decided its time to add a new, furry member to your family. You’ve researched dog breeds to find one that fits your lifestyle, and you’ve located a reputable breeder[1] with a litter of new pups. Now you need to choose the right pup among the litter, the final step to finding the dog for you. Keep in mind there is no perfect “puppy test” to find the pick of the litter. Instead, focus on finding the right dog for you and your family.

1
Try to buy a puppy from a breeder instead of a pet store. While it may be tempting to scoop up the adorable pup in a pet store window, buying a pup this way can be risky. Most pet store puppies are on their own in a small glass cage. So you won’t get the opportunity to see how the pup interacts with his litter mates. This will make it difficult to assess the pup’s personality and demeanor.[2]
Most puppies at pet stores have been weaned too early, so they never get the chance to learn how to act from their mother or their litter mates. A pup that is weaned at five or six weeks and shipped to a pet store will have had no guidance from their mother or from a reputable breeder. Without this guidance, there’s a good chance the pup will become fearful or aggressive, rather than a man’s best friend.
You should also know that puppies sold in pet shops were born most of the time in puppy mills (the adult dogs stay in cages all their lives !) and in awful conditions. Do not buy those puppies if you want to put an end to such horrible practices

2
Set up a visiting time with the breeder right after the pups have been born. You don’t want to pick puppies from a litter where the first half of the litter have already been sold. The best pups usually sell first, so try to set up a visit with the breeder right after the litter has been born.[3] Though the breeder likely won’t have you visit the pups until they are 7-8 weeks old, its best to be at the top of the visiting list.
Bring the most practical member of the family with you or a friend you trust. It helps to have someone evaluate the pups with you, as it is a big life decision.
Before the pups are born, keep in contact with the breeder. The breeder should then keep in touch to let you know how the mother is doing and when she expects the litter to be born.

3
Do not buy puppies from a bitch’s first litter. Ask the breeder which litter this is for the bitch, or mother of the pups. Ideally, you want to buy a pup from the bitch’s third litter by the same stud (or dad). This will ensure the mother has produced healthy pups before with the same father.
The mother of the pup will have a big impact on your pup’s health and personality. A poor bitch will likely produce a weak litter, even with a strong sire, or father. So its important to spend time with the mother of the pups before the litter is born and talk to the breeder about the health of the mother dog.

4
Discuss the health of the litter with the breeder. A good breeder will be knowledgeable about the general health and demeanor of the litter. The breeder should be confident about the health of the mother pup. They should also allow you to interact with both the mother pup and the litter during your visit.[4]
If you seek out a reputable breeder and spend time at their facility, you should now have a pretty good rapport with the breeder. So you can count on her to help you narrow down your choices in the litter. The breeder has watched the puppies grow. So she will know which pups are dominant or more of a handful, and which ones are shy or mischievous.
During your visit, don’t be afraid to ask for the breeder’s opinion about the litter. But, make sure you also do your own checks on the puppies to confirm their health and personality.