How to pick a puppy from a litter

When do families choose their puppy here?

Families here hold a spot by gender and color when a litter is born, then choose the actual puppy at 4 to 5 weeks. By then each puppy's personality has started to show and its coat and eye color are easier to judge. Your puppy comes home with you at 8 weeks.

We keep first pick of any litter for our own program, so families choose from the puppies after that.

Can you tell a puppy's temperament at a few weeks old?

You can tell a little, and the formal tests don't add much, because puppy temperament tests haven't been shown to predict how a grown dog behaves. What does help is someone who has watched the litter since birth and knows which puppy is first to the door and which one hangs back to watch.

That's our job, so tell us about your household, your kids and any other pets, and we'll point you toward the puppies whose personalities suit it.

What can the parents tell you?

The parents are your best preview of the grown dog, so see at least one of a puppy's parents if you can, and notice how the breeder's dogs respond to the breeder, whether they come forward friendly and outgoing or hang back. Every puppy's page here shows its mama and papa, so you can meet them online first, and you're welcome to come see the puppies in Syracuse, Indiana, during our hours or at another time on request. A video call works well if you live too far to drive.

Size, coat and color come from the parents too, which is why each puppy's estimated grown weight is worked out from theirs. Ask us about the health testing behind any puppy. Hips, elbows and eyes are on the list for every breed we raise, and results that have been made public can be looked up by a dog's registered name.

How do you match a puppy to your home?

Start with the life the dog will have with you, and then choose the puppy. A Lab needs real exercise every day, a Golden needs regular brushing, and a Bernese can top 100 pounds and usually lives 7 to 10 years, the shortest of any breed we raise. Our Golden and Lab comparison and our guide to Bernese lifespan and shedding go into each.

Expect a good breeder to ask you questions as well, which is a good sign, and our application is where we ask ours. Sending it doesn't commit you to a deposit.

What happens after you pick?

Your puppy stays with us until 8 weeks, and then the real work starts at your house. Gently introduce your puppy to lots of people, places and situations between 7 weeks and 4 months old, because the first weeks at home count for a lot. Puppy shots carry on after go-home day as well, repeating every few weeks until your puppy is past 16 weeks old, so book your vet early.