From a very young age, puppies learn about life and communication through play with their littermates and correction from their mother.  As puppies test each other by rumbling, tumbling and play-fighting with each other they learn about dominance and submission (leading and following).  Even at this very early stage, future leaders and followers will emerge.  This playful behaviour also serves to create deep bonds within the puppy’s pack.

As puppies grow older they partake in more mature play, displaying behaviour such as chasing, catching, stalking, herding, digging and scent following – all characteristics which mankind uses for beneficial purposes e.g. assistance dogs for blind and deaf people, companion dogs for children with autism, search and rescue dogs for police, sniffer dogs for customs officers, herding and stalking dogs for farmers and to improve the morale of hospital patients.  

It’s not surprising that of all animals, dogs have truly earned the title of being ‘Man’s Best Friend’!

By the time a puppy reaches 8 weeks old, they will have formed a personality as a result of interaction with their mother and littermates.  Some puppies will be more bold and confident, some will be more submissive and fearful and others will be in between.

Watching puppies interacting together will perhaps help you to choose the right puppy for your family and lifestyle.  Also puppy testing (how a puppy reacts to certain things and situations) can be a way to decide which one is best for you.

Try our Puppy Testing Facility here...

Which Breed?

ALWAYS choose a dog which has an energy level equal to or less than your own!    

There are many breeds to pick from when choosing a puppy; big or small, long or shorthaired, from popular breeds such as Maltese, Cavalier King Charles and Yorkshire Terriers to Labrador, Golden Retriever and German Shepherd dogs, the possibilities are almost endless.  Although certain breeds may be more suitable for your situation, the most important factor to take into account when you choose your puppy is its energy levels.

If you’re more likely to plonk on the sofa to watch your favourite soap at the end of the day than to put on your high tech training shoes and go for a run to achieve under 4 hours race time at your next marathon, then a low level energy dog is definitely a must for you.  For more information on specific breeds see AKC.org

Photography by professional pet photographer Gwen McKay

Energy Matching Table:

Remember! Under-exercised dogs will be prone to developing problem behaviour.

Sources to find a puppy

• Breeders
• Pet Shops
• Newspapers/Websites
• Animal Rescue Centres

Beware of puppy farms!

Puppy farms (also known as puppy mills) are commercial dog breeding facilities where the emphasis is completely on profit and not animal welfare.    

Dogs are often kept in substandard, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialisation. These dogs do not receive treats, toys, exercise nor basic grooming. To minimise waste clean-up, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs. It is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns.

Breeder dogs might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or kept indoors inside cages all their lives. Often after the breeder dog has reached the age of 4 years old, it is no longer needed and killed. Sometimes the puppy farm owners will have a contact person who collaborates with rescues in order to rehome the dog.

Once adopted, it can take a breeder dog up to or over a year for it to relax and allow human touch due to lack of socialisation.

How can you avoid buying a puppy from a puppy farm?

1 - Always insist you meet and collect the puppy from the breeder's home.  Many puppy farm owners will arrange to meet you in a public place (sometimes at the side of the road).  They may appear to be very accommodating by meeting you in a distant location e.g. saying they are coming from Cork, will meet you in Portlaoise, but in actual fact could be from Dublin or nearby to where you live - therefore giving you a false sense of kindness.  Meeting your puppy for the first time in a breeder's home will give you great insight into the first important weeks of its life.

2 - Always insist on seeing  the puppy's parents.  In some cases it may not be possible to see the sire (male dog), but at the very least you should be able to meet the mother (dam).  This will give you a good indication of how the mother is treated.  Be observant - is she healthy and alert, a healthy weight and well socialised with people?

Sometimes puppy farms sell through third parties so it will be difficult to tell where your puppy came from, therefore bringing your puppy directly to the vet will help identify if there are any health, development or socialisation problems.

Never adopt a puppy at less than 8 weeks old.  Although it will typically be weaned at 6 weeks, it will not be ready to leave its mother and pack until it is minimum 8 weeks old.

Check your puppy for any signs of sickness or abnormalities.  Your puppy should have clear eyes, a lively temperament, a normal size tail for its size and age, no odour in the ears or bad breath.