malmo
09-05-2007, 02:41 AM
I'm not a breeder and have no intention of becoming one. I'm the friend of someone who unwittingly rescued a pregnant chihuahua and is trying to do the right thing (read the story here (http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60564)). On BubbaTD's recommendation, we bought the book How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With and have been using it as our bible for the past few weeks. The three female puppies were born 7/16/07 and were 7 weeks old on Monday, 9/3/07. I hope someone with puppy experience can offer your opinions.
As mentioned in the other post, I get second pick of the litter to take home with me and my placid, slightly-anxious dog. Because of his temperament, and because I may be living in an apartment next year (grad school again), it's important to me to live with an adult dog who is calm, somewhat playful (but not overly so) and not too barky.
This weekend, to augment our observations of the pups, we attempted the Puppy Evaluation Test provided in the back of the book (and linked here (http://www.workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.htm) for your reference). Hopefully we performed it correctly, though we acknowledge that as first-timers, we may not have done everything right. Here's how they did.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070826-ferocious.jpg
First pick has gone to the rescuer, who wishes to keep Momma Dog and the puppy that gets along best with her beagle mix (Puppy 1). In observing their play, Puppy 1 is definitely the bold and daring girl. She bounces and pounces and attacks and explores. That's her being "ferocious" above.
Social Attraction: 6 (Did not come at all)
Following: 6 (No following, or went away)
Restraint: 6 (No struggle, avoided eye contact)
Social Dominance: 3 (Cuddled up and licked face)
Elevation Dominance: 3 (No struggle, relaxed)
Retrieving: 2 (Chased object, did not return)
Touch Sensitivity: 4 (3-4 seconds)
Sound Sensitivity: 3 (Listens, locates sound, investigates)
Sight Sensitivity: 3 (Looks, attempts to investigate)
Totals: 6's=3, 5's=0, 4's=1, 3's=4, 2's=1, 1's=0
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgee8.jpg
Puppy 2 was described originally as "calm but playful" and "a tail wagger." In play, Puppy 2 is the quiet observer. She often sits with the humans and watches the other puppies. She does sometimes engage in play, but less so than her sisters, and most often initiating play with her mother or other adult dogs instead of her littermates. Puppy 2 is extremely sweet, if a bit clingy, and the picture above shows her hiding out and watching the world -- her most common stance.
Social Attraction: 6 (Did not come at all)
Following: 6 (No following, or went away)
Restraint: 3 (Struggled, then settled, but with some eye contact)
Social Dominance: 4 (Squirmed, but did not lick at hands)
Elevation Dominance: 4 (Struggled, then settled)
Retrieving: 6 (Did not chase)
Touch Sensitivity: 5 (2 seconds)
Sound Sensitivity: 5 (Cringes, backs off, hides)
Sight Sensitivity: 5 (Runs away)
Totals: 6's=3, 5's=3, 4's=2, 3's=1, 2's=0, 1's=0
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-gemela3.jpg
Puppy 3 is the most vocal of all the puppies -- I've heard her shriek twice at being surprised (once when I picked her up without warning, and once when she realized a dog was behind her and got spooked). She has also barked in response to yappy neighbor dogs, and has a whole vocabulary of whines and growls. She is less aggressive then Puppy 1 and less shy than Puppy 3. Not surprisingly, she tested as best "all around dog" in the evaluations.
Social Attraction: 3 (Came readily, tail up)
Following: 3 (Followed readily, tail up)
Restraint: 4 (Struggled, then settled)
Social Dominance: 3 (Cuddled up, licked face)
Elevation Dominance: 5 (No struggle)
Retrieving: 6 (Did not chase)
Touch Sensitivity: 1 (10 seconds)
Sound Sensitivity: 4 (Located sound)
Sight Sensitivity: 3 (Looks curious, investigates)
Totals: 6's=1, 5's=1, 4's=2, 3's=4, 2's=0, 1's=1
Because of my concerns about barking and temperament, I have been leaning toward Puppy 2. I know -- everyone says not to choose the timid dog, but I have hopes, I guess, that even the timid dog can be carefully socialized and loved out of her shell. I have the time to devote to socialization at this point in my life and, of all the potential puppy homes, I think I have the most knowledge and experience in socialization and training. Milo met both of the puppies this weekend and he did just great with them.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgeemilo2.jpg
I keep telling myself -- even the bold and timid dogs have to find homes, right? Maybe I'm just deluding myself because I feel a bit attached to Puppy 2already. But, am I asking for a future of separation anxiety, owner-protection aggression, and hiding behind my legs?
Whatever puppy I adopt, I will love and protect and train her. I have been wanting a second dog companion for a long time, and this is the situation that has fallen into my lap. Can any of you look at those evaluation results and give your honest opinion? I would gladly adopt Puppy 3, if she is the better match.
Thank you very much for your time.
As mentioned in the other post, I get second pick of the litter to take home with me and my placid, slightly-anxious dog. Because of his temperament, and because I may be living in an apartment next year (grad school again), it's important to me to live with an adult dog who is calm, somewhat playful (but not overly so) and not too barky.
This weekend, to augment our observations of the pups, we attempted the Puppy Evaluation Test provided in the back of the book (and linked here (http://www.workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.htm) for your reference). Hopefully we performed it correctly, though we acknowledge that as first-timers, we may not have done everything right. Here's how they did.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070826-ferocious.jpg
First pick has gone to the rescuer, who wishes to keep Momma Dog and the puppy that gets along best with her beagle mix (Puppy 1). In observing their play, Puppy 1 is definitely the bold and daring girl. She bounces and pounces and attacks and explores. That's her being "ferocious" above.
Social Attraction: 6 (Did not come at all)
Following: 6 (No following, or went away)
Restraint: 6 (No struggle, avoided eye contact)
Social Dominance: 3 (Cuddled up and licked face)
Elevation Dominance: 3 (No struggle, relaxed)
Retrieving: 2 (Chased object, did not return)
Touch Sensitivity: 4 (3-4 seconds)
Sound Sensitivity: 3 (Listens, locates sound, investigates)
Sight Sensitivity: 3 (Looks, attempts to investigate)
Totals: 6's=3, 5's=0, 4's=1, 3's=4, 2's=1, 1's=0
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgee8.jpg
Puppy 2 was described originally as "calm but playful" and "a tail wagger." In play, Puppy 2 is the quiet observer. She often sits with the humans and watches the other puppies. She does sometimes engage in play, but less so than her sisters, and most often initiating play with her mother or other adult dogs instead of her littermates. Puppy 2 is extremely sweet, if a bit clingy, and the picture above shows her hiding out and watching the world -- her most common stance.
Social Attraction: 6 (Did not come at all)
Following: 6 (No following, or went away)
Restraint: 3 (Struggled, then settled, but with some eye contact)
Social Dominance: 4 (Squirmed, but did not lick at hands)
Elevation Dominance: 4 (Struggled, then settled)
Retrieving: 6 (Did not chase)
Touch Sensitivity: 5 (2 seconds)
Sound Sensitivity: 5 (Cringes, backs off, hides)
Sight Sensitivity: 5 (Runs away)
Totals: 6's=3, 5's=3, 4's=2, 3's=1, 2's=0, 1's=0
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-gemela3.jpg
Puppy 3 is the most vocal of all the puppies -- I've heard her shriek twice at being surprised (once when I picked her up without warning, and once when she realized a dog was behind her and got spooked). She has also barked in response to yappy neighbor dogs, and has a whole vocabulary of whines and growls. She is less aggressive then Puppy 1 and less shy than Puppy 3. Not surprisingly, she tested as best "all around dog" in the evaluations.
Social Attraction: 3 (Came readily, tail up)
Following: 3 (Followed readily, tail up)
Restraint: 4 (Struggled, then settled)
Social Dominance: 3 (Cuddled up, licked face)
Elevation Dominance: 5 (No struggle)
Retrieving: 6 (Did not chase)
Touch Sensitivity: 1 (10 seconds)
Sound Sensitivity: 4 (Located sound)
Sight Sensitivity: 3 (Looks curious, investigates)
Totals: 6's=1, 5's=1, 4's=2, 3's=4, 2's=0, 1's=1
Because of my concerns about barking and temperament, I have been leaning toward Puppy 2. I know -- everyone says not to choose the timid dog, but I have hopes, I guess, that even the timid dog can be carefully socialized and loved out of her shell. I have the time to devote to socialization at this point in my life and, of all the potential puppy homes, I think I have the most knowledge and experience in socialization and training. Milo met both of the puppies this weekend and he did just great with them.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgeemilo2.jpg
I keep telling myself -- even the bold and timid dogs have to find homes, right? Maybe I'm just deluding myself because I feel a bit attached to Puppy 2already. But, am I asking for a future of separation anxiety, owner-protection aggression, and hiding behind my legs?
Whatever puppy I adopt, I will love and protect and train her. I have been wanting a second dog companion for a long time, and this is the situation that has fallen into my lap. Can any of you look at those evaluation results and give your honest opinion? I would gladly adopt Puppy 3, if she is the better match.
Thank you very much for your time.