There is no such thing as a perfect dog. All you can do is pick the puppy out of the litter that may suit your family and lifestyle the best. The rest is up to training, nurture, and overall care. With that said, you can get an insight into their temperament. So, here are some tips for picking a calm dog.
Why it’s Important To Pick The Best Puppy
Not all dogs are created equally. They’re their individuals. Every puppy has their temperament and personality. Some will work better with your family than others.
For instance, even though each breed has a particular temperament they’re known for, some pups may be the odd one out.
Sometimes, dogs considered an “aggressive” breed can be the sweetest, gentlest pups.
Their personality will also depend on how they’re treated and raised.
The bottom line is that you want to have a puppy that will fit in well with your family. For example, you don’t want to be stressed out all the time, worried that your pup may lash out at your children.
On the other hand, you don’t want the puppy to be uncomfortable or unhappy in its own home. If you hike a lot, choose an active and energetic breed rather than a dog that prefers to be a couch potato.
But how can we tell which is the best pup for us?
Reasons To Get A Calm Dog
You’ll be lucky to have any dog as part of your family. However, some pups fit better than others.
For example, there are many reasons to get a dog that has a calm temperament, such as:
- You’re out of the house most of the day (for example, at work)
- You have young kids in the house and don’t want them or the dog playing too rough with each other
- The environment changes often, and you don’t want a skittish dog afraid of the noise or change
Take a look at yourself, your family, the environment you live in, and you’re lifestyle. Then, figure out if you can get a puppy and, if so, decide on which breed and temperament would best suit the household.
Now, let’s take a look at some tips for picking a calm dog.
Tips For Picking A Calm Dog
You can ask the breeder what the parents are like. If you’re looking at little or purebred puppies or crossbreeds, the puppies will most likely take traits from their parents.
However, one puppy may be gentle like its mother and bark like its father. On the other hand, another puppy may bark a lot and be a bit more aggressive like its father and take little traits from its mother.
Genetics is a toss-up, and that goes for their personalities.
So, watch the puppies. Are they engaging inappropriate play behavior? Do they come up to you and sniff you or nudge you? Do they roll over for you to pet them? Or do they seem stand-offish around strangers?
At this point, the breeder should have observed the puppies enough to tell some personality traits from the puppies.
For example, you’ll want to observe the following traits.
Social Behavior
One way to choose a calm pup is to see how they interact socially with other humans and their littermates.
For example, if they follow you around, allow you to pick them up, and easily submit, they’ll most likely have a calm, easy-going personality.
On the other hand, if you try to pick up a puppy and they wriggle free or chase your ankle, nipping playfully, they will most likely have a more boisterous personality.
Use The Senses
You can easily test three of the five senses on a puppy to see how calm they are: touch, sight, and hearing.
How does the puppy react when you bend down to pet it or pick it up? Do they allow it? Are they scared? Do they roll over onto their back for belly rubs?
In addition, you can see how well they follow certain sights and sounds and how they react to them. Of course, you always want to have a calm environment for a dog, but you’ll want to see how they respond to sudden movements, loud sounds, or changes in the background.
If the puppy is easily startled by these changes, it might be skittish. But, on the other hand, they could have a calm temperament and not be bothered by such things.
Only Choose A Puppy That’s Right For You And Your Lifestyle
It seems rare, but there are cases when none of the puppies is the right choice for you and your family.
If that’s the case, then that’s okay. However, you’ll do yourself (and the puppies) a favor by walking away.
The puppy will still be able to find its forever home with someone else. Your puppy will come along as well, but maybe through a different litter or a different breeder.
Overall, choose what’s best for you and your family. Take into account your lifestyle and home life and the puppy’s personality, breed traits, and size.
