Is this the right puppy ?

Is this the right puppy ? by Lee Weston

Okay you've done your homework, you've chosen the breed, the breeder, the vet. You've "puppy-proofed" your home. You have sat down with the family and everyone is agreement on how to share the responibility for this new family member. Now to answer somemore questions:
Do you want a MALE or FEMALE ???
Females tend to be smaller than the males, to be less prone to wandering and don't usually try to be dominant (unless they have an "alpha" personality). It is urgently recommended that you plan to spay or neuter the puppy as soon as your vet recommends. There are not enough homes now for the number of dogs and cats that are available for adoption.
Spaying your female eliminates the heat cycle, and the mess associated with it, and there will be no accidental litters. The local "Humane Society" shelters are inundated with unwanted pets. They can keep these animals sometimes for only a couple of hours, for a "lucky" few, only a couple of days before the animals are "put down." Please don't add to the carnage.
Temperment: Dominant (Alpha Personality) or Submissive
Within any breed, there are personality traits that hold true throughout that breed. Since one puppy is, not yet, a clone of another, the personality will have individual differences. Puppies do not come with a programming package. You have to teach them what you expect of them. This process is called "training," and it is up to you as to how extensive it will be. From simple "housebreaking" to "search and rescue" how much time, effort and patience are you willing to invest ?
When choosing the puppy, hopefully, you have established a good relationship with the breeder. The breeder has watched over this litter of puppies and probably knows each one as well as the dam. He/She will know the dominant ones, the shy ones, the curious, the mischevious ones. You will be able to count on the breeder to help you make the right choice.
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