How to Evaluate a Dog Breeder and Temperament Test Puppies
How to Evaluate a Dog Breeder and Temperament Test Puppies
Picking the Perfect Puppy
We field questions regularly from people wanting to add the perfect puppy to their Western North Carolina home, so we thought we would share our expertise with you!
When you have decided on the most suitable breed of puppy, the next step is to start looking. Popular sources are Craigslist, the classifieds, internet search, Facebook search, and referrals from friends or other professionals. You will quickly discover a wide variety of puppies with a wide range of prices, contract terms, and other options. How do you sort through all of this?!
First Pick! Verify the Breeder’s Credentials
You get what you pay for, however price does not always reflect quality. When selecting a purebred puppy, only choose AKC, UKC or CKC registered dogs. This helps to prove the dog’s lineage and that it is in fact a purebred. Select a breeder who has done genetic testing on the dam and sire, to include OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) hips and elbows certifications. This will not guarantee long term health, but it does show a breeder’s effort in improving the breed and producing healthy puppies. Breeders who have done the genetic testing pass the costs onto you when you buy a puppy, that is why higher quality puppies cost more. Require these documents when you see the puppies!
Second Pick! Visit the Facility
Now that you have found a reputable breeder, it is time to schedule a visit! You must go with an open mind and be objective. You are now examining the facility, the breeder, breeder’s dogs, and puppies. The facility could be a small home or farm with several litters of puppies. It must be clean, well kept, and the dogs should be housed in runs that are clean, dry and well lit, if not kept in the house. A litter of puppies can’t be kept 100% clean due to the nature of puppies, but there should not be feces or urine in excess. The puppies should appear to be clean, in good health, and show appropriate activity levels for their age (when not napping!). No sneezing, coughing, runny noses, eye discharge, diarrhea, etc.
Communicate with the breeder and assess their honesty with the information they provided on the phone or in the ad. They should never require the puppy be spayed/neutered before 17 months age as this can damage the developing puppy. Do not sign a puppy contract you are not comfortable with. The puppy should come with a health guarantee, read it!
The dam and sire (if present) will tell you much about the puppies’ adult size, coat type, and temperament. If you don’t like the parents, you won’t be happy with your (adult) puppy.
Third Pick! Select the Puppy
With a reputable breeder, AKC/UKC registered puppies in good health, a clean facility, and friendly puppy parents and are now ready to select your puppy!
Do not choose the puppy that runs to you first! This will happen every time you sit down with a litter of puppies and it is only by chance that one of them comes to you first. Ideally the litter size is 4-8 puppies, too few and the mother spoils them and too many she has a difficult time attending to them. For pets, you generally want to select the most average puppy. You do not want the most active one nor do you want the calmest one. The puppy that is mildly active but also rests is, generally, the better pick. While being the first puppy to come to you has little to no value, you do want the puppy that continues to return to you!
Understanding Puppy Temperament Tests and Arousal Level
Puppy temperament tests provide very limited information and only assess the puppy on that day in that moment and are not indicative of adult behavior. A trait that does remain constant is what we at Appalachian Dog Training LLC call “arousal level,” indicated by tail carriage. If the puppies have their tails hiked up tight over their backs they are “high arousal” puppies. You will see this, especially when playing, but the tail should mostly be in line with the back “medium arousal.” A lowered tail or tucked tail may indicate significant fear.
A “high arousal” puppy will become a dog that is more reactive, more likely to be a barker, and more likely to be higher energy and have a higher likelihood of behavioral problems as an adult. The ‘joe cool’ medium arousal puppies are easy going, more willing to accept new social partners, and be calmer in general.
| Tail Position | Arousal Level | What it Tends to Mean as an Adult |
|---|---|---|
| Hiked up tight over the back | High arousal | More reactive, more likely to bark, higher energy, higher likelihood of behavioral challenges |
| In line with the back | Medium arousal | Easygoing, accepts new social partners well, generally calmer — the “joe cool” pick |
| Lowered or tucked | May indicate fear | Worth observing closely; not necessarily disqualifying, but proceed thoughtfully |
You now have the skills to pick the perfect puppy!
Check out our Puppy Head Start Training for early training options!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask about AKC, UKC, or CKC registration, whether the dam and sire have genetic health testing (including OFA hip and elbow certifications), and request to see a health guarantee before signing any contract.
High arousal puppies — identifiable by a tail carried tight and high over the back — tend to grow into more reactive, higher-energy adult dogs with a greater likelihood of behavioral challenges.
Not entirely — temperament tests only capture a puppy’s behavior in that specific moment and aren’t reliably indicative of how the dog will behave as an adult. Tail carriage and arousal level tend to be more consistent indicators.
Not necessarily — which puppy approaches first is often just chance. It’s more meaningful to notice which puppy continues to return to you throughout the visit.
It should be clean, well-lit, and well-kept, with puppies showing normal activity levels for their age and no signs of illness like coughing, sneezing, or discharge. Some mess is normal with a litter, but there shouldn’t be excess waste.
