Choosing the Right Dog
How Do You Select THE ONE?

Choosing the right dog -- how do you do this? You are now sure of which breeder will be the one to give you your Golden Retriever puppy. (If you are not, please read the breeders section carefully and thoroughly). But which exact puppy in the litter will be THE ONE for you?

Uploaded to Youtube by matigangoldens on 1/08.

A natural reaction to such a situation is a feeling of lack of control. Being used to making my own choices, I too initially found this kind of assignment of puppies somewhat disconcerting. That was until I realized that the breeders actually know each individual puppy much more than we, as occasional visitors, do. They are adept at choosing the right dog for the right situation.

Further, the breeders truly have the best interest of the pups in mind. They make every effort to place each puppy correctly, by making the best matches possible. Of course, all this is based on the premise that you have done your due diligence and chosen your breeder well. The importance of this cannot be over-emphasized. Please do take a look at the section on breeders if you have not done so.

Some breeders will not go about choosing the right dog for the buyers but instead will make particular suggestions. They frequently still allow the buyers to pick their own Golden Retriever puppy. In this case, the selection order is most often based upon the order in which the puppies were booked. If you are lower down in the list, you may not get your first or second choice. But don't be disheartened -- pretty much all the puppies from good breeders are excellent, and you will soon be convinced that your puppy was indeed the perfect fit for you!

Regardless, getting to know each puppy individually is an educational (not to mention extremely enjoyable) experience.When you are on-site at the breeder's place, carefully watch the puppies. You can learn a tremendous amount from simple observation of how the puppies behave. You can obviously see how each puppy looks, but also you can see how each puppy interacts with her littermates and with humans.

Physical Appearance
Aside from having an adorable appearance (that is a given!), your Golden Retriever puppy should be lively and friendly, curious and alert. She should have a shiny, nice-smelling coat. The skin should be free of sores or scabs. Her eyes should be bright and intelligent with no discharge. Ears should be clear without odor. Even is all her cuteness and cuddliness, she should appear sturdy and strong.

Temperament and Aptitude
Observe the feeding time of your pup. Are some puppies more excitable and even pushy at feeding time? This may be something you want if you are into field training, but generally a more laid-back dog will be better suited as a pet. That being said, a Golden Retriever puppy that is too shy to approach and is only hiding out may indicate uncertain temperament .

When you hold the puppy, does she resist, bite or squirm to get free? When you pet her, does she relax or become more tense? Go ahead, baby-talk to your Golden Retriever puppy all you want. This is the perfect time! Does she engage with you at this time?

There are specific puppy aptitude tests that can be conducted. One that I really like is the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. Often breeders conduct these test and provide you with the results. If not, you may want to simulate some of these tests on your own with a few of the puppies you may be considering.

Often I find that as you interact with puppies while keeping in mind the tips we just reviewed, you will start to gravitate towards a certain puppy. As you observe, hold, hug, and play with her, a nexus will start to form and it will become clear that THIS is your Golden Retriever puppy. Choosing the right dog was not so difficult after all!