When it comes to puppies, it’s far too easy to get suckered in by cute looks. The floppy ears, the too-big paws, the large soulful eyes, the furiously wagging tiny tail. But how your puppy looks has nothing to do with their temperament (or personality). It’s this that influences how well your puppy will fit you, your lifestyle, your home and your family.

As a lifelong commitment, it’s important you know what sort of puppy personality will best suit yours. It’s also important to understand what you’re looking for in your perfect pup. By knowing these things, you can ensure a loving, lifelong relationship with the right dog for you.

Think of temperament as another word for personality. A puppy’s temperament is affected by 2 things. Their:

• Genetic background (i.e. what breed or breeds they are).
• Life experiences.

Together, these make your puppy uniquely them.

There’s no such thing as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ temperament, where bubbly, confident, outgoing dogs on the ‘good’ end of the scale and shy, fearful or aggressive dogs on the ‘bad’ end. Like humans, there aren’t only 2 options of temperament. Most dogs will fit somewhere in the middle, with a range of different traits.

To choose the right puppy for you, start by researching different dog breeds. Understanding your puppy’s breed can help give you an idea of what to expect as your puppy grows up. Dog breeds exist because dogs are bred for certain things, whether that’s speed; herding, guarding or hunting abilities; endurance; or appearance. This means that purebred dogs are fairly consistent across each breed, in both their looks and their behaviour.

To find your ideal breed, ask yourself questions like:

• • • Do you want to go jogging with your dog or do you want a low energy dog?
    • How much time do you have each day to exercise and groom your dog?
    • Do you want a cuddly velcro dog that sticks by your side or do you want a more independent one?
    • Do you live in an apartment where a noisy or high energy dog would be a problem?
    • Do you have a fully fenced large garden for an energetic dog to play in or do you need a smaller, more low-key dog?

These questions can help you decide what type of dog will best suit you and your lifestyle. From there, you can look at breeds that appeal to you and research their temperament, activity level, grooming needs, health concerns and more. This will help you check if they’re a good fit simply by reading up on different dog breeds.

Once you’ve found a breed you’re interested in, it’s a good idea to meet the breed and talk to people who have them as a pet. Research dog clubs or breeders in your area and set up a time for a meet and greet.

Mixed breed dogs or unknown breed

If you’re interested in a mixed breed dog, this will work for them too. Research whatever breeds they’re from and you can expect their temperament to resemble one or both of those breeds. By researching all the breeds that make up their background, you should get a sense of what they’ll be like as an adult dog.

If you adopt a puppy, it’s possible you won’t know what breed they are. You might be able to take a guess based on what they look like. The adoption centre staff should be able to tell you more about their personality too.

When you meet a litter of puppies, it can be far too easy to fall in love on sight without really understanding each puppy’s individual personality. Here are some tips to help you evaluate a puppy’s personality.

• • • Watch how the puppy interacts with their littermates and any people in the room. Sure, it’s normal for a puppy to be shy when first meeting new people but they should warm up and be willing to greet you after a while. If you notice a puppy being extremely fearful or shy, that could be something you’ll need to work on throughout your puppy’s life.
    • Try playing with them. Throw a dog toy around and see if they play with it. If they chase it, it suggests they’re a playful pup. If they bring it back to you, it suggests they’ve got retrieving tendencies.
    • Make loud, unexpected noises (ask the breeder or adoption centre staff first if this is ok!). Most puppies will startle at loud, unusual noises. But they should recover quickly and continue playing. Puppies who investigate the noise are braver, while puppies who get scared and don’t recover may be shyer and more fearful.
    • Don’t let emotions sway your decision. The puppy climbing on you demanding attention might be cute but it doesn’t mean they’ve chosen you. Instead, it suggests they’re pushy! If you’re after a pushy, confident, busy dog then that puppy might be right for you, although it’s good to understand how large this confident pup might grow. On the other hand, you might think the runt of the litter is sweeter and cuddlier than their bigger littermates. Watch them interact - are they actually a tiny terror? The key to choosing the perfect pup is to observe objectively and choose your puppy based on what you see, your lifestyle, and what you and your family are after.

Once you’ve chosen your puppy and brought them home, their personality and temperament isn’t set in stone. There are still lots of ways you can help them become the best versions of themselves - calm, loving, self-assured, respectful, well-mannered adult dogs. This is where training comes in, especially early socialisation.

It’s your job to teach your puppy manners and about the world, in a safe way. Expose your puppy to a wide range of new situations. Take them on neighbourhood strolls where they can experience new sights, sounds and smells. Invite people and their well-behaved dogs into your home and calmly introduce them to new people and pups. Take them to dog-friendly places, including shops and cafes. These all teach your puppy that new things aren’t scary, and will give them the confidence they need to go new places and meet new people throughout their life.

Keep your puppy safe and develop their confidence by:

• Ensuring they’ve had all their vaccinations before taking them outside.
• Staying away from busy dog parks with overly rowdy, excitable, larger dogs.
• Teaching people of all ages to approach them respectfully, with no grabbing or lunging.

Puppy school is a great way to socialise your puppy. They’ll meet new people and pups as well as learn the basics of obedience in a safe, controlled environment, which will form the foundation of your life-long training together.

We hope this guide helps you pick your perfect pup. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz.