Puppy Personality

[sunflower]

Sorry, if this is in the wrong category. But I don't have a puppy...yet. :-) I've selected a breeder and have been patiently waiting for my puppy to grow up and reach the 10-12 week mark so that I can go pick him up. The breeder has been very helpful, answering my questions and sending pics regularly with updates on him.

But my question is this....she recently described my puppy as being a bit shy, reserved and cautious. Not necessarily a scaredy-cat. But I guess tentative. Whereas his littermates are more outgoing, curious and friendly. Granted, the puppy is only 4 weeks old but I'm worried that this will be his personality as he gets older. Aren't puppies supposed to be curious and assertive, and playful?

Wondering if anyone brought home a "shy, reserved and cautious" puppy who ended up outgrowing this and becoming more friendly and more outgoing? Or do you think he will be like this as an adult? Oh, and he was the runt of the litter.

Cheers!

[phoebesmom]

Hi Sunflower... this sounds just like my Phoebe when she was a pup. She was definitely the runt of the litter, but am I ever glad that she ended up with me!! She was so shy and unlike her siblings, but let me assure you that almost 5 years later she has blossomed into the most adorable, outgoing, wonderful girl. She is friendly with EVERYBODY - children, adults alike, and she is also friendly with every dog she has ever met. She has never shied away from anything or anyone and has NEVER been aggressive towards any dog she has met, and would rather avoid confrontation at all costs, which may stem from her cautiousness when she was a pup.

Even though I had no choice in the pup that I got, I would choose the runt every time, as that is just the way I am. My Boxers were rescues and it was wonderful to give them a good chance in life, so that when I discovered I was getting the runt I was over the moon, as no-one else really wanted her :( . I really believe that their personality also depends upon how they are treated in the home, and if you shower her with love and instill confidence in her, I'm sure you will both be very happy :) .

[phoebesmom]

P.S. Just to show what a softie (or idiot!) I am, I could see that Phoebe had something up with her eye, but the breeders totally ignored my concerns. I wanted her so badly that I took her anyway, and when I got back to Zurich I took her to the eye specialist at the hospital, and she was diagnosed with micropthalmia and was blind in her right eye. 2 years later she developed glaucoma and had her right eye removed, which only served to make her 100 times more special to me - if that was at all possible, because by then she had wormed her way right into my heart!! To be honest, she steals hearts wherever she goes :) .

[franp]

Four weeks is very young IMO to really determine the personality of a pup...And many pups really come out of thier "shell" as they get older..That is not to say a dog that is withheld is going to be totally outgoing... BUT they do change..

By Runt, I take it that you mean the smallest pup in the litter?The word runt can have very negative conotations..that the dog has health issues etc..More and more breeders are not using this description just for that reason.

Indeed, there are pups who start out as the smallest and end up being the biggest in the litter...My friend's dog Kirby was tiny... He is now over 30 pounds; not one pound is fat... So size at this time is not necessarily an indicator of adult size..

[sunflower]

Hi Phoebesmom,

Well, that's good to hear about Phoebe....the breeder has also said he will outgrow this phase. And his parents are very loving and friendly dogs so I'm hoping that this would influence his personality as an adult too. The breeder also said that the more handling and attention he gets, the more he will break out of his current shyness. I hope so, because I'm already attached to him and can't imagine getting another puppy.

I'm sorry to hear about Phoebe's eye...but she's very lucky to have you. :)

Cheers!

[sunflower]

Hi Franp,

By "runt", I meant the smallest, yes. And I didn't mean to be derogatory about it....he is completely healthy and is a real beautiful puppy. :) I don't care really if he gets bigger or not, though judging from the pics of his dad, I think he'll be a good size and his breeder says that he LOVES to eat. :lol:

I would imagine that his personality would change as he gets older but I was wondering how much of the "nature vs nurture" applies to dogs....in that the more exposure he gets to different things, will he outgrow his shyness? Or is that his innate nature that nothing can change.

Cheers!

[bulldoggin30]

It's definately nurture. I have seen it so many times with the American Bulldogs. We had a pup that was pretty shy & a loner that we sold at around 16 weeks to some friends who had 2 kids, 2 cats and 2 other dogs. He turned out to be so playful and outgoing, way more than the pup we kept here who was used to being out here in the quiet country. That is just 1 example but with constant exposure to new environments along with a stable, loving home, any pup should do fine. Hope this helps.

[Roland]

We took home the shyest "submissive" puppy from the litter-and you'd never know it at all. She is the most outgoing and confident dog ever, and always has been. Go figure.

You can make your dog into the one you want, just socialize early and often. Give them many new experiences, opportunites to meet new people and unfamiliar dogs in their first year of life, and you really can't go wrong.

[Roland]

LOL-The thing is, though, our "shy" puppy never acted shy or timid after we left the breeders house with her. On the first day of puppy kindergarten she was running up to the big breed puppies and trying to get them to play, approaching all the humans to solicit petting and treats, exploring everything. She didn't even cry her first night home! She ate her dinner up and slept in her crate without a peep.

Our breeders went on and on and how reserved and submissive she was...*rolls eyes*...I have to admit, on our two visits to their house, she DID, in fact, seem less active and more reserved than the other pups. The second day we got her, we took her to our neighbor's home to play with their dog (twice her size) and she chased that dog onto the couch and started barking playfully at him.

[wee]

My experience exactly...

Spike was quiet and a bit reserved - a puppy that liked to "sit and watch". Got him home and he rumbled around the house like a real little thug from the moment he arrived. He then proceeded to 'socialise' with a bull mastiff about 200x his size by using his sharp little puppy teeth to hang off his tail, jowls and anything else that dangled downwards. He was a bold confident little pup and has been so ever since.

Now Poppy, 12 weeks old and counting, was said to be "naughty" by the breeder. That is an understatement...

[Carolyn]

There are so many factors in a pup's development and I believe sometimes a breeder can make a correct call but sometimes not. We first saw Abby when she was 4 wks old and the breeder commented that she was the most precocious of the 3 in her litter...the first to ween, walk, initiate play, etc....she was also the smallest. At 6 wks the breeder told me that I had a real "pistol" on my hands and I have to say that he was correct. She had high energy....demanded a certain amount of play time and developed a prey drive. Thankfully she mellowed somewhat after around age 2-3.

Ferris was already 12 wks old when we went to look at him. The first thing I noticed about him was how happy he was. He had no fear of cats/dogs and just ran around looking for fun and mischief. He is still perhaps the happiest dog I have ever met but also has a mellow side. Although he enjoys playing with Abby....he is the first to find an empty lap to snuggle into. I enjoy their differences and it melts my heart how much Abby and Ferris adore each other.

[Piperloo]

Piper was the outgoing confident independant pup at the breeders. I have never had to worry about her being fearful or agressive in any situation. For my first frenchie she has been extremely easy - no submissiveness, no seperation anxieties. A perfectly well adjusted dog. appicon On the other hand, when it came to obedience training, that backfired a bit as she wasn't the dog who was looking to please others! :lol: Oh, she learned, but she did it on her terms! Also, a personality like Piper's may have the potential to be agressive. Lucky for us - an perhaps it was the socialization we did with her - she is very mild. Hudson can take bones right from her mouth and Piper won't blink an eye.

Hudson is the FBRN rescue who has recently come to us with very submissive behaviors. When we first brought her home she would drop to the floor when you would just look to pick her up. She was afraid to go up and down stairs and in some rooms cross the saddle onto another floor. She was terrified to be on a leash. It has taken a lot of patience and work and consistency but she has come a LONG way. In just three months she has no fear at all around the house, is about to graduate obedience class next week, and let someone approach and pet her in PetSmart the other night without cowering! appicon

I guess my point here is, either personality of dog will need some work. It will just be to what degree you are willing to put in. And the breeder / foster home can't always peg it. The situations in a different enviorment change. Hudson's foster home said that she hates loud noises. I make a point of making loud noises every day to condition her. When she came to us she hated the vacuum. Today I can vacuum around her while she chews her bone in the living room! appicon

Nicole, Piper & Hudson :D

[yomshanti]

Hi! My previous puppy, Walter, who died in December after choking on a Greenie, was a real "cuddle-bunny." He'd crawl into your lap, lay on the pillow next to me and face me when we slept, he'd be in the crook of my arm when I'd be on the couch reading a book. My new pup, Winston is adorable and a love-bug, but is not into cuddling. Everything has to be "on his terms." My question is, do you think that will change over time? I really miss it and of course, I love Winston for who and what he is. I just wonder if he will settle down as he gets older. He is 8 months old and was just neutered last week.

I welcome your feedback.

Diane

[Carolyn]

Hi Diane....I am certainly no expert and maybe others can chime in with their opinions....but Winston is still a pup, full of energy...as it should be. If I recall...it took awhile before Ferris decided to become a professional snuggler. ;) Winston may surprise you as he gets through those teenage years and just might mellow into the snuggler you are missing. And even if he doesn't....you will love him anyway and may enjoy the differences with his own unique personality.

Nichole: congrats on your hard work with Hudson. appicon

[yomshanti]

Thanks Carolyn for your kind words. I know Winston is a puppy and full of boundless energy. I have to not compare him to Walter, for he is his own unique and wonderful self and I love him for that!

Diane

[Hudson]

We choose our puppy at about 6 weeks of age. The breeder described him as having a laidback personality. He was also a runt of his litter, actually he and his sister were the two smallest of five. She also said he would weigh about 22 lbs.

She nailed both things exactly; weight and personality. He is very, very playful with us and loves to great strangers but he is not an adventuresome dog. He hates stairs and car rides. He will try to play with dogs but if they are too rough with him or tell him in dog terms that he is too rough, he backs down and never challenges another dog. Definitely not an alpha.

Our breeder has produces a lot of litters and very picky about who gets her furkids, as she calls them. If your breeder is an old hand at this, I would guess he or she may well know what behavior traits will appear.

We also would get another 'runt'; would much rather have that than an alpha who wants to dominate everybody.

Don