Choosing a Puppy
By Dr. Kim Everson, DVM
Sharing a therapy dog with others requires time, commitment and organization. It also requires a willing canine participant. Not all dogs are cut out for therapy work. They must not only tolerate new environments with unpredictable circumstances and people–people that to a dog may appear very un-human with a walker or wheelchair adding to or subtracting from the biped’s expected number of limbs, for instance–but also enjoy and even thrive on the interactions.
Some people are blessed with a dog whose personality fits the bill. I suspect most therapy dogs start out as just great pets. Then one day you see your gentle, loving companion with new eyes and engage with a therapy dog group in order to share your dog’s talents with others. When this beloved therapy dog retires from work, the task of finding an understudy can be daunting. Not only do you face the regular challenges of selecting the perfect pet, but you also need to make sure it is cut out for therapy work.
Regardless of whether you will be searching shelters or interviewing breeders for your next pet/therapy dog, it is important to do some research.
1. Puppy or adult? Adopting a puppy allows you to choose a dog with a temperament best suited to you and puts you in control of his early education. However, puppies require a lot of time, training and patience. If you do not have a lot of time for housetraining, socialization and obedience work, adopting an adult dog might be a better choice.
2. Breed: This is a very important consideration that requires careful thought and study. Many types of dogs have been specifically bred for certain habits and temperament. You and your future dog will be happiest if you share common interests. For example, if you are a confirmed couch potato, a high energy border collie is not a great choice. Consider also the anticipated adult size of the canine candidates. If you live in a studio apartment, a St. Bernard puppy may not be a good fit for long!
3. Temperament: A dog’s temperament is his personality. The key to a successful therapy dog is his temperament. His breed, age and physical abilities should not keep a dog from performing well in a therapy setting, but his personality might. When selecting a puppy from a litter, observe how he interacts with his littermates. A confident puppy–who stands over or chases the others–is more likely to be strong-willed and dominant as an adult. The puppy hiding in the corner is more likely to have anxiety later on. A puppy who plays easily with his littermates, but happily follows you around when removed from the litter is a well-adjusted puppy.
If you are considering a shelter or rescue dog, find out as much as you can about his history and socialization. How does he interact with volunteers and other dogs in the shelter? How does he behave during feedings, on walks, in the kennel, when groomed?
The important thing to remember about temperament is that it is an innate part of the dog’s personality. Training will NOT change his personality, but his personality will affect the type of training he will need.
4. Age at Adoption: Sadly, some very serious behavior issues stem from removing a puppy too early from his mother and littermates. Just because a puppy is weaned and eating dry dog food does NOT mean he is mature enough to leave his mother. Essential neurological and social development occurs during and after the time of weaning. Pups that leave the litter before they are 8 weeks old are at much higher risk of being fearful and anxious. These dogs tend to display lack of bite inhibition and mouthiness, increased sensitivity to sensory stimulation (noise, sights, touch), increased vocalization, and difficulty learning and generalizing.
If these symptoms describe your early-adopted dog, don’t despair. A good trainer or behaviorist can help you recondition your dog through appropriate handling, careful exposure to stimuli and tolerance training. Sometimes early separation from the mother dog is unavoidable due to her serious illness or death. However, if you are interviewing breeders and they routinely send pups home before 8 weeks of age, look elsewhere or insist the pup stay with the litter and mother longer.
5. A Word About Runts: My veterinary clients frequently report to me that they intentionally sought out the runt of the litter. While a Fern-like* desire to nurture the smallest, weakest animal is admirable, it can lead to heartache. Many times the runt of the litter is tiny because there is something physically wrong with it. Congenital liver, kidney and heart conditions, for example, can cause stunted growth and decreased vigor. While certainly every dog deserves a loving home, be prepared if choosing the runt for the increased possibility of intensive, costly veterinary care and/or a shortened life span.
It is very difficult to overcome our emotional and psychological tendencies to choose a dog based on its visual appeal or antics, especially when you are seeking a replacement for a cherished therapy dog. Try not to become trapped by the visual image of what your next therapy should look like. It is essential for the health, happiness and well-being of your future relationship with your pet to choose wisely based on a conscious evaluation of all the factors involved while allowing for the possibility of chance meeting with that perfect new therapy dog.
* In the classic novel Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, the heroine Fern saves runt piglet Wilbur from certain death and he grows up to be “Some Pig.”
Originally published in “Healing Paws” newsletter, Spring 2013