Selecting (or having the breeder select) the puppy who is neither first or last when called, is neither shy nor a bully with littermates, and is neither outstanding or underwhelming in the litter will often be the best match for a happy family: easy to train, travel with, manage, and adapt to your daily life.
Generally, a puppy will inherit their size from their parents. Still, puppies can have different sizes. Sometimes, the small pup in the litter can catch up within one to two years if you give them proper care. As a new fur parent though, it's a good idea to pick the biggest puppy in the litter.
All dogs fall somewhere on the dominance/submissiveness scale. In every litter, there's generally one puppy who's clearly “extra.” He's usually sort of noisy and busy. He takes toys away from his litter mates and he protects them.
Dominance in Litters Dominant puppies tend to be more aggressive regarding acquiring food. They also are often physically overbearing with others in their litter, whether it comes to jumping over them or chasing and biting. ... In some cases, the smallest members of the litters have the alpha personalities.
Males can be more dominant, territorial, and easily distracted than female dogs. On the other hand, males can also be more playful, active, and independent. Dominance and territorial behaviour can also be seen in unspayed females when they are in heat.
In a group of animals (usually a litter of animals born in multiple births), a runt is a member which is significantly smaller or weaker than the others.
If the puppy acts shy or scared, then without a doubt he has not been sufficiently socialized. Look elsewhere. If, however, you really have your heart set on taking a shy puppy, only do so if each family member can coax the pup to approach and take a food treat.
So what is the ideal age for a puppy to be when you welcome him into your home? There are different opinions, as well as a variety of factors, that influence the answer to this question. However, most veterinarians and breeders would put the optimum age to bring home a puppy somewhere between 8-to-10 weeks old.
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.
If your dog is 14-16 weeks old, you double their size for a rough idea of how they will be when they are fully grown at 32 weeks. Check for loose skin. Excess skin can also help predict the adult size of a puppy. Typically, the more loose skin a puppy has, the more room he has for growth.
Runt of The Litter Personality
Runt dogs' personalities are strongly linked to human personality just like any other dog. There is no outlying evidence that the runt of the litter will be predisposed to develop a certain personality.
Don't Dominate – Communicate!
Even though evidence is abundant that positive reinforcement is a much better solution, they argue that some dogs are just more stubborn, harder to control, aggressive, or need a heavier hand to get them to do what you want them to do.
Dogs choose their favorite people based on positive interactions and socialization they have shared in the past. Like humans, dogs are especially impressionable as their brains develop, so puppies up to 6 months old are in their key socialization period.
If you have several dogs or intend to add to your canine family, a male may be a better fit. Females tend to have more problems with anxiety and phobias. If your house is a loud and busy place with lots of chaos, a male puppy may be more likely to be content. Sex is just one factor in a puppy's personality.
Most experts agree that, as a rule, male and female dogs get along better than two females or two males. However, that being said, I've known many households (including my own) that successfully have two of the same gender dogs without any problems at all.
Female dog benefits
Several dog trainers and breeders recommend a female dog for homes with young children. Some people think female dogs are more likely to show a maternal instinct that will make them more protective of children and therefore a better fit for a home with children.