We know that puppies tend to inherit the attitude of their parents. We also know that there are certain inbred characteristics affecting attitude which are the result of the selective breeding that has produced a group of purebred dogs.

The early environment of the newborn puppy, particularly in the critical weeks when he's looking away from his mother and his siblings to the humans around him, can provide a healthy period of socialization. On the other hand, this critical period can also be the spark which starts illness, an accident, or psychic trauma that can affect the puppy's temperament in a very negative way. In addition, you, his new owner, can be a bad influence on what might have started out as a pleasant puppy.

Most Puppy Buyers Are Not Educated Enough To Properly Choose A The Right Puppy

The average puppy buyer is looking for a companion for the family, particularly for the children. Unfortunately, most puppy buyers do not know what to look for when it comes to attitude. And the attitude of a puppy is the number one overriding consideration when choosing your puppy.

I will say it again- This is the number one thing to look out for when choosing your puppy- The attitude.

Ready? First, a nervous puppy makes an unsatisfactory companion for children under almost any circumstances, and one that is moody is potentially dangerous.

Some people prefer dogs of mixed breeding and assume that they will always have more stable attitude. WRONG! This is not true. There was a tragic attack a few years back where a mixed Chow-Spitz killed a young child. The dog had been passed on to the family after having a history of killing small animals and giving other indications of poor temperament. This alone should make you think twice about taking on a puppy which has not worked out in someone else's family.

I'll cover more tomorrow.

Check out the #1 resource for puppy training… once you've chosen your puppy.

Nobody wants a puppy with a bad attitude. It's not much fun to own a puppy who could care less about people. Then you'd have a cat Just kidding. Out of sentiment, people will keep unsatisfactory puppies because they cannot bring themselves to part with them. Others pass such puppies around, and as they go from home to home, dispositions get worse, and loyalties further confused.

The best hope for any prospective puppy owner is the prevention of trouble by choosing the right puppy from the beginning.. We assume that this prospective owner has already realized that he is taking on a living creature for what may be a decade or more of his life, and he will spend thousands of dollars on food and care, and that he will be liable under the law for any damage this animal does to humans or to property.

People often ask if it is not unfair to a puppy to keep him in the city, in small quarters, confined to a leash outside, or left in the house while the owner goes to work. But in reality, the most unfair thing that you can do to a puppy is to take her on when you're not prepared to keep her for a lifetime, and to face up to all of the inconveniences that will go along with owning a puppy… and then a full-grown dog.

We"ll cover where a Bad Attitude Come From tomorrow.