Do you have a puppy question???

If so, you can add a comment to this post or email us at joyofpuppies@gmail.com. Or if you want us to do some research on specific puppy topics or products, we're here to do that too.

Puppy stories you want to share are also always welcome. One of the reasons I started being a foster mom for puppies, is that I really enjoy observing behavior during a time where their physical and sensory development changes so rapidly. I love the challenge of seeing how much training we can achieve in a short time.

I'm also fascinated by the significant behavioral differences you see between the breeds. Jack Russell Terrier pups (and mixes) seem to love to run at your heels, high energy flashes of activity that can trip you if you don't watch out. Puppies from herding breeds like Border Collies, Welsh Corgis and Australian Shepherds exhibit definite herding behavior, even as little babies. My bull terrier mix puppies don't herd, even if I try to elicit the behavior. A rope chase game with those pups more often ends up in a tug-of-war than a game of chase.

Some of the puppies dig. Others won't ever dig, but jump. Tiny little dachshunds can generate huge deep-throated barking and are fearless, even in the presence of huge dogs five times as big. And it's all because of us humans. It's our intervention that caused the differences in size, appearance, physical capabilities and behavior between the breeds.

That's not to say that is a bad thing. It's akin to how different groups of people are attracted to different jobs. But, what is a problem is that people so often think that all puppies will react the same way...and are disappointed or punish their little terriers for digging, when that is a behavior that is their legacy.

So in a nutshell, making sure you understand the total package, including behavioral traits, BEFORE you pick you puppy and matching that to your comfort zone is the most important choice you can make.