The fearful or highly submissive puppy

The extremely shy, reluctant or nervous puppy. Sometimes we pick them because our heart goes out to them, the underdog so to speak. Sometimes we pick them because we think they will be calmer, more docile and easier to control.

My feeling is that puppies that have this personality trait should never be adopted by a first-time dog owner. A fearful puppy can be much harder to train and require much more patience and understanding. In some cases, fearful puppies become more reactive and potentially more aggressive towards other dogs and people -- especially those they are meeting for the first time.

Warning signs of a fearful puppy can include the following:

• inordinate amount of shaking when approached
• hesitant or overwhelmed when approached
• immediate rolling over and showing his/her belly when you go near or touch the puppy
• overactive startle reflex in response to sound or movement
• reflex urination when approached
• fear of hands reaching out to the puppy
• refusing to go forward, backing up or freezing in place when on the leash

Overly submissive pups require a lot of patience, a calm environment and constant attention to socialization with new people and other dogs. However, fearfulness can be reduced significantly, making for a happy, enjoyable friendship. Unfortunately, if not handled correctly, it can escalate into high-anxiety for both you and your dog, and, sometimes highly aggressive behavior. If you suspect your dog may be fearful, if you take the time to get some help on socialization from an experienced dog trainer, you may save yourself a lot of frustration in the long run.

The dominant puppy

As mentioned in my previous blog, many litters will have a dominant puppy -- one who is more aggressive and potentially more active than the others. This is the natural order in wild dog packs and is critical to ensure the order and ultimately the health of the entire family. There is no time for debate. A leader has to emerge and proactively take charge. And successive generations have to keep producing 'heirs' to the leadership so there is a leadership succession, and when leader ages and is no longer the best to lead, a new leader that the rest of the pack respects needs to be available to take over.

What does the dominant puppy look like? The answer to that is not based on size or gender. It is not necessarily the first born. In fact, in my Aussie's litter, the dominant puppy was the smallest female pup, number 5 in the birth order. The only way you can determine which puppy is the dominant one in a litter is by observing their behavior. You will start to see, even when their eyes and ears are closed, certain puppies will push their way nurse first. Once they are mobile and active, you'll see them start to take control...pushing their will onto the other puppies. They will likely be quicker to react to perceived aggression, and move to the front when the food bowl is put down.

So, is it a good or bad thing to choose a dominant puppy? It all depends on what you are looking for. On the plus side, a dominant puppy will be more apt to be curious, to try things and by doing so, speed up training. They are also by definition, less timid, which can help with socialization with people.

Potential issues to be aware of include the tendency for dominant dogs to be overly aggressive with other dogs and potentially with people, especially small children. They may be very possessive of toys, sleep areas, food and of 'you'...their parent (which can cause problems with new human relationships you might start).

My feeling is that there is no good or bad about dominance. It's just helpful that you note if your puppy exhibits dominant behavior and keep mindful of that throughout your puppy's training. One very important thing (and this goes for all puppies, not just the dominant ones) is that you make sure your puppy knows that he/she is NOT the alpha, or ultimate leader of the pack. You have to be consistently and blatantly clear that the puppy, while loved and cuddled by everyone in the family, will never be allowed to exhibit dominance behavior on the humans in your family's 'pack.' If you fail to do this, your relationship with your dog will never be optimal, and can develop into serious problems.

Be aware that having ONLY you, the puppy parent higher on the dominance heirarchy can be an equally serious problem. I have seen situations where people think it is cute that the dog listens only to the mom or dad in the family, and doesn't respect the spouse or children. If the dog does have any aggressive, or even fearful tendencies, situations where the dog perceives danger or is stressed can result in the dog attacking the other family members...even if the dog had never attacked or shown aggression towards any family member.

Another very important issue to control for dominant pups is to make sure you pay attention to socialization with other dogs. It's a good idea to have your puppy 'on leash' when introducing him/her to another dog, especially for the first time, and maybe for the first few minutes even after the first meeting. Watch how your puppy reacts to the new dog. For his/her first dog acquaintance, it may help to choose a docile, low-energy dog. The size of the visiting dog may not be as critical, only that the dog doesn't show aggression towards the puppy or move in a manner that may startle the puppy.

My female Aussie was kept for awhile in a dogrun with a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd when she was young, before we got her. She was the dominant puppy of her litter, and that behavior was exacerbated during that time as she had to demonstrate to the other larger dogs that they could not steal her food. She was successful, and was respected by other dogs, but for the rest of her life, I had to take special care socializing her with other dogs, and I could never let down my guard when she came near dogs she never knew.

But even if you have a small dog who doesn't live with any other dogs, be mindful if your puppy exhibits dominant or aggressive or dominance behavior. If you notice aggressive behavior such as growling, barking and posturing, stop the behavior immediately. Also be extra careful when you take a dog with this type of personality on a walk or to a dog park. An overly dominant puppy or dog who has never been challenged by other dogs, especially one who has been taken from its mother early, may not know how to behave in the presence of other dogs. What he/she and you think is normal verbalization and high energy could be perceived by the other dogs as an outright challenge which could precipitate an altercation.

Dominance or submissiveness in a puppy does not determine how happy you will be with your puppy, or how happy your puppy will be. The responsibility for this lies with you, the puppy parents to provide the right socialization and training, and take care not to place your puppy in a situation that will instigate unwanted aggressive behavior.

Picking your puppy, part two: individual differences

Beyond picking what breed of puppy you want, it's equally important to study your specific prospective puppy for individual characteristics. It never fails to surprise me what a wide range of personalities exist in each litter I come into contact with. Since dogs are pack animals, there is often a dominant puppy. The dominant puppy will act and react differently, and sometimes more aggressively, than the others...and can act totally differently when it's only with humans than when it's with its siblings or other dogs.

On the other hand, exceedingly submissive or physically inferior puppies also have behaviors that should be watched and dealt with to prevent problems from developing.

Also, each puppy has its own physical make-up. I had one litter of puppies that were labrador and border collie mixes. All three were extremely well-behaved, but one seemed to lag in size. This smallest puppy was, at the same time, extraordinarily smart and loving. It turned out that that puppy had a congenital heart defect, a valve didn't close as it should. Luckily, for that puppy there were special funds put aside for rescued puppies just like him. However, the family that adopted him had to understand that this puppy would have to have annual exams to monitor his heart. He was matched with a family that had no problem dealing with that requirement, and a little boy and girl who now have an amazing friend.

If you are picking from a litter or selecting from a pen of various puppies, spend time watching it carefully with the other puppies, with you alone and if possible, around other grown dogs. Talk to them, handle them, and ask for any background information that might be available. Don't let yourself be pressured into taking a puppy because "there won't be anymore like this ever." This much I know is true. There will always be plenty of breeders and unfortunately, there will always be new rescued puppies available. Practicing a little self-control and choosing not to take a puppy that seems 95% right but something doesn't quite mesh will benefit you both in the long run.

Picking your puppy - pure or mixed breed?

At any time, my house is home to two pedigreed purebred Australian Shepherds, a rescued calico ragdoll mix kitty and various rescued mix-breed puppies. Time and circumstances as well as lifestyle and intent led me to make my choices of having both pure and mixed breed dogs. However, what is crucial for our happiness (and yours) is that we knew exactly what we were looking for before we make each pet selection.

There are characteristics predominant in the Aussies that make them perfect for us and terrible for our neighbors. From an attitude, activity, maintenance, time and resource perspective, the Aussies can be far easier or far more difficult to deal with than some of my short-haired tiny chihuahua mix foster babies. Knowing those differences and picking what is important to me in my life, at that time, results in everyone being happier, and training that is more appropriate and effective. You may be able to "train" an active dog to be less active. But that dog will likely be less happy and it will have taken you more effort than you would want to take.

Just like picking a spouse, you most likely will start with physical actractiveness - there's nothing wrong with starting there. But once you determine that, do your research. Find out if that puppy has the temperament and characteristics that match your lifestyle and attitude (good with kids, good in an apartment, etc.). Also, when dealing with puppies, learn what the puppy will grow up to look like. I have seen many people enamored with the insane cuteness of a baby bulldog, only to be put-off when that scampering puppy grows up to be the stocky lumbering adult. People who felt my Australian Shepherd puppies were "to die for" suddenly balked when I told them about the massive amounts of hair that needed to be brushed, and when they 'blew their coats' how often they would be vacuuming. Personally, I always wanted a Great Dane. But when I found out their life expectancy was so relatively short, I knew I personally couldn't get one.

Of course the internet is a great resource. However, I think it's a good idea to have a resource that you can page through to study breeds side by side. I love 'The Encyclopedia of the Dog' by Bruce Fogle, D.V.M., but there are several other very good resources that are equally good. One of the things I like best about Dr. Fogle's book is that it goes into a discussion about 'randon-bred' dogs, or what I call mixed breeds. There are lots of reasons why mixed breeds are easier to deal with than purebred puppies. For one, mixed breed puppies are hybrids, and hybrid populations will tend to be healthier and less prone to genetic issues because of the cross breeding.

But there are also things to watch out for as well, such as possible increased anxiety caused by living in a shelter. With puppies, there is less time for bad behavior to be built-up, and good foster programs can actually prepare abandoned mixed breed puppies better than purebred dogs whose breeders don't have the time or inclination to socialize and train the individual puppies.

If you decide to get a mixed breed puppy, find out how it was raised and if possible, what breeds went into its make-up. This is important to gauge appropriateness for your lifestyle. For example, mixed breed herding dogs still tend to exhibit herding behavior, just as chow mixes may tend not to be the best for families with small children. The breed heritage investigation doesn't have to be scientific. Asking what the parents looked like, how the puppy behaves and how quickly it has grown will go a long way to determining possible donor breeds. For those who want more definitive information, there are now canine DNA testing services that can more precisely determine a dogs breeding. These generally cost up to $100 to $200, so ask yourself if this is really necessary.

Rule #1: Get yourself a good vet you can work with.

Training infants of any kind takes extreme amounts of patience and concentration. So, to do a good job of it, it's best to remove any unnecessary distractions as quickly as possible. One of the most distracting things I often have to deal with when I get new puppies is the infamous "D" word, diarrhea.

There are a plethora of reasons why your puppy can get the runs. If you got your puppy from a reputable breeder, humane society or rescue group, chances are that their veterinary professionals will know or can narrow down the causes for your puppy's plight. But I strongly advise against you trying to find the cause yourself. This gets back to what I feel should be everyone's Rule#1 before getting a puppy, 'Find a good vet you can work with.'

I stress that it is a vet you can work with. All doctors have their own style. You need to find one that suits your needs and likes. I like to hear everything down to the nth degree of technical detail. Others want someone who will spare the details, but will talk to your dog with a kind, reassuring voice. You need to do this BEFORE you get your puppy. Rushing to find one while your puppy is running around shooting hot, wet poop everywhere is a big mistake. It will only delay you getting the situation under control and most likely add to your stress level.

Meeting the vet ahead of time also can help you answer some questions you might have about breed, gender and age of puppy to get. This may be simpler than it seems. You would be surprised how many vets will be practicing within 10 miles of your home. Ask your friends. Ask your co-workers. Press them to tell you what they like about their vets and what they don't like. Find a couple of prospects to visit, and go meet them.

I'm a realist. Lots of people won't go the last mile and meet the vet, much as they won't meet a doctor or dentist for themselves before they need them. But even if you don't meet them in person, asking around will find you a vet you will be more at ease with. And if you don't go to meet them, at least call or email and find out if they are taking new patients and what their hours, charges and payment terms are.

Becoming 'Puppy-mom'

If you read my profile, you'll see that I volunteer for Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). It's a fantastic organization that saves animals who have run out of time at animal shelters around the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding areas. My main role for ARF (http://www.arf.net/) is to take litters of young puppies who would otherwise be euthanized because they have run out of time at the shelter and raise them until they can be spayed or neutered...and adopted. See further below in this post to learn more about ARF and the wonderful work they do for rescued animals...and through animals, helping people.

People always ask me why I would spend so much time picking up puppy poop, sterilizing the puppy area before the new litter comes, and then picking up more puppy poop. But what amazes them even more is my ability to get really young puppies to respond to training. I have had puppies younger than 8 weeks with very good leash manners. They can sit patiently at the door before they go out. Some can learn to "do their business" outside by the time they are 10 weeks old. By 10 to 11 weeks, we can start with basic 'heeling' commands.

When people ask me how I do this, I realize I can't explain it in a short conversation. I know my education gives me a big advantage. Spending four wonderful, highly productive years at the University of California at Berkeley studying comparative and physiological behavior gave me the ability to observe, perceive and analyze behavior. My senior thesis studied the effects of genetic predisposition to learning. This experience armed me with the ability to interpret individual variations and to use a systematic 'test and improve' method to successfully modify behavior.

At the University of Hawaii, I was able to study with some of the leaders in the field of comparative learning theory and aggression. You add that background with my all-encompassing love of dogs, and it explains why I have both the patience and the skills needed to work with young puppies.

Because of this, a few of my friends who are fellow dog lovers and have had challenges with puppies in their lives asked me to start this blog.   So that is how "Joy of Puppies" and "Puppy-mom" got started.

More about ARF from the ARF website, http://www.arf.net/:

"ARF was created in 1991 by Tony and Elaine La Russa to address the needs of companion animals. Their vision for ARF is an organization that can not only aid abandoned and homeless animals, but also promote the concept that people's lives can be enhanced by strengthening the bonds between humans and animals. With these intertwined goals as the guiding principles, and an intention to become a national as well as local leader, ARF has designed progressive programs for many populations including abused children, the elderly, victims of violence and others who can benefit from the healing contact of animals.

ARF is growing to meet the demands of the 21st century with the first private adoption and education center in Contra Costa County, California. ARF will continue to respond to the immediate needs of animals who have been neglected, abused or deprived of love to ensure they find high quality homes. At the same time, ARF will embody the vision of a better future-one where animals are respected for the unique role they can and do play in making the world a better place for people to live and where there is a stable and loving home for every pet to complete its natural lifespan."

Joy of Puppies is Born!

Everyone loves puppies. But unfortunately, your life can become "hell on earth" after you bring that sweet, adorable angel home. More than most other things in life, the sight of a furry little pup’s big sweet eyes can make your ability to reason fly out the window and let emotions take over -- and just like in grade-school, you can forget to do your homework!

You may have already taken the plunge and brought a new puppy home…but find yourself lost for what to do. Well, just like in grade-school, there is help! I created this forum so you can get some helpful ideas from me, the Puppy-mom, someone who has had to figure out the “puppy-thing” many, many times before. You can also ask other Puppy-parents for tips that work for them…or at least form an online support group.

With a little bit of help, you can turn the agonies of puppy parenting into the “Joy of Puppies!”

Welcome fellow puppy-lovers!