What behaviour should I be looking for within a litter of puppies?

it depends specifically what kind of personality you want your future dog to have.. if you go to the breeder's house you should have the chance to sit with the puppies in a room where they're free to interact with you. just sit back and observe. do you want a laid back keeps-to-itself type of dog? or do you want one that will always be looking for your attention and snuggling into you at every chance they get? you'll know it when you see it, but it's hard to give advice more specific than that

good luck :)

They say to pick the calm ones of the liter. My friend goes for the ones that bite hard when they play because he says he knows that means they are going to be the protective ones. I don't recommend that, but it works for him since that is what he wants with a dog. I chose the calm one of a liter and she turned out to be the opposite when I brought her home. Instead I had no idea she was a severe case of neglect even though she appeared fine. She is fine now after a huge amount of work with her. She now wags her tale and loves life. A puppy's behavior can change when you bring them home when taken away from their environment they were born into. Proper breeders you'll be in good hands. Back yard breeders-beware. I think that is what happened with me I had gotten my lab for backyard breeders who did not take care of the pups. Any who, have a couple of visits to the liter and observe them for a little while. Research where you are getting one from and make sure the breeders have a good history. Check to see how the puppies are playing with each other. Are they wagging their tales? Are they happy? Is the environment clean? Do they appear healthy? Watch the mother dog too and see how they interact with the mommy. You can tell the dominant puppies based on how they charge at the mommy to feed and the submissive ones who stands back to wait.

That does not always mean one is better than the other.

A well behaved dog does not happen when born it happens with training by the owner.

Here is a good puppy temperament test. While not a guarantee it is a start. The picking is only 3% of the battle. 97% is not screwing the puppy up. This means that the majority of your success in having a well behaved dog depends on you.

Well, the most bold has the most potential to be dominant or the highest energy and the one who ignores you or seems shy could remain that way. I would look for one who is a bit in the middle of the pack. Male or Female (whichever you're looking for) but one who isn't the extreme of any particular trait. Think well balanced and well adjusted.

Good luck with the puppy!

a lot of people say squeeze the paw of the puppy (not to hard though). pick a puppy that pulls away or yelps not the puppy that bites your hand. i dont think this will accurately tell you if your dog will be agressive or mild-mannered because everydog is different. however my dad did do this to my dog when he was a puppy. he cried and pulled away. he is almost 8 now and has never bitten anyone.

Pick a puppy in the middle of dominancy rank. You don't want to go for the one who bullies all the other puppies and insists on drinking from her first; this one will always try to be dominant and will be cocky...the one I'm describing is usually the biggest male. You also don't want the one who cowers to the bully or drinks last; this one who is low in rank will be extremely docile and will always be submissive to other dogs and shy with humans. Pick a puppy in the middle of the rank, the patient one who doesn't take his time getting to the food but also doesn't charge at it like he needs it before anyone else--this one will usually share toys and chew bones with it's littermates, will play well, and will respond to his mother and siblings cues well (plays gentler when one yelps, shows recognition when mom growls..etc.)

Your ideal puppy should be eager to please, loving, sociable, and should develop a bond with you relatively quickly. Sometimes it is good to let your puppy pick you.

That's a question for your breeder. And nothing anyone here tells you is going to tell you how a puppy will act FOR SURE as an adult. Temperament is first and again you should be talking to your breeder about this; second is training which means its all on YOU.

No dog is born well behaved.

I always leave have the breeder choose the pup she thinks is suitable for me. We usually get to know eachother well before the pups are born or while they are tiny babies.

The breeder knows her pups and their various personalities whereas I don't. Having the breeder choose my puppy has always worked out very well for us.

A puppy who will just sit in your lap, who isn't shy, and wants to play.

Unless you want a puppy that's not so active

Puppies that drink milk last from there mother are shy dogs puppies that drink milk first are more postive and more confident..

maybe the last to eat, drink and stuff with be shy..

a puppy who is playing and playing and the leader of the group might be hard to train

look at what other puppies do while they play and eat..