Kings Ferry Aussies

                                    THE "LEFTOVER PUPPY"--COMMON STORIES ABOUT ACQUIRING A DOG
    A lot of opinions have been written about acquiring a dog or puppy. Many by so called “experts” and some are simply old wives tales. I don’t believe there are any absolute rules that haven’t been proven wrong. Dogs are as different as night and day, just as people are. How can anyone make absolute statements that will cover all puppies, all dogs, and all the people who will own them? Kind of silly actually.
    First let me address the “leftover puppy”. This is the puppy that is not sold by eight weeks. Or the one in the litter that isn’t spoken for. I can’t tell you how many times a caller has asked with a suspicious tone, “is it the leftover puppy?” That is often followed by, “I will wait or look around”. So let’s look at why one or two puppies would be left unsold? A litter of mostly boys when the demand at the time is for girls (or vice versa) will leave a guy or two waiting for a new home. I have often had deposits on several puppies with some people specifying a color and sex. A rush of callers looking for reds when the litter is mostly blues and blacks can leave a breeder with a puppy or two unsold. But somehow the suspicion remains regarding the “leftover puppy”. People seem so sure that they missed the “best one”. Having observed people’s reasons and methods for choosing puppies over the years, they don’t have much to worry about. The last puppy has just as much chance of being that “dynamic working dog” and that “companion of a lifetime” as the first one chosen.
    This discussion is about working or companion dogs of course and not conformation show dogs. Since conformation puppies are at least partially purchased based on their structure and cosmetic appearance, an educated guess can be made on whether or not a puppy will mature into a show quality dog. The first puppies taken may be the “best prospects” since some of the traits important to his purpose are visible to the eye. Less visible are traits like working instinct and trainability There are times when a breeder has held back what they considered the “pick puppy” and then decide to sell it at a later date. This delayed decision to sell is not necessarily because the dog is no longer good quality. Many breeders would rather end up raising and caring for their favorite pup if they are going to keep one to an older age. It isn’t uncommon to hold back a pup to train, but if the right home comes along it is available.
    What about the theory that you must take your new puppy home at 7 or 8 weeks. Will the entire personality will be formed before you enter it’s life? And the older puppy will never bond to you. How ridiculous! If it were true I suppose all dog breeders should euthanize all puppies that are not sold by the age of 8 weeks because they are doomed to failure. That, of course, makes about as much sense as the original theory.
    Puppies have successfully gone to new homes at 7 weeks, 10 weeks, 16 weeks and later. Older puppies will conform to their new home, take training and turn into outstanding dogs if the genetic potential was there in the first place. An older puppy may take a few weeks to adjust to a new home while an 8 week old pup is less aware of his surroundings, but what are a few weeks to the total of a dog’s life? Puppies, of course, do not all mature at exactly the same pace. Absolute statements about puppies make about as much sense as absolute statements about children. Some folks feel it is terribly important to get that cute fuzzy little puppy because he is, of course, so cute. The three month old puppy is probably gangly, not fuzzy any more, and sure not as cute. On the other hand three or four month old puppies don’t need as much constant supervision, are less delicate, and are getting to an age where they are more naturally housebroken. That little puppy requires a lot of attention and before you know it, he isn’t cute and fuzzy any more either!