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Choosing a pup
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The great majority of people choose their pup within an instant emotion(being "hooked"),based mostly on aesthetic criteria,without taking into consideration the character of the pup,who will influence its futur behaviour in their family and in our society.
Every puppy has its own personnality who depends on its genetic backround,its first relations with its mother and its education.Before commitment,it is necessary to take some precautions.
There are some tests which allow futur puppy owners to choose a pup in accordance with their expectances ("pet"-pup,hunting pup,pointing pup,show-dog pup,defence pup.....),so that it can be integrated in the best way,in their lifestyle.
Most of thoses tests are indicatives without real scientific proof.Thus,it is essential to take them into consideration when you visit a breeder.Some breeders ,use them themselves,to evaluate their litters before selling the pups to the most suitable person.
Puppy development comes about phases,who are important to be understood ,before puppy evaluation:
0-2 weeks:-Attachment of the pup to its mother and to the canine species;at birth,the puppy has not an innate recognition of members of his species,it doesn't know it is a dog;this must be learned!This learning is based on "play-fighting" between litter-mates and interactions with its parents.
-Learning of the submission position("put and keep down" by the mother,"self-control")
3-8 weeks: -Species indentification(pup knows it is a "dog")
-Learning of "control biting"(ccontrol intensity of the biting allows"mouvement control";this enables the pup to adopt postures and facial mimics which are an essential form of communication between dogs.
8-12 weeks:-Learning of "biting inhibition"
-Socialisation(with other pups and dogs,ppublic places,humans ,other species..)
-Capacity of adopting of a submission possture.
3-4 months:-Acqusition of the submission rituals,of control biting and mouvement control
-Absence of fear against unknown persons or situations
-Playing propositions with other dogs(ownner present oe absent)
4 months-puberty:-Every self-control is acquired
-Fearless in front of animals or humans
-Learning of hierarchization,"dominaant" or "subdominant" pups)
Age of adoption of a pup
The ideal age is 7-8 weeks (never before 6 weeks ,mostly if the breeding enviromment is not rich in stimulus for the pup(...socialisation...),because at this stage the pup is identified to its species and has been through all the development phases(it doesn't need its mother anymore),needed for the construction of his personality,for a suitable adaptation in his new home.Everything that the pup learns at this age is deeply graved in his brain,so try to give him the more possible stimulus and begin his education very early,at the moment of its acquisition.
Breeder selection
Refer to "good breeders,bad breeders page" and never consider as a place of purchase a pet-shop!
Make a quick evaluation of the kennel and note:the cleanness of the place where the dogs are kept,the distance from thoses places to the breeders home(imperative to be short!),the number and types of humans(men ,women children..) in contact with the pups(the more diverse they are the the more the socialisation of the puppies approaches the ideal point),the way breeders behave with their pups(gentle,love,tender or indifferent ,clumsy,,brutality....) and the presence or not of stimulus(toys,balls,noises,music,mirrors) in the puppie's growing place.
Observation of the parents
-Bitch:health,temperament,beauty,show-results,behaviour towards the pups(social,controlled,agressive,intolerance,fear....) ,the breeder and yourself.
-Mâle:health,beauty,temperament(the male's temperament is highly inherited by the pup),stud qualities(information of what happenned with other pups produced by this male).If he is absent,ask for a videotape or visit the place where the stud is kept!Not to be forgotten:a champion's son,will not necessary turn into a champion himself!
Sex selection
Male or female,,jack russells stays an active terrier,plenty of energy,very self-confident, mocker,actor,all stored in a small package.Nevertherless,the female is in heat two times/year which needs more supervision.People say that a woman is happier with a male and a man with a female....Whatever the sex is,the acquisition of a JRT demands a strongly constructed owner with lots of humour! Read more about JRT character by clicking on the proper page .
Aesthetics choise
It belongs to futur owners to choose the physical appearrance of his taste,mostly if he opts for a "pet-pup"(company pup).If you count on participating at dog-shows or other competitions,be vigilant and examine the pup properly,to assure yoursef that he is filling the breed-standard.It is essential to be sure that the dog is "jack-type" and not "parson -type".Feel free to ask your breeder for advices,he will be glad to give you a nice specimen,but keep always in mind that a puppy changes its morphology till it reaches 6 months and that chance is an important tool for a nice show career!
Tests of selection of a puppy
The ideal way to observe a pup is first with his litter-mates and then isolated from the team.
1.Observation of the pup inside the litter
Approach the litter,1-2 metres away and wissle words to encourage the pup to come towards you
1.The pup,with curiosity and prudence ,tail wriggling, moves towards you:
Expected behaviour of a healthy and well-balanced pup.
2.Runs towards you,wriggling posture with lots of self-confidence:
Pup with dominant traits.
Needs an owner experienced with dogs and with a strong constructed character.
3.The pup runs towards you ,prevents its litter-mates to approach you,wanting always to be in front of everyone,and nibbles.
Pup with dominant tendencies ,that can devellop agressive traits.
Needs an experienced owner and an optimal socialisation.
4.It remains distant,stressed,with fear, adopting a submission position(tail down,between its leggs,head down,ears falled down....) and he steps away if you go near it.
Needs an affective attachment to a single person and will maybe develop behavioural defects(depression,phobia,anxiety).Personality to be avoided if you want a terrier!
5.It doesn't react a lot,stays without expression ,indifferent.
Ideal dog for older persons.Not suitable for a terrier.
6.He moves in all directions,seems un -tired without being nervous.
Pup with hyperactive tendencies
Able to practice agility,hunting or other sports spending his energy a lot.
Sensory tests
Touch:Caress or itch the pup.He must feel the greatest pleasure and accept your mouvements without agression.
Audition:Make a noise or clape your hands.The pup must show very interested (ears redressed,eyes pointing).A lack of reaction must make you suspect deafness and a flee a problem of anxiety or phobia.
Sight:make a ball or a coloured object move .The pup should follow the object with curiosity and eventually try to grab it.
Inhibition tests
The mother teaches her pups self -control ,by biting them,by looking them face to face placing herself beyonf the pups and forcing them to stay down.Do the same by grabbing the pup's nose between your fingers,by pinching his jaw,along with forcing it to stay layed down:
The pup squeals,whimpers,immobilize itself,lies down when you maintain it on this position and then chases you when you release it.Very good self -controlled pup!
It shouts ,immobilizeitself,lies down but doesn't chase you when you release it.This pup is afraid of human manipulations.
It squeals,struggles,wants to bite,doesn't accept to lie doan and moves to all directions:absence of self-control towards the adults
It squeals,struggles,wants to bite,urinates and stays away from you:pup anxious and agressif of fear.
Similar testings can be practiced to evaluate the self -control manners of a pup like the reaction of constraint(take the pup from the neck,forcing him to stay lied on his back) or of elevation(take the pupin your arms and see how it reacts) or of biting(take a rope and make the puppy pull it with his mouth.
2.Observation of the pup alone
This reveals the degre of attachment of the pup with its mother and its litter-mates and is also important for evaluation of the effect of your presence on its behaviour.
Take the pup alone into a room with you and your friends:
He goes away in a corner and stays indifferent:difficulties of attachment with humans and risques of depression.
He cries,whimpers and tries to find its mother:the age of the pup is very important for the interpretation of this test:
-At 5 weeks it is attracted by everyone.
-At 7 weeks it is more attached to his mother.If you are able to calm it down,this is agood start for futur attachment of the pup with you.
He cries,whimpers , howls with fear and avoids you:
-Degre of socialisation weak
-Possible attachement with one person only,but not with the rest of humans.
The pup whimpers and spears for a moment and then is calmed with your words and caress:
-His degree of attachment with you is very high!
Make sure you try these tests many times in many different situations with the pup.You must have the permission of your breeder for that!
To recap,if you want to have the possibility to be the owner of a healthy and well-balanced doggy,who fills your desires and demands, it is essential to make a reflective and serious choise,taking into consideration not only beauty criteria but also behaviour ones ,without being drived by instant emotions!
Webmistress:Missirlis Maria
References:-Articles by Dr.Joël Dehasse,behaviourist veterinarian
-Extracts from the 3d assembly of canine behaviour - GERC Belgium
Photos:-Kennel "of Suzan's pride" Belgium
-Alexia with pup form "Jack's paradiise kennel" Holland
