When I brought each of my kids home from the hospital, I was ready. The rooms were painted and the cribs were set up. The onesies were folded, the stimulating mobiles were hung, and the bottles were lined up precisely. I cleared my schedule for a solid month and slept whenever my baby slept. When we weren’t sleeping, I was reading, walking or cooing. This was baby rearing, dog-trainer style.

More recently, we added a rabbit to our household. It was less dramatic than a new baby, but still … we planned. I searched the Internet for litter box training for rabbits (yes, it works), prepped the indoor hutch and bought special (translation: more expensive) baby bunny food. Butterscotch acclimated quickly and now feels confident enough to join us for meals. As a guest, obviously.

Last week, my article “Choosing a Dog to Love for a Lifetime” discussed the importance of picking a dog for your lifestyle. Dogs are more like kids than rabbits, so it’s crucial to know what you’re getting into before you take the leap. Your dog’s breed or presumed breed can tell you a lot about her future personality. A puppy’s age plays a part, too: an older puppy will be less impressionable and impulsive than a young puppy. This is usually a good thing, unless her first experiences were severely limited or scary.

Now let's take a look at an individual dog’s personality. Every dog has a preset temperament that affects how they interact with you, accept the variables in your lifestyle and cope with life’s unpredictable events. Look beyond the cute: puppies grow quickly and it is her personality—not her looks—that will determine how well she fits with your family and creates a lifetime bond.

Do you want a dog that barks like mad when someone comes to the door, retreats in fear or greets visitors calmly? Are you angling for a dog who loves full family involvement or one that can chill on her own? Or are you a tenderheart, drawn to the fearful, anxious pup?

I have temperament tested breeders’ litters and shelter pups for two decades, and I can tell you that every puppy has a unique personality—a way of approaching other puppies, interacting with you and exploring her environment. These characteristics help me determine how a dog will fit with my clients’ families. 

Whether you are temperament testing an older puppy or dog or a newborn (at least 7 weeks old), you’ll be able to determine if your prospect is confident, laid back, submissive or fearful. Click to download a free Puppy Temperament Test or Dog Evaluation sheet.

Watch your prospect as she interacts with the other puppies. It will give you a good idea of how she will deal with you, your family and your friends. Does she yield to other puppies or try to dominate them? When she’s playing with a toy, does she share, cringe in fear or act bossy or possessive with her playmates?

Dogs are the only species on the planet that accept another species—us!—as their own. Before going out to choose a companion that will impact your life for the next decade or so, put time and consideration into your efforts.

To prepare for a breeder or shelter visit, read over my Puppy Temperament Test or Dog Evaluation sheets. If you aren’t confident of your ability to make this important evaluation yourself, hire a dog behavior expert to help you. It will be time and money well spent. Dogs are the only relatives we get to choose—so choose wisely!