Pet Education

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Picking Out the Perfect Puppy for Your Family.  

When picking out a puppy the first consideration should always be the health of the puppy.  The second should be finding the right personality fit for the family.  At the end of the day the looks of the dog fade away into the darkness of the night and it is the personality you  live with for the next 14 years.  Here are a few questions for finding the right personality for you:

What personality of puppy do you Prefer?  

Independent or a puppy that follows you around?   

Bold or a little Shy and Sweet?   

A lap puppy or one that likes to hang out at your feet?  

A Cool Dog or a Silly dog?  

A vocal dog or a quiet dog?  

A active dog or a little more passive dog?  

A adventurous dog or a reserved dog?  

A curious dog or a content dog?  

A laid back dog or a energetic dog?  

A emotional & sensitive dog or a easy going dog?  

A fun & sassy dog or a lay at your feet dog?  

3 BIG Myths about Tibetan Terriers   

Myth 1:  Tibetan Terries don't shed.   Fact is, they do shed.   They just shed different.   Tibetan Terriers will occasionally blow their coat.  The hair sticks to the longer hair & needs to be brushed out or the dog will get mats.   It is not the kind of hair that sticks to everything, like the hair from other breeds.   And Tibetan Terriers have much less hair loss that most breeds.  But they do shed.

Myth 2:  Tibetan Terriers are good dogs for people with allergies.   People with allergies can still react with Tibetan Terriers.   Not as bad as with some dogs, but it is a Myth that they are allergy free to people who suffer them.   We recommend you spend some time with TTs before acquiring a dog.   It could end up a very expensive and heartbreaking experiment for your family if you don't.

Myth 3:  Tibetan Terriers are wonderful with children.   That statement is very broad.   Fact is, each and every Tibetan Terrier is different in personality.   Even within the same litter, you can have a wide range of personalities.   Generally speaking, I find them great with children.   But some intact dogs can be more aggressive.  A nervous TT, can end up more aggressive if not socialized correctly.   Some Alpha pups can have more assertive tendencies.  And some shy pups may become scared of assertive children.   So never follow generalized statements.   If you have children, take extra precaution when picking out the right personality for your family.  Find a very easy going puppy.  Much will also depend on how you let the children behave with the puppy after you get it.  Small children should be supervised at all times.

Now that you have a basic idea of what your family prefers, here are some other things to look for when purchasing a puppy:  

Does the puppy appear healthy?  

When you clap your hands behind the pup, does the pup respond to the sound as if he hears you?  Is the pup over-reactive to the noise?  

Some like a submissive dog & others prefer a more dominant dog.  Here is a simple test for submissiveness:  Roll the pup onto its back.  Does the pup stay there willingly or does he try to flip back over?  Does he seem agitated by it?  Or does he roll back over... then lick you?  Does he run in fear?  Did he growl?   Does the puppy want to be on your lap or wiggle submissively around your leg?  When you pick him up, does he growl?

Throw something across the room.  How does the pup respond?  Does he chase the object with curiosity?  Or does it scare him?    Is the puppy easily frightened by unusual objects?

Is the puppy well socialized?  Is he afraid of being handled?  

A test for Independence vs dependency: Does the puppy take no interest in you or does he jump on you with excitement?  Did he greet you when you called to him or did he ignore you and go the opposite direction?  When another pup is present, does the pup still come to you when called or does he only seem interested in the other dog?  Is the pup clingy and wont leave your lap or does he seem interested in everyone and everything?  Does the pup run from you or run to you?  Is the pup needy?   Or does he look at you from a safe distance.

Is the pup afraid of being handled by a stranger?  

Does the pup seem fearful of the new person or is he bold and assertive?  

Does the pup run & play with the other pups?    Or does the pup sit and watch the other pups play from a distance?   

Does the puppy give you puppy kisses when you pick him up?  Or does he squirm to get away?  

When you separate the puppy from the other pups, does he seem fine with it?  

Does the pup cry and quiver when removed from the pack or is he curious?  

Does the pup bark nervously at you?   Try opening an umbrella at the puppy.   How does the puppy react?   Does he run up to explore the umbrella?   Does he run and hide?  

Try shaking a tin can of beans behind the puppy.   Does it scare the puppy?   Doe the puppy turn, wag and check out the fun new toy?  

Is is important to remember that there is no right or wrong answer.  It is a matter of personality preference.  Different strokes for different folks.  Some people may be turned off by a puppy who is vocal.   The funny thing is, with TTs, I have found that the more vocal pups have ended up my favorite dogs.   I love a smart dog who communicates.   You may prefer a shy puppy.

Also remember that when a puppy is with all the other littermates they are in a full blown pack mentality.  They may growl and carry on.  I find that very normal.   Do not be scared away by it.   It is important to watch the puppy at play and how he is with the pack.  It is also important to observe the puppy when he is at rest or in a more submissive state of mind.  A puppy at play can appear aggressive, but that may be normal pack behavior.  Separate the pup from the pack and have some quiet time with him to get a better feel for how he reacts in a normal, calm situation.   Wait until the dog is in a calm state before you attempt to show affection and have puppy love time with them.  

If you live far away from the breeder and can not meet the puppies, have the breeder do some of these simple test for you.  Keep in mind, that many personalities do not fully develop until the puppy is around 12 weeks old.   The breeder can spot tendencies, but most pups are sold and leave the breeder's house before many personality traits emerge.   Some traits are more obvious than others.   I find it easy to pick up on a shy puppy.   The Alpha pup traits show up better after 8 weeks.   You can be easily fooled before then.   Some puppies behave completely different once you get them away from the competition of the pack.  They settle down and become very loving and loyal puppies.   

I have had many pups growl at me when they are in full on puppy play mode.   That can be normal for a emotional breed of dog.   They all turned out to be the most wonderful dogs I have ever had.   Much is in how you socialize your new puppy.   ENERGY IS EVERYTHING!   Always approach your puppy with kind, loving energy.   Never run at them in a stress out rage, because they peed on the floor.   They will take your stress as aggression.  They will read your energy like a book....but they can not read your mind or understand your words.  If your energy is negative, they will feel it and respond to it.   

Have you ever met a person who says nice words....but the energy they radiate is quite opposite?   It is very disturbing and conflicting.   Ever cross paths with someone you did not know, but you could FEEL the negativity from them?   Puppies feel everything.   Ever work with someone who is a stressed out mess?   How did it feel just being in the room with them?  If I am stressed out, I take time out.   Then I spend time loving my puppies when I have calmed down.   Never approach a puppy when you are stressed out and upset.  If they bite, it is more of a reflection of your energy, than it is bad puppy behavior.   The puppy is just "responding".   They instinctively protect themselves against any and all threats.  We all do.  

Many people get puppies when they have small children at home.   This can be good, or it can end bad.  If you let your children pull hair, poke, tease, fall on, chase the pup with toy trucks, wack the puppy on the head with toys.....then complain because the puppy snaps or bites the children.   Then you get on the phone and call around trying to find a better puppy, one who is not so bad with children.  After that, you put your ruined puppy up for adoption or worse, dump them in a shelter.  SHAME ON YOU.  Yes you.   It is the parent's responsibility to supervise their children with puppies at all times.   

Perhaps the puppy is not the right fit for children in the beginning.   The puppy may have been a nervous dog or Alpha dog.   That happens.   Some dogs are too nervous and fearful to be around children.  That is why it is important to pick out the right fit in the beginning.   Not buy a puppy because you liked the color of it.   The "easy going puppy" was not as pretty...   Ask the right questions and find the right fit.  If you did not take the time and ask the right questions, then be accountable.  Do not blame the breeder for compulsively buying a puppy when you were told that the puppy was... Alpha... or Spunky... or Nervous.  Or worse...you did not even ask those questions.    Do not rush the process of finding the right puppy for your family.   Remember a puppy is a 15 year commitment.   

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