How to Pick a Puppy: Choosing the Right Breeder and Puppy for You
To pick the right puppy, start with the breeder, not the puppy: choose a responsible breeder who health-tests the parents, raises the litter indoors with people, and asks you as many questions as you ask them. Then evaluate each puppy at about 8 weeks old for temperament, health and structure, meet the parents, and match the puppy's energy to your lifestyle. Below is a step-by-step checklist, with extra tips for pit bull and bully puppies.
Adding a puppy to your family can be one of the happiest things you ever do. We love all dogs, but some dogs will be a better fit for different people. No evaluation method is foolproof, but knowing what to look for makes a good match far more likely.
Step 1: Find a Reputable Breeder
This is the single most important tip in this guide. A good breeder gives you a litter of healthy, well-started puppies and the support to raise one. Supporting responsible breeders also encourages better breeding overall.
The puppy you fall for online is as much a product of the breeder as of the breed. Too many breeders are only in it for the money, and the result can be puppies in poor health or puppies that were poorly handled during their most important weeks. Here's how to vet a breeder:
Visit the Facility
If at all possible, visit in person. You'll see how the breeder handles the puppies, how clean and safe the space is, and how the puppies react to people. If the breeder is far away, ask a trusted friend to visit for you, or ask for a live video call that shows the puppies, the parents and where they live.
Research the Breeder's Reputation
Every breeder will describe their program in glowing terms. Fill in the gaps with research: look for reviews, complaints and praise from previous buyers, and check whether they are known in the breed community or registry.
Know the Breed, Then Ask Hard Questions
Learn about the breed you want before you call anyone. Then ask: What health testing have the parents had? How are the puppies socialized? What are they eating? What does your contract cover? A good breeder answers clearly. If they can't, or won't, keep looking.
Ask for References
A reliable breeder will happily give you a few past buyers to talk to. If a breeder can't or won't share references, take more time before you commit. Good breeders will also ask you for references and want to know about your home.
Breeders we know in the bully world include Manmade Kennels, Carolina Bully Farms and The Incredibullz. Whoever you choose, do your own homework.
Red Flags
- Several litters or breeds available at once, all the time
- Puppies sold before 8 weeks old
- No health records, no contract, or pressure to pay a deposit immediately
- You can't see the mother or where the puppies live
- Higher prices for "rare" colors instead of health and temperament
Step 2: Pick the Right Age
You can choose a puppy anytime, but around 8 weeks old is a good time to evaluate a litter. By then, personality and structure are easier to read. Puppies younger than 8 weeks are still changing quickly, and they should stay with their mother and littermates until at least 8 weeks to learn bite inhibition and dog manners.
Step 3: Evaluate the Puppy on These 5 Things
Temperament
Think of temperament like a kindergarten report card: does the puppy play nicely with others? Watch the puppy with its littermates, then with people.
- Is the puppy curious and willing to approach you, then happy to be handled?
- Does it recover quickly from a surprise, like a dropped set of keys?
- Does it play with littermates without constantly bullying them or hiding?
- Watch for strong guarding of food or toys. Mild interest in a chew is normal; stiff freezing or growling over a bowl is worth asking the breeder about.
Puppies are naturally curious and should enjoy meeting you. A puppy that is very fearful of people can still become a good dog, but it will need an experienced owner and careful socialization.
Overall Health
Take a careful look at the puppy:
- Shiny coat without flakes, sores or bald spots
- Bright, clear eyes and clean ears with no strong smell
- Clean teeth and pink gums
- A normal gait. Clumsy is fine, but no limping or favoring a leg
- Legs that face forward and are not excessively rotated
- Skin on the belly free of redness or rash
- A good appetite and normal energy (with plenty of naps)
- No constant scratching, coughing or diarrhea
Some breeds are predisposed to certain conditions. Ask the breeder which health tests the parents have had and ask to see the results, plus the puppy's vaccine and deworming records.
Once you bring a healthy puppy home, the right food helps keep them that way. Our 24/14 puppy recipe is made for growing puppies.
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Structure
By 8 weeks you can get a reasonable idea of how a puppy is built and spot obvious structural problems. Look at the topline, the angles of the legs, and how the puppy moves. This article on structure and movement explains what to look for in more detail.
Working Drive
If you want a dog for sports or work, like weight pull, evaluate drive. Do they have energy, strength and speed, and can they stay focused on a toy?
Arousal and drive aren't the same thing. Drive is a focused commitment to a goal; arousal can just mean a dog that is easily excitable. You generally want a puppy that can stay focused. Play with the puppy to get a feel for this.
Personality and Energy
Even within one litter, personalities differ. Some puppies are bold and busy, others are calmer and more laid-back. No personality is better than another. Match the puppy to your household: a quiet family with young kids and a sport-dog home need different puppies. Ask the breeder to help you match, since they have watched the litter every day.
Step 4: Three More Factors to Check
Meet the Parents
If at all possible, meet the puppy's parents, especially the mother. They are the best preview of your puppy's adult size, looks and temperament. Look for healthy, friendly, confident adults.
Inspect How the Puppies Are Kept
Are they in a clean, safe space, ideally inside the home where they hear everyday noises? Persistent smells, garbage, clutter or crowded pens are red flags about how much care goes into the litter.
Decide What You Want the Puppy For
A future show dog, a working or sport dog, and a family pet all call for different picks. If the dog will be a pet, make sure everyone at home agrees on the kind of dog you want. This puppy will be with your family for many years.
Step 5: Document the Purchase
Buying a puppy should come with paperwork. Before you pay, get:
- A written contract, including what happens if you can't keep the dog
- Receipts for any deposit and the final payment, with the deposit terms in writing
- Vaccination and deworming records, and the date of the next due vaccine
- Microchip details, if the puppy is chipped (learn more about microchipping)
- Registration papers, if they were promised
- What the puppy is eating, so you can keep the same food for the first week
What NOT to Base Your Decision On
Don't Choose a Puppy Just Because It Approaches You First
Many people believe the first puppy to run up is "choosing you." It's a cute thought, but it often just means that puppy happened to be awake while its littermates were resting. An hour earlier or later, a different puppy might have come over.
Don't Choose a Puppy Based on Its Color
It's fine to have a color preference, but don't let it be the deciding factor. Health, temperament and structure matter far more. Coat or nose color doesn't make a dog rarer or healthier.
A Few Helpful Tools
Evaluation tools like the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test can help you compare puppies, as long as you remember it's just one snapshot. Use it to support your decision, not make it.
Training starts the day your puppy comes home. Small, soft treats make it easy to reward good behavior from the very first day.
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How to Pick a Puppy FAQ
How do I pick the best puppy from a litter?
Start with a responsible breeder, then look for a puppy that is curious, recovers quickly from surprises, is easy to handle, looks healthy and moves well. Meet the parents and ask the breeder which puppy fits your lifestyle.
Should I pick the biggest puppy in the litter?
Not necessarily. Puppy size at 8 weeks is a poor predictor of adult size. The parents are a better guide. Choose on health and temperament first.
What questions should I ask a pit bull breeder?
Ask about health testing on both parents, how the puppies are socialized, what they eat, what the contract and return policy say, and whether you can talk to previous buyers.
Give Them a Loving Home
Your puppy's natural health and temperament are important, but the home you give them matters just as much. Get ready with our new puppy checklist, read our pitbull puppy guide, and plan your first weeks with our puppy schedule. Give your new puppy a safe, happy, healthy home, and you'll be rewarded with a loving companion for years to come.
