While hauling peastone this weekend for the gravelly part of my dog yard, I began to wonder: what happens to all those puppies the books tell you to NOT pick when choosing from a litter? Most books say you don’t want certain personalities evidenced by reactions to certain tests, and I suppose if you are in the stage of dog ownership that you rely heavily on a book to advise you about pup selection, then maybe the pups with the reactions the books suggest ARE the best for you. Still- they paint the others like poison and I am left to wonder if we shouldn’t pick those puppies, will anyone? What if I am last to choose? Am I then doomed to have the delinquent puppy, determined to be less manageable at the tender age of 8 weeks, or just a late bloomer?
Drawing akitas keeps me thinking about them- the bearish face, thick coat, and that tail that lies just that way!
My book about Akitas (”Akitas” by Dan Rice) is the first book I have ever seen this spelled out a little bit: “If a puppy shies from your hand, it is either too young to take from its nest or slow to socialize. wait a week and visit again.” and on the cradle her on her back test: “If she struggles and tries to escape, try another puppy or delay your selection a week or two.” I like a book that encourages taking time to choose a puppy and tells you the pups may not be defective, maybe just needing more time with mom. That can’t hurt, anyway.
