Choosing the right puppy

WhiteGC8WhiteGC8
edited September 2008 in Akita (秋田犬)
My neighbor has decided to get an Akita. While I'm happy for him, I discouraged him from doing so as this would be his very first dog - not to mention he's getting a pup that's six weeks old.

Despite my efforts, he still wants to go through with it. Being that we grew up together and we're more like brothers than neighbors, I'm gonna help him out the best I can by helping him choose and being the "godfather" to the pup :p.

Please give me a few quick pointers on how to choose the right puppy. My neighbor's got first pick, so I'm sure that'll help, but not if we don't know what to look for :p.

Comments

  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited September 2008
    I would read about How to find a good breeder on the forum, so you can make sure he's getting a pup from a good breeder - I'm sure others will respond about selecting a pup
  • dlrobertsdlroberts
    edited November -1
    As with all dogs, you want to find a confident, non-reactive puppy. There are a few "temperament" tests out there that are appropriate for puppies of that age. They involve doing things like shaking a cookie can filled with rocks and seeing if the puppy is curious or scarred, watching how the puppy explores a new environment (if they explore the center of the room or stick to the walls), how they react to being put on their back or held in the air. I'm pretty sure Brad posted some information about one of the many approaches to testing puppies a while back, but I don't recall when and where. I think some googling will help you find what you're looking for.

    Good luck to you and to your friend!
  • BradA1878BradA1878
    edited November -1
    Any breeder that is allowing their Akita puppies to go to new homes at 6 week is NOT a reputable breeder. He is dooming that puppy if he gets it.

    So my first and only advice would be: Don't let him get that puppy!

    We can help him connect with a reputable breeder, THEY will guide him through puppy selection.

    ----
  • MommyofNikoMommyofNiko
    edited November -1
    Take it from someone who knows...DONT ever encourage a puppy to be taken from its litter or mom at 6 weeks. There are SO many lifetime complications that come along with it. The Akita I was going to get (on a list for 1.5 years) was going to be 3 months. A hard wait but well worth it.
    Awesome Akita breeder, and an idea of what to expect and look for...Miisan. www.Inu.com
  • WhiteGC8WhiteGC8
    edited November -1
    After a long argument and a short car chase on the freeway, I remembered that my street racing days are long gone. He got the puppy without me. While he got a cute puppy, I'm worried about how everything's gonna turn out.

    As expected, the puppy has had none of its shots and has not been de-wormed *sigh*. I let him know that you get what you pay for. And while I hope this story has a happy ending, I can't help but worry as I love dogs and akitas were the first breed that fell in love with when I was still in 3rd grade ;p.
  • BradA1878BradA1878
    edited November -1
    That's very sad.
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    :(

    Some people need to learn the hard way, I suppose...~
  • sujewelsujewel
    edited November -1
    I'm really sorry to hear that. It's irresponsible to jump headlong without doing some research before purchasing a dog. While Mika was not my first dog, she was my first Akita. I did some research, so I was aware of some of the hurdles that we'd have to go through. Which helped, but in terms of finding reputable a breeder, I was clueless. One thing I did know was to make certain I meet the sire and the dam.

    While, in many ways, Mika is a fantastic dog - sweet, healthy, people friendly and intelligent.. The end result of NOT going to a reputable breeder are difficulties in her behavior towards dogs not in our pack = dominance and aggression. Recently, this has evolved to her snapping at my husband when she sees another dog! I don't know if he's gotten in the way or if she's turning to him. She doesn't do this to me when I have her. While this seems like a plain old aggression issue, it could also be a thyroid problem, which we are checking into.

    But, I digress. The best thing to do is help your friend out in any way you can. Make certain he really socializes that dog with people and other animals. Your friend should know too that socialization doesn't always extinguish aggression in certain dogs, but it's the very least a responsible owner can do. Mika was well socialized, but by 3 months old she had already terrorized a dog she had been socialized with. To the point where she had hurt the dog somehow in their play and left poor Willow (a 2 year old lab) limping...
  • tobyshibatobyshiba
    edited November -1
    oh my ... :( Sorry to hear that.

    Being impatient to get a puppy is not the best way to begin. You said that puppy was 6 weeks old? Expect that poor Akita to probably have lots of issues down the road. Their last few weeks with their littermates and mother a very crucial to them. They learn a lot of important skills and behaviours through the last couple of weeks.
  • RomiRomi
    edited November -1
    Thats very very sad :(
  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    Do you think showing him a forum that had posts specifically about HIM and his situation would have helped??? I know if I saw multitudes of people telling someone else that I was a complete idiot, I would think twice...
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    lol Evan. ~
  • WhiteGC8WhiteGC8
    edited November -1
    He usually takes my advice. But I think what happened was that for him, it was a "strike while the iron is hot" type of situation (not to mention price). His mom finally warmed up to the idea of having a dog, so before she changed her mind, he went for it.

    Evan, it wouldn't have changed his mind. I've known him since he was a year old. I treated him like my own blood and advised him as such. Consequently, he's just as stubborn as I am.

    Anyway, I tried to introduce Yoshi to Mochi, but that didn't go very well. At first, they sniffed each other out - no problem there. Then Yoshi tried to grab Mochi with his mouth. The puppy squealed and that caught Yoshi off guard, so he got all anxious.

    I put Yoshi into a sit, and he was shaking. Aside from removing him from the situation, I couldn't distract him from fixating on Mochi. Is it too soon to introduce them? They'll be right next door to each other, so everyone wants to make sure that the two get along. Did I introduce them in the wrong way?
  • kwyldkwyld
    edited November -1
    Advise your friend to be careful about taking the puppy anywhere that there are lots of other dogs due to the fact the "breeder" didn't give it any vaccines. It could very easily pick up parvo virus, which is spread through feces. It can be tracked anywhere especially on shoes, car tires, paws, etc. Chlorine bleach diluted in water is the only cleaner that will kill it. If I were him I wouldn't set that puppy down on the ground outside of his house, for real. Tell him to take it to the vet in the next couple of days for shots, deworming and to set up his neuter or spay appointment in the future. You should tell him to visit this website and buy as many books as possible about raising a dog. He needs some edumucation!!
  • kwyldkwyld
    edited September 2008
    It is VERY VERY VERY important that he does not socialize that puppy until it gets it's shots. I work at a vet and we see buttloads of people bring in their puppies that they walk down the streets in Pontiac picking up Parvo, and the owners do not even think twice about what their puppy can catch from not having any shots. They figure it's too expensive to get shots and/or "oh my friend who gave me the puppy said they gave the shots already", when in reality they never got documentation from "the friend". It's much more expensive and heartbreaking to hospitalize your pet for a life threatening disease or virus than to spend the money to get preventative care done and wait a little bit to bring the puppy around other dogs.
  • scientistescientiste
    edited November -1
    hm. why 6 weeks? Is two weeks really all too much?

    If I were you, I'd tell him that you can't be impatient about something so important!
  • WhiteGC8WhiteGC8
    edited November -1
    I told him this morning to schedule an appointment with the vet. That didn't happen. I'll remind him tomorrow *sigh.*
  • LeonbergerLeonberger
    edited November -1
    Your neighbour is getting into a whole mess. (let's hope not, but all signs point to it)
    Those two weeks are probably the best gift he could ever give his dog.
  • grandemugrandemu
    edited November -1
    Getting the shots is vital, but with a breed that tends to need extreme socialization, you can't wait until the final shots are given (at 4 months, vets usually say the last parvo shot takes about a month to set...so 5 months). Up to 4 months is one of the most crucial socialzation periods. It is when the puppy is most open to new experiences. So, definitely, be very careful about where the puppy is taken (not open public areas, where any dog can go). Take the puppy to see friends that have vaccinated dogs, in their house or yard. Have people visit the house. I've read that a good plan for puppy socialization is to introduce the puupy to 100 new things a week (heavily towards people and other dogs). Do not force dogs to play together though, if you are uncomfortable with their behavior. A vicious attack on a puppy (or young dog) by another dog/person/cat, etc can alter their behaviour permanently (and usually negatively). This can kind of sound crazy/scary, but it boils down to - use good judgement (which it sounds like you have...maybe not your friend) - and socialize carefully, and often.
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    Side note; 8~10 weeks is also the fear period, I believe. ~
  • dlrobertsdlroberts
    edited November -1
    It varies from dog to dog, but I think its more like 9-12 weeks generally.
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    Thanks Dave :) Wasn't too sure on the number, glad I wasn't too off :) ~
  • WhiteGC8WhiteGC8
    edited November -1
    Thanks for all your advice. I'll do everything I can to make sure Mochi is at least as well-behaved as Yoshi. Though Yoshi is showing signs of aggression since his neutering. I don't know if it's due to that or because he hasn't gotten as much exercise as before (doctor's orders).
  • dlrobertsdlroberts
    edited November -1
    What were the doctor's orders? The week or 10 days that you have to keep him quiet after surgery shouldn't be enough to set off an aggressive response to frustration and pent up energy. If they made some argument about reduced testosterone being a cause for reduced exercise they are full of $hit.
  • sujewelsujewel
    edited November -1
    I know he's your friend....but you could call animal control if he refuses to vaccinate his dog. I know this is extreme, but if your friend doesn't vaccinate, he puts the community in danger.
  • WhiteGC8WhiteGC8
    edited November -1
    David - Instructions were short walks till the stitches come off (14 days). They were supposed to come off yesterday, but work had me running late, and I couldn't get there in time. I'm taking Yoshi today for sure.

    sujewel - He's not refusing, he's just lagging on setting up an appointment. They've already got one set up for the weekend after this coming one.
  • sujewelsujewel
    edited November -1
    That's good. I thought he was refusing vaccinations. Sorry for the misread.
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