Message #54196

[Bryant]

When I had the litter of AB/Dogo pups a while back, I messed with them all the time (something I won't do with curs) and constantly made mental notes.  I would do silly little things like take a 2X6 and lean it up againt my shed door (it sat off the ground about 18") then stand in the shed and call the pups to see which would figure out first how to climp up.  Some would stand under and wimper, some would try to climb on the board from the side and others would quickly figure out how to start at the bottom and crawl up.  I would take a piece of rope with a knot in each end and throw it on the ground.  Watch who would grab it first, then watch who would win when the tug-of-war amongst pups began.  I would open the kennels and take off walking.  See which pups came out right away, and which would stay back.  I would take a wad of food and sink in in a shallow water bucket, then see which pup had the determination to eventually stick it's head in to get the "treat".

Continually, I tried to put them in situations where they would have to figure something out.  It was VERY interesting to watch, and usually it was the same pups time after time that would pick up things the quickest.

As for buying a pup, I like for the owner to turn them all out where I can watch them interact.  Me personally, I like the pups that don't come to you right away.  I like one that after a bit, will venture off by him/her self not necessarily paying attention to the rest.  I like a pup that is interested in sniffing around while the others are wrestling and playing.  When I have it narrowed down to a few, I get on a knee and call the pup to me.  If one in particular perhaps looks up, then goes back to what it was doing without much regard..then that's my choice.

There is no fool-proof method, but these little things I look for just make me personally feel a little better about what I'm fixin' to feed for the next year!