Different breeds of dogs have different traits that are characteristic of their breed. Right off the top of my head if one says Beagle, I think of a tail-wagging, happy dog with a mind of its own, who, if it gets whiff of a scent will wander off in search of the critter on the other end of the smell, not even hearing you calling him back. German Shepherd, a loyal friend to the family who will thrive on pleasing its owners. A Bichon Frise, a happy tail wagging, soft coated, non-shedding small dog who loves children, but may not be the easiest to house break. All breeds have characteristics common to their breed.

One must always keep in mind; there is much more that determines what that adorable puppy will grow up to be like. Because it is characteristic for a Bichon Frise to grow up loving people, this does not mean there are no Bichons who would never bite a stranger, and it does not mean that all Cocker Spaniels love all children. Within every breed there are always exceptions to the typical temperaments and characteristics. After all, dogs are not computers with commands built into them. They are living creatures whose environment and surroundings are affected by those around them.

Within the same litter of any purebred or mixed breed dog will be puppies with different energy levels. Some pups are more shy and timid while others are curious and like to explore and not afraid of very much at all. Some puppies have a higher tolerance for pain and some are very sensitive. The pups that are more sensitive are not the ones you want to choose for small children. Some puppies may get spooked by loud noises while others in the litter are not bothered. Some pups within the same litter are going to be more submissive and easier to train, while others are going to, by nature, be more dominate, needing a more dominating owner who knows how to remain the boss.

It is always a good idea to give a puppy a temperament test before you adopt. Perform the steps below. NOTE: most pups will try to puppy bite your hands-- this common puppy trait is not what you are watching for, you will be looking for signs of annoyance.

1. Roll the puppy on its back and rub it's tummy. How easily does it allow itself to be on its back with its tummy being touched?

2. Gently squeeze its paws. Put the pup on the ground and hold its two front paws, then hold onto its back paws. Restrain the puppy for a minute, but do not hurt the puppy. Does it allow its paws to be touched without getting annoyed or growling?

3. Play with the puppies ears, does the puppy mind if its ears are touched and gently tugged?

4. Hold the pups tail. Does it allow its tail to be tugged?

5. How does the puppy approach humans and the other dogs in the litter? Is he standing high and proud, or is he holding his head low, as if he was a little sad? Dogs with higher dominancy levels will approach standing high and proud, ears perked. While this looks adorable, keep in mind, this is how a dominate dog carries himself. A submissive dog will hold his head low, ears back, and slink himself down, trying to look smaller. Submissive dogs are easier to deal with than dominate dogs. If you do not feel you have a complete understanding of canines and what it takes to be a true pack leader to your dog, you should be picking a submissive puppy. Read up on the subject because all dogs need a pack leader, no matter what their dominancy level is. All dogs need to have their instincts fulfilled to happily coincide with humans.

Basically in this puppy temperament test you are going to restrain and tug at the puppy. A puppy with a good temperament will put up with a humans tugs and pulls. Be careful not to hurt the puppy. Any dog in pain may react.

You are not trying to hurt the puppy, but simply see how well he tolerates being handled by rolling the puppy on its back is putting it in a submissive position. A more dominating dog will not tolerate this as well as a puppy who is more on the submissive side.

Do keep in mind, there is a difference between puppy biting and dominancy biting. Puppies, by nature, will try to chew on you, and it may hurt. For example, I once went into a pet store (not the best place to buy a puppy) and there was a Rottweiler puppy about 7 weeks old in a cubical. I reached down to pet it and he turned around and looked at me with his ears back. I then gave its fur a tug, not hurting the pup, he had a lot of extra skin. The puppy, even as young as it was, turned around and growled at me. That was one puppy who will need an owner who can handle a dominate dog; he will forever test the pack order. His Rottie littermates didn't mind my tug to its back, but rather seemed to enjoy the attention. There are play growls and there are dominancy growls, telling you to back off, they are "alpha". The pup that growled made eye contact with me, his ears were back and he gave me a look that meant he meant business. He was correcting my behavior because he saw himself as alpha over me. The pup that was playing was wiggling around, jumping around, trying to bite my hand, tail wagging and ducking himself down in an "I want to play" position.

Know yourself and your family. Choose a dog that will match you. Be honest with yourself. If you feel you are, or can be, on the meek side, be sure to choose a submissive type dog. Only choose a puppy with a dominant temperament if you know you have what it takes to be a 100% strong minded pack leader.

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