posted 03-03-2004 03:56 PM         

I was the reverse - I really wanted a female lab and the place didnt have a female so we got Jake a male and I just love him to death.

posted 03-03-2004 04:28 PM         

Male or female
First, decide whether a male or female suits you best. Females tend to be smaller than males, to wander less, and to be less dominant. Whichever you choose, determine that, unless you are buying a breeding animal, your pet will be spayed or neutered at six months of age. Spayed females cannot get pregnant, so there'll be no accidental litters. They also cannot get mammary or uterine cancer or pyometra, an infection of the uterus.

Castration reduces the male's tendency to wander in search of females in heat, his need to mark every corner of his territory, and his penchant for aggression and dominance. It also eliminates the chances of testicular cancer.

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Temperament: Dominant or submissive
Next, decide if a quiet puppy, a submissive one, or a dominant one is more to your liking. Even though temperament, size, and level of activity is constant within a breed, there is plenty of room for individual differences. Akitas are large, dominant dogs, often aloof and difficult to train, yet an individual Akita puppy can be more or less friendly; close to the maximum (27 inches for males, 25 inches for females) or minimum (25 inches for males, 23 inches for females) size; more or less energetic; more or less dominant. The same is true of any breed, for all individuals in a breed are not clones of each other.

Check out the puppies
Sit or kneel on the ground and call the puppy to you. Snap fingers, pat the ground, get the puppy's attention. If he comes quickly, he may have a strong attachment to people. If he stops to smell the flowers along the way, he may have an independent streak. If he doesn't come at all, he may have difficulty forming a bond with people. Of course, one such test means nothing. Try to visit the litter a couple of times before making a decision. Or depend on the breeder to tell you which puppies seem to have which behavior characteristics. Or both.

The homecoming
Taking him from his littermates and introducing him to a new home with new smells, sights, and sounds can be overwhelming for an eight-week-old pup, so take steps to assure an easy transition.

Make sure the pup has a spot to call his own, someplace he can go where he will not be pestered by children, other pets, or visitors. This can be a crate, a purchased dog bed, or a blanket in the corner. The crate for a puppy should be a small one; an adult size crate can be purchased when he outgrows the puppy crate.

Bring a blanket or towel from his first home and put it in his place along with a blanket or towel from your own supply. Dogs have a strong sense of smell; familiar smells will help him feel more comfortable. Feed the same food that the breeder did, or mix some of that brand in with the food you prefer to gradually accustom the pup's system to the new diet.

Confine the pup to a room occupied by an adult so you have a better chance of preventing mischief and of catching him before he relieves himself on the floor. If you are distracted, leave the pup in his crate for short periods while you work. If he is confined, your

relationship stands a good chance of getting off to a fine start - he can't soil the floor, chew the furniture, or bite baby's ankles if he is in the crate, so won't start his life in your family being scolded.

Place a crate in the bedroom of the person who is responsible for taking the pup out during the night if he has to relieve himself.

Proximity to people will help him adjust better to being without his littermates, and immediate attention to his toilet needs will make housetraining easier.

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Otherwise stay at home
Plan on keeping Rover at home (except for visits to the vet and short trips to accustom him to riding in the car) until he is at least 12 weeks old and preferably until he's 16 weeks old. Puppies get their initial immunity to disease from their mother. As the pup grows, he is vaccinated for continued protection from several potentially fatal viruses and bacterial infections. However, there is usually a gap in protection as mother's immunity decreases and administered immunity increases to a safe level.

Pups can pick up bacteria or viruses from other dogs on a walk in the park or a visit to puppy kindergarten class or to a friend's house. Diseases can be transmitted through dog urine and feces, so a pup coming into contact with one or the other can become infected. People can bring germs home on their shoes and clothing, so beware of visiting a friend whose dog has had any of the canine infectious diseases. Enjoy the puppy. Guide him or trick him into correct behavior until it becomes habit. Play with him to help develop his confidence. But most of all, enjoy the puppy. That's what you got him for.

posted 03-03-2004 11:13 PM         

Eskielover, we want to see pics when you get him or her....Good luck to you!

posted 03-04-2004 02:47 PM         

You sound very responsible and putting alot of thought into it so I'm sure whichever you decide on will be right for you.

posted 03-05-2004 02:16 AM         

Don't forget to keep us posted on how things are going... and don't be scared to ask for advice nomatter how silly it might seem