How to Choose a Puppy From a Litter: Temperament, Health Signs and What to Ask on the Video Call
Picking the right puppy matters more than picking the cutest one. How to read temperament, what healthy looks like at 8 weeks, the breed-specific things to check in French Bulldogs, Cavapoos and Poodles, and the questions to ask the breeder, in person or on a live video call.
Most people choose a puppy by its face, its color or the first one that comes to the camera. That's understandable, and it isn't always wrong. But the puppy you'll love living with is the one whose temperament fits your household, from parents whose health you can check. A good breeder who has watched the litter every day for eight weeks is your best guide to that. Your job is to ask the right questions and know what to look for.
Here's how to do it, whether you're visiting in person or meeting the litter on a live video call.
Start with your household, not the puppy
Before you look at a single puppy, write down three or four honest lines about your life:
- Who lives at home, including the children's ages, other dogs and cats?
- How many hours a day is someone home?
- Is the home busy and noisy, or calm?
- What do you want to do with the dog: long walks, training, mostly cuddles on the sofa?
Send this to the breeder. A good breeder will match the puppies to it and tell you honestly when one isn't a good fit. If you're still deciding on the breed itself, our three-breed comparison helps.
Look at the parents first
A puppy's adult temperament and health owe a lot to its parents.
- Meet the mother, in person or on a live video call. She should be relaxed and friendly with people. Some mothers are protective of a young litter, but they should settle quickly. A fearful or aggressive mother is a warning sign.
- Ask about the father. He often lives elsewhere, but the breeder should name him and share his health results.
- Ask for the health results, issued by the testing body (OFA, Embark and so on), not just the seller's word. Our guide to what health tests puppy parents should have explains which tests matter for each breed.
- Ask for the parents' adult weights. That's the best guide to your puppy's adult size. Our mini vs toy Cavapoo post explains how to use them.
Reading temperament at 7–8 weeks
Puppies are easiest to read when they're awake and active, not straight after a meal or a big play session. Here's what different behaviors tend to mean.
| What you see | What it often means | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| First to every person, climbs, mouths a lot | Bold, high-energy, may be pushy | Experienced owners, active homes, training |
| Comes over after a moment, then plays | Confident and balanced | Most homes, including families |
| Watches first, approaches calmly, settles in a lap | Gentle, steady | Calmer homes, first-time owners, seniors |
| Stays at the back, startles easily, slow to recover | Shy, sensitive | Quiet adult homes, patient owners only |
The most important thing isn't how a puppy reacts, but how quickly it recovers. If a puppy startles at a dropped keyring and then comes over to investigate within a few seconds, that's a puppy that will cope well with life. If it hides and stays hidden, it needs a quiet home and extra care.
For most families, the "middle" puppy is the best choice. That's the one that's curious and friendly without being the boldest in the group. The puppy that charges the camera is fun, and it's often the most work.
Simple checks to ask the breeder to do on camera
A live video call lets you see things photos can't. Ask the breeder to:
- Pick the puppy up and cradle it for a few seconds. A little wriggle is normal. Panic, or struggling hard for a long time, is worth noting.
- Touch its paws, ears and mouth. Most well-handled puppies accept this easily.
- Make a sudden noise a few feet away, like dropping a set of keys, and watch the recovery.
- Put the puppy down on its own away from its littermates, and see whether it explores or freezes.
- Call the puppy and see whether it comes over.
- Show the puppy with its mother in the same frame. This is also your best protection against scams, because a scammer can't show you a live puppy with its mother.
If you can't visit, our post on buying a puppy from another state explains the full process, step by step.
What healthy looks like at 8 weeks
Whatever the breed, a healthy puppy should have:
- Clear, bright eyes, with no discharge, cloudiness or squinting
- Clean ears, with no strong smell, dark wax or scratching
- A clean nose, with no thick discharge, and no wheezing or coughing
- A clean coat and skin, with no bald patches, scabs, fleas or constant scratching
- A clean bottom, with no sign of diarrhea
- A rounded but not bloated belly. A hard, swollen belly can mean worms.
- Steady movement, with no limping or wobbling
- Energy and appetite. Playful when awake, sleeping deeply in between.
Ask about umbilical hernias (a small soft lump at the belly button). They're common, often harmless, and should be disclosed and checked by a vet. Ask about the puppy's bite too: how the teeth meet.
Breed-specific things to look at
French Bulldog
- Nostrils. Ask for a close-up of the puppy's nose. Wide, open nostrils are what you want. Narrow, pinched slits (stenotic nares) mean harder breathing. Our breathing guide shows the difference.
- Breathing at rest. It should be quiet. Loud snoring or noisy breathing while the puppy is awake and calm is a warning sign.
- Coat color and health. Some rare colors are linked to health problems. Our French Bulldog color guide explains which.
Cavapoo
- Coat type. A puppy's coat can change as it grows. The best guide to the adult coat is the generation (F1 or F1B) and the parents' coats. Our F1 vs F1B guide explains it.
- Heart. Ask whether the parents have had a cardiac exam. Heart disease is the Cavalier side's biggest risk.
- Size. Toy or mini depends on the Poodle parent. Ask for both parents' weights.
Toy and Miniature Poodle
- Kneecaps. Ask whether the parents have had patella exams. Slipping kneecaps are common in small Poodles.
- Eyes. Ask about eye exams and the PRA DNA test.
- Temperament. Poodles are sensitive. Look for a puppy that recovers quickly from surprises.
Color, sex and the "runt"
- Color last. Choose temperament and health first, then color among the puppies that fit. Color doesn't predict personality. Our color guides for Cavapoos, Poodles and French Bulldogs explain how coats change with age.
- Male or female? Individual temperament matters more than sex. Our male or female post covers the real differences.
- The smallest puppy isn't necessarily weak. Ask the breeder how its weight has tracked since birth. A small puppy gaining steadily is fine. One that has fallen behind and stayed behind needs a vet's opinion.
Questions to ask the breeder
- Which puppy would you choose for a home like mine, and why?
- What is each puppy like at feeding time, at play and when it's tired?
- Has the puppy seen a vet? What did the vet find?
- What vaccinations and deworming has it had? Our vaccination schedule shows what to expect at 8 weeks.
- How has it been socialized, and what has it met so far? Our socialization checklist helps you continue.
- What does your health guarantee cover, and what's the deposit refund policy?
Our full list of questions to ask a dog breeder covers the rest.
Red flags
- The breeder won't do a live video call with the puppy and its mother.
- The mother isn't available, or "is at another location."
- No health results, or results "on request" that never arrive.
- Puppies offered before 8 weeks old.
- Pressure to decide fast, or to pay before you've seen the puppy.
- Unusual payment methods. Our scam guide explains what to watch for.
How we help families choose
Every puppy we have available is listed with its photos, details and price. When you request a puppy's information pack, you get both parents' health results and the contract by email. We then meet you on a live video call with the puppy and its mother before you pay anything. Tell us about your home before the call, and ask which puppy we would suggest for it, and why.
