When prospective new owners are thinking about different breeds of puppies, it is important to look at what the average puppy behavior is for that breed, plus what the strengths are for the breed once it matures. This is an essential component of selecting a dog breed or type that is going to suit your family, activity level and your desires for your interaction with your canine companion.

Activity and Playfulness

Puppies, regardless of the breed, are typically going to be more active, more mischevious and more challenging to deal with that mature, well socialized and well trained dogs. However some breeds stay puppy-like in their behavior much longer than others. Understanding how much time you have to invest in training including housebreaking and obedience training is essential when you are selecting a dog breed. While activity may be considered one of a puppy's strengths, if you live in a small apartment or don't want to have to walk the dog multiples times a day these breeds won't be a good combination with your lifestyle.

Activity is not always related to the size of the dog. For example a small Jack Russell Terrier is much more active and requires more frequent exercise than a huge Mastiff. An Irish Wolfhound, on the other hand, needs to have room to roam but doesn't need a lot of structured exercise time while a Bassett hound needs to be routinely walked to avoid turning into a couch potato.

Puppy Abilities and Working Traits

One of the other major considerations is what you want the puppy to be able to do or achieve when he or she is mature. If you want a hunting dog, a Labrador, Golden Retriever, Springer Spaniel or Pointer breed is a good match, however not if you want a guard dog. Good breeds for guard dogs would include German Shepherds, Anatolian Shepherds, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers to name just a few. Herding dogs would include Border Collies, Corgis and Sheepdogs. Some breeds can cross over groups, however they will also have the strengths of each group that will influence both their puppy behavior and their adult traits and abilities. Mixed breed or hybrid dogs will have greater variation than purebreds in most cases.

Individual Puppy Strengths

Besides the puppy behavior and adult dog behavior within a specific breed, puppies will each have their own strengths and character traits that are uniquely their own. This may include the tendency to be fearless, bold and brave or the puppy that is constantly acting silly and clowning around. Some puppies may also be more curious and thoughtful, which can be strengths for dogs that are going to be trained in obedience and competitions.

Watching puppies interact with people, their littermates and their mother will help you determine both their strengths and what you can expect with regards to their puppy behavior.