A healthy puppy should have:

- a friendly, confident manner but should not be dominant with its litter mates. Timid pups often become highly strung and dominant pups might become aggressive.
- clean, bright eyes with no redness or discharge

- clean ears with no waxy crusts in the ear canal

- the front teeth (called the incisors) should meet. If they don't, it means the pup has an undershot jaw. This is a defect and could lead to early dental problems.

- the skin should be sleek and shiny with no dandruff or black specks indicating flea dirt.

- the back end should be clean and odour free. Soiling might indicate diarrhoea.

- the pup should be plump with rolls of loose skin. If the pup has a potbelly with prominent ribs than it may be sickly or have worms.

Most puppies can be acquired at 6-8 weeks of age. At this stage they will be fully weaned but still young enough to adapt well to your household. It is a good idea to take all new pups for a health check at the vet to discuss vaccination, worming and diet. Your vet will also check for any birth defects such as hare lip, umbilical hernia (swelling at the belly button) and an undershot jaw.

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