Here are some tests that will tell you your puppy’s personality type, that is, if he is submissive, dominant, or normal:
1. Hold the puppy a few inches off the ground. Now you must observe the reaction of the puppy. If the puppy has a normal personality, it will settle into your hands after fighting for a few moments, as dogs with normal personality show submission to authority. But if the puppy doesn’t fight at all and just crawls into your hands or starts to panic, then he’s submissive. But if the puppy keeps fighting and howling until you let him go, he definitely has a dominant personality.
2. The second test consists of holding the puppy on your lap with the stomach facing up. Then you should try to comfort him by stroking his stomach. Again, a normal puppy will struggle a bit, but then he will settle into your lap. Not only will a dominant puppy have a hard time getting away from you, they may even try to bite you in the process. If the puppy is submissive, he would submit without a fight and might even urinate in a panic.
3. The third test consists of making the puppy stand on the ground and move away from him through a soft ball. The puppy with a dominant personality will follow the ball and take it away and hide it in a corner. If the dog is submissive, then he may be afraid of the ball or give no reaction. On the other hand, a normal puppy will chase the ball and start playing with it.
4. On the fourth trial, you must crouch some distance from the puppy. Then call him out to you by clapping and cheering him on. A puppy with a normal personality will be more than happy to come to you and play with you. A dominant will probably not listen to you and even if they do, they will approach you in a very aggressive way. A puppy with a submissive personality will come to you but in a very shy way and may expose his belly to you. In some extreme cases, these pups may even hide in a corner or urinate in panic when you touch them.
Most buyers, who want a sweet, playful and easy-to-train dog, will buy the dog with the normal personality. Dogs with a normal personality are very pleasant pets for families with children. But if you want a dynamic dog that can be trained to do housework, then a dominant dog will be ideal for you. These dogs are perfect for physically attractive people with a dynamic personality. But if you are a quiet person who likes to be alone, then you should get a more submissive puppy.
If you want a puppy of such a dominant breed as the Mastiff or German Shepherd, then you should try keeping a submissive puppy. On the other hand, if you want a puppy of such submissive breeds as Greyhound or Maltese, then you should take a small dominant puppy.