Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Results of Study of Puppy Behavior At Adoption Events

Saturday's adoption event involved a lot of puppies. After a lot of research and hands-on evaluation, I have determined that there are three stages of puppy behavior at adoption events. I've decided since there isn't a lot of information on this out there, I would share my results first with you. Then perhaps I'll write a paper to be published in the Journal of Puppy Behavior*.


Puppies at adoption events generally follow a set pattern of behavior which can be recognized as it progresses through the following three stages: the Obnoxious Stage, the Calm Stage, and the Stuporous stage.

First is the Obnoxious Stage. You may question how such cute little creatures could ever be considered obnoxious. Unless of course, you've experienced life with a puppy first-hand. Then you will quickly recognize that this is a stage that is repeated at several times during the first year of a puppy's life. Obnoxious behavior can be observed at adoption events when the puppies begin wrestling, playing, chewing, exploring, and tugging on objects all around them. At this point, the best chance anyone has to control a puppy is just to hold onto the leash and stay out of the way. It's tough to get a picture of a puppy in this stage, but I have provided some examples below to demonstrate various puppies engaged in the Obnoxious Stage of Behavior:
Out of control puppies



Plotting puppies


Puppy attempting an escape from his collar.

After the puppies have used up most of their abundant energy supply, they enter the second stage of behavior, known as the Calm Stage. This is the stage where the puppies are most often chosen for adoption, because potential adopters only see a cute little puppy that licks their face, not the obnoxious chewing creature that was on a mission to destroy all shoe laces in the world just ten minutes earlier. Here are some examples of puppies who have entered the Calm Stage of behavior:



A great example of how looks can be deceiving


Innocent look perfected.
 
This puppy is beginning to transition from stage 2 to stage 3.
  Finally, energy reserves fully depleted, puppies enter the third stage of behavior - the Stuporous Stage, also known as the "Dead to the World" stage. At this point, you can do pretty much anything without the puppy waking up. You can make as much noise as you want. You can transfer the puppy from person to person. For all intents and purposes, the puppy has been "turned off" while it's energy cells are recharging. Enjoy this time, because it seldom lasts as long as you'd like. Here are some puppies that have fully entered the Stuporous Stage during the adoption event.



Down for the count

This puppy would make a great doorstop.



This puppy knows how to make herself comfortable before shutting down to recharge.


*Not an actual scholarly journal - but wouldn't it be great if it was?

15 comments:

Leila said...

Lather, rinse and repeat! After the stuporous stage then they start all over again. They only survive because they are so adorable, even when they are chomping on anything they shouldn't!

Texas The Doxie said...

LOL yes after four puppies I'm no longer duped by the big eyes and cute expressions! :D

- Erin

Anonymous said...

Don't forget to mention the constant leaks from 5 puppies! We must have gone through 2 rolls of paper towels at least! Not to mention a few piles of newspapers! Linda

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

SQUEEEEEEE! Puppies!!!! I hope the vent was successful and you still have some shoelaces left!

Happy tails!
Stumpy and me

Mollie Jo and Bobo said...

Great study! Very scientific!

Is it a bad sign when a puppy skips stage three? Uncle Puppy rarely if ever finds this stage...He seems to be stuck in stage 1.

Wags and Licks,
Mollie Jo & Bobo

Kari in Alaska said...

Its because of an adoption event with puppies that we got Baily. We knew we were heading on vacation in a week but she stole our heart!

Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

Kristine said...

Puppies! It would be a very dark world without them. I hope the event went really well, despite some obnoxiousness.

That really should be a journal. Maybe you should start one?

brooke said...

LOVE the puppy pictures! Perfect Tuesday pick me upper!

Sue said...

You've got that right! The day we adopted Tsar he was in the calm phase. By the time we got him home he was stuporous and remained that way for the rest of that first day. We congratulated ourselves on finding a sweet easy pup. He awoke the next morning in obnoxious mode and stayed that way. We somehow survived him trying to eat the house and it's contents and now he's a model citizen, almost.
Sue

Anonymous said...

This was very much educational. I hope your very Most Scientific study gets published very soon. I bet a whole lotta peoples could learn from it.

It's good, though, that puppies have a calm stage. Otherwise, from the looks of Obnoxious Stage, they might not ever get adopted.

Hey! Do you think that's why Ziggy never gets adopted?

Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie

Anonymous said...

PeeS. I FORGOT to thank you for leaving a comment on my Bark It Furward post! Thank you, thank you! And please tell the peoples you work for that I think they're kinda mean for not letting you comment on bloggies at work.

Unknown said...

This is a wonderful study, pick me up some puppies that stay in the second or third stage!

Cupcake said...

Puppies, puppies, everywhere. I love them. I can't resist them, even in the obnoxious stage! These puppies are extra special cute.

Two Pitties in the City said...

I think the dead to the world stage gives the best photo opps.

havetailwillwag said...

they're all sooo cute! great photos!!!!