Did You Pick Your Dog - or Did Your Dog Pick You?

Recently, several photos from 2022 popped up in my "memories." They're all from the day I picked out the puppy who would become Fleetwood. 💕

Looking at them, one thing was immediately clear: Fleetwood was not going to let me leave without him. He was determined. Every time I looked at or petted one of the other puppies, he jumped in front and tried to give me kisses.

One Look and I was Hooked

When I looked into those eyes and saw the "Fleety" spark, I was hooked.

I knew he was my dog — but he may have picked me first. 🐶

That got me thinking: did I pick Fleetwood, or did he pick me? And did that question apply to all five of them?

There's Actually Science Behind This

It turns out there's real science behind the human-dog connection — and it starts in that very first moment.

When dogs and humans make eye contact, both experience a release of oxytocin — often called the "bonding hormone." It's the same hormone involved in the bond between mothers and newborns. Scientists have found that this mutual gaze loop between dogs and humans is genuinely unique in the animal kingdom.

Maybe it wasn't my imagination after all. 😂

How It Went With Each of My Dogs

Hudson:

Hudson was supposed to be a girl. Please don't tell him. 😆

There was a female available that I planned to meet. But while I was there, a boy puppy kept coming over and hanging out. Calm, sweet, consistent. I knew he was supposed to be mine. After some negotiating, Hudson came home with me.

Erwitt:

Erwitt was from a new breeder, and I was on the waitlist. (Starting to see how I ended up with five? 😀)

When the breeder called about a boy puppy being available, I wasn't sure. They asked if I wanted photos. Of course I said yes. I was hooked immediately — those brown eyes, even in a photo. I flew out to meet him. The connection was instant.

Prayerie:

Prayerie has a lot in common with Fleetwood — she was determined to come home with me, and I felt exactly the same way. She came from a litter with real show potential. I wasn't specifically looking for a show dog, but I was open to it.

It came down to two females — green girl and orange girl (litter color coding). It was a close call, but green girl was my girl. She turned out to be a beautiful show dog too.

Daisy:

Daisy was completely different — I bred Daisy. She's a Prayerie puppy and was the second born. I knew instantly that if I was going to keep a puppy from this litter, it was going to be her. I knew before her eyes were even open.

As Daisy grew, she became pack-approved. All my dogs loved the puppies, but Daisy just fit. We all knew it.

What the Science SAys About How Dogs Choose Us

Dogs are remarkably skilled at reading humans. Research shows they pick up on:

• Body posture and open vs. closed body language

• Eye contact and duration of gaze

• Tone and pitch of voice

• Social engagement — who pays attention to them vs. who ignores them

• Emotional cues, including stress and calm

Ironically, those are very similar to the cues we pick up on when we feel a connection with someone. The attraction is genuinely mutual.

What to Watch For If You're Choosing a Puppy

Based on fifty years of living with Airedales, here's what I look for in that first meeting:

• Which puppy seeks you out and keeps coming back — not just once, but consistently

• Eye contact — does the puppy hold your gaze or look away immediately

• The "spark" — hard to define, impossible to miss

• How the puppy behaves when you give attention to a different puppy — does it try to re-engage you

You'll know it when you feel it. Or when they make the decision for you.

The Moment

I always feel that moment. I can't say for certain who picks who — but I know that we pick each other. ❤️

Did you pick your dog, or did they pick you? Leave a comment — I genuinely want to know your story.

—Kim Opdyke 💗