When we chose Ripley & didn't know any better as he was our 1st puppy: we were drawn to him by his cute pot belly, the fact that he was covered in wee, hiding under chest of drawers..

The unique things Ripley had when collected as a puppy:- bundle of crazy fur on hind, slightly turned out right forelimb, white eyelashes, regular toe tapping and dancing (the last of which lasted his lifetime!). 

The things we taught in within his first 12 months...

Hand signals - food/dinner, poo/wee, stay, walkies, swim, down, up, heel, *shake" after swim

and we are so grateful that we had him in a harness for a while early on in his life as it meant in later times (post surgery) that it was not overwhelming for him.