pick of the litter

[Guest traceyg]

Right i would like to know how you guys would chose a pup from a litter . The first question is obvious dog or bitch and i think this has a lot to do with what you already have in the kennel so come on guys and girls give me some help tell me what you look for and why thanks

[Catcher 1 639]

:thumbs:Hi bud i honestly do think it,s hard when it come,s to the pick.To me it,s what ever catches me eye,s.I like a pup that,s not to shy.One that will run up to you.Dont like the one,s that hang back.Then again these dog,s many times come out the best in the long run.Think it just come,s down to luck.atb .Catcher

[Hannah4181 260]

I tend to sit back and just watch them interact with each other . . . . its often very easy to see the difference in confidence between a litter of pups. I personally never go for the most confident, or the shyest, i like the thinker, the one that lets it all go on but knows the score! As Catcher has said i do think a lot comes down to luck, but i do believe you can see a lot from a litter in terms of personality in the adult dogs.

 

Confirmation wise, its sometimes hard to tell depending on breed and age . . . . a nice balanced pup, and i like a good sized head on a pup too.

 

Obviously the normal checks, for umbilical hernias, over/under shot jaws, etc etc. Sometimes one just has that something about it. . . . . . . in your case the big headed dog pup on the right in those pictures!

[Lab 10,979]

I'd sit down in the middle of them and let the pup pick you. You'll just know the one for you

[Tiff 36]

I'm coming from a performance dog background so my opinion is probably retarded to some, but I've found it has translated well to working dogs (so far anyway). Assuming the pups are equal physically (no bite problems, balanced, etc) To me having an open mind is the biggest thing ... if you go in with the attitude that you HAVE to have a male/female, the smallest/biggest one, a certain color, coat etc you will ignore other pups that might be perfect for you and have more important qualities if you would look at them all equally as if they were naked. Go more than just once, I personally like to see pups every few days from about 3 weeks on, then you get a good picture of the overall litter. Jot notes down in a notepad and bring it each time, take pictures if it helps you remember which pup is which, if they are similarly marked/colored you could put collars on them. A pup that is forward without being obnoxious is ideal, because if you are attracted to a pup that shows you all it's cookies right off rather than you having to draw some of their personality out yourself can indicate training problems you'll have down the road. A sullen pup or one thats off by itself a lot is a red flag to me too, they don't give a shit Look at the pups together, and then each seperately for a few minutes alone every time as well because a dog will act differently in a pack versus alone. Then for the last week or so try and go every day, and whittle down the specific pups you are interested in. It can take a lot of time but if you are wanting to truly pick a pup, time is needed.

[Lab 10,979]

I'm coming from a performance dog background so my opinion is probably retarded to some, but I've found it has translated well to working dogs (so far anyway). Assuming the pups are equal physically (no bite problems, balanced, etc) To me having an open mind is the biggest thing ... if you go in with the attitude that you HAVE to have a male/female, the smallest/biggest one, a certain color, coat etc you will ignore other pups that might be perfect for you and have more important qualities if you would look at them all equally as if they were naked. Go more than just once, I personally like to see pups every few days from about 3 weeks on, then you get a good picture of the overall litter. Jot notes down in a notepad and bring it each time, take pictures if it helps you remember which pup is which, if they are similarly marked/colored you could put collars on them. A pup that is forward without being obnoxious is ideal, because if you are attracted to a pup that shows you all it's cookies right off rather than you having to draw some of their personality out yourself can indicate training problems you'll have down the road. A sullen pup or one thats off by itself a lot is a red flag to me too, they don't give a shit Look at the pups together, and then each seperately for a few minutes alone every time as well because a dog will act differently in a pack versus alone. Then for the last week or so try and go every day, and whittle down the specific pups you are interested in. It can take a lot of time but if you are wanting to truly pick a pup, time is needed.

Bloody hell you must be a right pain when your picking a pup

[Guest traceyg]

I tend to sit back and just watch them interact with each other . . . . its often very easy to see the difference in confidence between a litter of pups. I personally never go for the most confident, or the shyest, i like the thinker, the one that lets it all go on but knows the score! As Catcher has said i do think a lot comes down to luck, but i do believe you can see a lot from a litter in terms of personality in the adult dogs.

 

Confirmation wise, its sometimes hard to tell depending on breed and age . . . . a nice balanced pup, and i like a good sized head on a pup too.

 

Obviously the normal checks, for umbilical hernias, over/under shot jaws, etc etc. Sometimes one just has that something about it. . . . . . . in your case the big headed dog pup on the right in those pictures!

 

Hannah your going to be in heaven i have been camera happy today and next time your in chat will bore you to death with 300 puppy pics lol

[Hannah4181 260]

I tend to sit back and just watch them interact with each other . . . . its often very easy to see the difference in confidence between a litter of pups. I personally never go for the most confident, or the shyest, i like the thinker, the one that lets it all go on but knows the score! As Catcher has said i do think a lot comes down to luck, but i do believe you can see a lot from a litter in terms of personality in the adult dogs.

 

Confirmation wise, its sometimes hard to tell depending on breed and age . . . . a nice balanced pup, and i like a good sized head on a pup too.

 

Obviously the normal checks, for umbilical hernias, over/under shot jaws, etc etc. Sometimes one just has that something about it. . . . . . . in your case the big headed dog pup on the right in those pictures!

 

Hannah your going to be in heaven i have been camera happy today and next time your in chat will bore you to death with 300 puppy pics lol

 

 

See i find it impossible to be bored by puppy pictures! Heading there now!

[poacher3161 1,766]

:laugh:Picking a spaniel is a doddle if you have bred them yourself i just pick wich ever one starts crashing through the flower beds first

[ferretess 230]

Sit down and watch and play with them ,, like someone already said the pup picks you :yes:

 

 

But when it's your own litter it is a little harder they all come to you,, keep them all tracey

[Guest traceyg]

Sit down and watch and play with them ,, like someone already said the pup picks you :yes:

 

 

But when it's your own litter it is a little harder they all come to you,, keep them all tracey

 

wish i could tessy

[gnasher16 30,470]

I'm coming from a performance dog background so my opinion is probably retarded to some, but I've found it has translated well to working dogs (so far anyway). Assuming the pups are equal physically (no bite problems, balanced, etc) To me having an open mind is the biggest thing ... if you go in with the attitude that you HAVE to have a male/female, the smallest/biggest one, a certain color, coat etc you will ignore other pups that might be perfect for you and have more important qualities if you would look at them all equally as if they were naked. Go more than just once, I personally like to see pups every few days from about 3 weeks on, then you get a good picture of the overall litter. Jot notes down in a notepad and bring it each time, take pictures if it helps you remember which pup is which, if they are similarly marked/colored you could put collars on them. A pup that is forward without being obnoxious is ideal, because if you are attracted to a pup that shows you all it's cookies right off rather than you having to draw some of their personality out yourself can indicate training problems you'll have down the road. A sullen pup or one thats off by itself a lot is a red flag to me too, they don't give a shit Look at the pups together, and then each seperately for a few minutes alone every time as well because a dog will act differently in a pack versus alone. Then for the last week or so try and go every day, and whittle down the specific pups you are interested in. It can take a lot of time but if you are wanting to truly pick a pup, time is needed.

 

Very good post......i used to find it fascinating,virtually from the minute thay opened their eyes i would be on them studying them for long parts of the day,from the tiniest of things like the first one to rise and the last one to fall....the most aggressive,the most confident......the hard part is when the mentally strongest pup is not the best made pup structurally.....

When you are culling unwanted pups its absolutely essential to select the best pups from a litter and if they are working/performance type dogs then it pays to take your time,jot down notes and choose with your head not your heart !

[mushroom 13,253]

wait till they are 7-8 weeks before choosing

[poacher3161 1,766]

Exspeirience has also taught me the first pick from a litter of lurchers does not always make the best and the number of pups that have been the last to go that have made better pups has been supriseing.