Picking Pups And Old Wives Tales...

[Dan McDonough 560]

I can pick you out a fantastic pup out of my hounds. I've been with the same line for generations and when I have a litter of pups I have a good idea of which pup will turn out like which dog of the past. I know all of the old wives tales about moles and how many hairs on them, knowledge bumps, cowlick placement, eye color, etc... What I don't know is lurchers. I have my first litter of American Staghoud X Boarder Collie pups and I'm pulling my hair out as to which two pups to keep for myself. I'm going to apply some of the general tricks to them but I would love to hear about some of little things that the old pro's look for in a pup.

 

Let's hear some of those old ways of picking lurcher pups.

[Big bald beautiful 1,231]

If there an even litter, pick a calm one that's not afraid.

If all like that just follow your heart and pick the one that catchers your eye,be it colour or the way it runs about.

[moonlighter 1,165]

The first born is an old wife's tale too.

[jamesmc 582]

I WOULD TAKE THE PUP THAT TAKES A SHINE TO YOU....

[mintstick999 485]

I would be looking for a nice long back, good length in it's tail and a leg on each corner but i'd be looking at a dog for racing/mooching probably not for what you are doing with your pup. if thats any help.

 

Different dogs for different uses.

[Dan McDonough 560]

I'm in line with that one. I like the long back. We don't have races here but that drive to fox or coyote needs some speed...they run very fast and can hold it for quite some time. I don't need that for bobcat but I'm more concerned with the brains when it comes to cats. I've got some bobcat gland scent in the fridge and I'm going to put it on a rag and see who notices it first and who wants it worse. That'll be as good a sign as any.

 

Good one on the first born. If you have been looking at the USA Lurchers post, it's the black faced male. I regularly pick the largest female in a litter for a breeding prospect and it's been a very good way to pick for that.

 

When I can see their iris better (after the blue tint goes away), I take the pups one by one and bring a light into their eyes when it's nearly dark out. I watch to see which one has the fastest pupil dilation. It's an old trick from the racing pigeon guys that is used to determine which bird has the fastest muscle reaction rate. It works for all sorts of animals but you have to have a fine eye for it (no pun intended).

[hubbs 178]

I always pick the one that licks my balls lol

[ferreterni 29]

That iris test there is very interesting, never heard of it. Also makes sense tho

[Dan McDonough 560]

That's the pupil test, there is a whole other thing with the iris. The iris has two color bands. In pigeons, the more contrast between the inner and outer band the better and also the little spikes that go from the inner iris to into the outer color band of the iris give an indication of how good a reproducer a dog will be. I'm not 100% sold on that one because I have to have a longer time to determine if it works in the dogs I have. The farther those spikes go out the better (and the more of them the better)...or so "they" say.

 

It's one to keep in the back of your mind. All I'm doing in my dog records is including a picture of their eye like they do in the pigeon adverts. I'll be able to tell you if it's got any merit in another 10 years or so.