how do you all pick a pup

[hunter93]

how do you all go about picking a pup from a litter, what traits do you all look for at that early age. any help is aprreciated thanks.

[ghosthunter]

Well it is crap shoot.

I look for the things I want. I make a list and I stick to it. When you are talking on the phone the list really helps.
When I go to see pups if the breeder will let you I wad a piece of paper and throw it to see what the pups will do.
I try to pick a pup from the middle of the litter, not the bold pup or the wall flower but some where in the middle.

In the end if you have a dog with the basic right stuff in breeding and it gets early proper training should be OK for most guys.

Pups area huge commitment but the rewards are great.

[sled]

  If there is a wild one in the litter, chances are it will be high strung when it is older.

[Stilly bay]

ask the breeder (who has spent the most time with the pups) which one they would pick according to what you are looking for or go for the cutest.

[carpsniperg2]

You can tell good pups. Watch for nose to the ground or in the air. Watch the pup and what he is watching is he paying attention more to the other pups or to you being there. The way they carry themselves and personality always sells me.

[Happy Gilmore]

I'll share a story about picking pups a very good friend of mine told me about picking the "BEST" pup. This old fart has an NFC(retriever) and more AFC's and FC's than can be counted on one hand..... A person he knows bred to his NFC Lab. Had a litter for sale.

There were three kennels. Four pups on the right, three in the middle, two on the left. The first puppy buyer shows up and says, "I want the "best" puppy" The gentleman says, "well, if you want the "best" then, you'll take a pup on the left kennel. They are $200 more than the others. The pup buyer pays the price plus the extra $200 for the "best". The breeder goes over to the kennel on the right, grabs a pup, puts it into the kennel on the left. Next puppy buyer shows up and says, "I want the "BEST" pup from this litter". Guy says, "well, the kennel on the left has the "best" pups".

It's a crap shoot. There have probably been more AFC's, FC's and NFC's who were not the pick.

[Blackjaw]

Like Happy said, it's a crap shoot at that age. What I like to do is take them out individually and let them run around for a minute. You can get an idea of how independent they are (at that stage) and how much interest they have in you. You can also role up a little sock (or something easy for them to pick up), and throw it, and see if they seem to have a good retrieving instinct. BUT, no matter what you do, it is still a crap shoot.

[Dhoey07]

Really depends on what you want the dog for.  Will it hunt or just be a family dog?  If it hunts you want a dog that will take challanges head on and will think about stuff, like climbing a little hill or getting around/under obstacles.  If you just want a family dog then maybe you want a calmer more laid back pup that just hangs out and chills.  One thing i have read is to seperate the boys and girls, because the girls mature faster than males 

[CoryTDF]

+1 to what happy said.

[Happy Gilmore]

The breeder should have an idea. When a person shows up, who knows which pup ate a bigger lunch, which one hasn't slept, which one has slept, which one played hard for an hour before etc, etc.

[Huntbear]

Personally, I let the dog pick me..

I will sit down with the pups.. watch them, play with them a bit, let them crawl all over me.. the one that wants to come home with me, will make him/herself known....

[canyelk48]

Like others have said, it's a craps shoot, but I've had good success by just observing the pups (entire litter together) outdoors or in a large enclosure and just watching to see which ones are the most inquisitive and energetic.  I also always bring a pheasant wing on a string and pull it around half a dozen times or so to see which ones go crazy over it; bear in mind that they're just pups and can lose interest quickly and will move on to their next "adventure".  Sit down with them and see which ones come to you and seem to want to be with you.  I tend to shy away from the runt of the litter as sometimes they are fearful and shy; however, I have seen runts turn out to be great pets and hunters.  If you only want a male (or female), have the breeder separate them so you can just observe them together by sex.  Everyone has their personal preferences, so go with your gut feeling.  Good luck!

[Lee Root]

First step is to pick the breeding.  If the breeder is making a good match, then let him pick the pup for you. He spends 7 or more weeks with the pups and sees more than you do in one hour.

[wraithen]

Tell the breeder what you want the dog for and they can make the best choice for you (reputable breeder assumed.) My next one will be a laid back alpha. (It's not an oxymoron with giant breeds.) That will be the pup that takes charge of his world. It's all in the traits you want to value. Don't be afraid to see a hundred pups and wait a year for the perfect dog to suit you.

[singleshot12]

I would say don't pick the pup! Have the pup pick you instead.  Sit down with the whole litter and which ever one stays and bonds the most with you that is the one for you