Post by: hunter93 on July 26, 2012, 09:57:15 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on July 26, 2012, 10:25:30 PM
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. :twocents:
Post by: sled on July 26, 2012, 10:47:15 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on July 26, 2012, 11:32:06 PM
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.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on July 27, 2012, 12:36:35 AM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on July 27, 2012, 01:19:12 AM
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.
Post by: Blackjaw on July 27, 2012, 06:52:55 AM
Post by: Dhoey07 on July 27, 2012, 07:03:21 AM
Post by: CoryTDF on July 27, 2012, 08:02:41 AM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on July 27, 2012, 09:52:25 AM
Post by: Huntbear on July 27, 2012, 10:05:31 AM
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....
Post by: canyelk48 on July 28, 2012, 08:14:36 AM
Post by: Lee Root on July 28, 2012, 12:09:08 PM
Post by: wraithen on July 28, 2012, 12:33:16 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on July 28, 2012, 12:44:20 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on July 28, 2012, 01:05:59 PM
Post by: pens fan on August 02, 2012, 04:49:49 AM
As a small time breeder, we spend much of our time watching the pups closely. From the moment they are born we collar them with a colored hair ring, and as they get older, and bigger, we switch to shoestrings, and eventually really tiny collars. We typically name each pup the color of their collar, unless the new owner tells us its name. Right at birth they are weighed and every other day are weighed. We keep track of this on a sheet of paper until they are 8 weeks old or picked up. The new owners get copies of this sheet. We keep track of everything they do, from the third day of the vet visit for docking and dewclaw removal, to eyes opening, walking, temperament, etc. We actually put them on a paper towel with pheasant scent on one side and duck on the other. If they notice either or both, we annotate it. This is done at ten days and then some time later on. We start banging on pots when they are about three weeks old, and then every time they are fed. Any of them that show noise shyness is duly noted. At about 5 weeks we start with a .22 at a good distance away. In a week we are next to their feed bowl and we graduate to 410’s. If any of the pups are gun-shy, and some are just born that way, I believe, we hold them while we shoot for their comfort. We handle them constantly, and let them sleep on our laps while we pet them and watch TV. They are always around kids.
When a potential owner calls, I ask them a lot of questions after I let them ramble on a while. Some people just want family dogs. Most want a combination family/hunting companion. The gun shy pups go to the family dog home. Some of the more timid pups do also. The raging hard driving pups are usually the real hunters. You can guess where they go. But I get a good idea of the new owners, and sometimes I tell them to look into other breeds.
I agree you can make any dog a hunter given the time needed, but it might not be a happy dog. My one pick of the litter for myself I ended up giving away after a year. He would not hunt for me. Not even interested. We never bonded that way. I picked him for traits and not connection. His new owner had no problems with him hunting.
I don’t know if other breeders do what we do with our pups, handling and playing with them and such. But I have not had a problem getting the right pup for the owner. Any issues with any pup invariably were created by the new owners, and that was usually because the pup was left to roam with an older dog.
So, it’s really up to you. I would try and find a very fresh litter and visit the breeder a couple of times. Hold those pups, roll on the floor with them jumping and peeing on you. One of them will stand out. And talk to the breeder a lot. Call him every week for an update. He’s supposed to be there for you. I just know what I would want from a breeder, and I try to be that person for all the new owners. It’s a long term decision, make it wisely and good luck!
Post by: wildweeds on August 02, 2012, 06:46:23 AM
What really helps is if you have firsthand experiance with both of the parents in a performance setting in so much as seeing them work in a variety of different covers,areas and situations.
I sold a setter pup to a guy who has had them for 40 years,he had been braced with me and the pups sire at a FT where my dog won.He had seen the dog win on more than one occasion and the report and picture he sent me is very favorable,she looks like her daddy on point and at a year old next week is standing and watching birds fly away.
Post by: andersonjk4 on August 16, 2012, 05:13:51 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 16, 2012, 05:34:06 PM
Post by: Special T on August 16, 2012, 05:38:13 PM
I used this aptitude test on my first chessie and it worked pretty well. I didn't use it on my recent pick because he was the runt and the only one left so i chose him... I would have waited for another litter but my wife said if i didn't pick him (Because i was a miserable *censored* after having put my last dog down) She would get some kind of Yappy kick me dog for the family pet... I quickly shelled out the cash for a hunting breed. :chuckle:
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 17, 2012, 09:44:51 AM
We both want a dog who isn't too high strung, because we have a small house and we both work. We want to come home and have that best friend who we can fetch with, train with, play with, etc., but also one that knows how to chill out when we want to watch a movie ;-)
We went to the breeder last night and spent an hour with the pups to decide which one was ours. We at first were going to pick a female, but the one we settled on was a male because his personality was what we were looking for. A very obvious strong nose, a fun little guy to play with, but also a much more relaxed pup than his sisters.
just my :twocents:
ctwiggs1
Post by: Cascade_fisher on August 17, 2012, 12:07:49 PM
I heard this from somewhere when I was looking for a pup a few years back: "If you're looking for a good pup. Pick the parents and let your wife/kids pick the puppy." That pretty much goes with whats already been said about picking the breeding. Pick good parents and you will most likely end up with a good pup.:yeah: