How to pick out a puppy?

[cindy456]

I look at the pictues of the litters I am picking from and they are all wonderful. So I have narrowed my pick to a female, and chocolate. Now what do I look for when I see them? I will of course put my trust in the breeder since she knows their personalities. I just wondered what you used to pick out the ones you have? Looks? Personality, what type and what did you see that made you decide? In person or internet? For me right now, they all are perfect and gorgeous, so I am having a hard time trying to narrow it down. I still have 5 weeks until I receive her, so there is plenty of time. I just wondered how one knows. An of course there is the whole thing on a name!! Dave said "Mocha" but we will see, I was thinking "Emma".

Thank you Cindy

[CharlieBear's Mom]

The breeder we got Charlie from said he was the cartoon cuddler -- her kids always had him watching TV with them.......ultimately we picked him because he was the most cuddley -- was very relaxed and laid back when we held him. He grew into a 70 lb lap dog and supreme cuddler. We also loved his look -- but it was his relaxed personality that got us....of course once we got him home we wondered where that "relaxed" little guy went Good luck on your selection!

[deepnite10]

we picked Toby cuz he was the smallest of his sibblings..when we got him
he weighed in at 27lbs..and a now he s 16 mos. and weighing 70lbs

[Jac]

Every dog that we have, other than our own puppies that we have raised, were selected by the breeder. I feel that the breeder knows those pups far better than I do. If I have a preference in looks, I will pass that along, but the ultimate decision is up to the breeder, once they knew what I was looking for.
Usually I help the families select their pups. Two different families had their hearts set on a particular puppy but after talking with them and getting the application, I thought that another pup would suit them better...no, they wanted the one they wanted...so, when they came to meet the pups, the one they selected just didn't bond with them...and each time (different litters) the pup that I had selected was the one they ended up with!
Trust your breeder. You will get a good match!

[cindy456]

Luckily I trust the breeder to make the decision for me. I wasn't sure how it all took place and wondered. Looking at the pictures it dawned on me that this is such a hard decision since all of them are so cute. Definitely being a breeder is so much more involved than one would imagine! But they do know the puppies' personality, coats, etc that is difficult to gauge by a picture.

Cindy

[kirama]

Here is a good link to temperament testing of both pups and adult dogs http://www.nrta.com/breedforfoundation/temptest.html

[Jac]

I have to respectfully disagree with temperament testing. I know that many dog professionals swear by it, but in my experience it is a total waste of time. Maybe it is because Labradoodles are so different from other dogs, maybe because I know my dogs so well...but nonetheless, I think that these tests, at best, may be a slight indication...but I had an entire litter temperament tested by a qualified trainer and the results surprised me! I could not believe the information that they noted in the testing. In fact, this trainer was so impressed with one of my girls that she insisted on taking her and training her for service work...well, two days later she called and told me that the pup had changed dramatically and was not the dog she tested! (Well, it was the same dog! hahaha) She ended up bringing that perfect dog back to me and the dog was never the same...she was terrified and skittish, she no longer trusted me and she always wanted to be alone. It broke my heart. That trainer took a very loving, social, sensitive dog and (because of this temperament testing) put her through some training, I can only imagine what, and completely destroyed her sense of self.
Since then, I have studied these tests, a lot. And they are just too subjective. It all depends on the time of day, the mood the pup is in, whether or not he needs a nap...and sometimes, like humans, they just don't feel like doing it.
With the Monks of New Skeet, when they use this traiing, they also combine the results with their weeks of rearing the pup. They take into consideration all of the things that they have learned about the pup and combined that with what they discovered in the test. This, to me, makes more sense.
Anyway, when people rely on these test methods to select a puppy, I don't believe that it is an accurate assessment of the puppy at all.

[anny51]

Makes sense to me, Jac....I've always wondered why these tests, done within maybe an hour or so, are considered to be the recommended way of identifying temperaments....the (caring and conscientious) breeder who's had day to day contact over several weeks and really knows her (his) pups are much more likely to be able to accurately identify them.

Sorry to hear about your little one...poor little mite must have really been spooked. Just goes to show that qualifications and the title of 'expert' doesn't make you infallible! Hope she eventually regained her trust.

[KingstonTodd]

When we had families come over to pick their puppy, most of them listen to us about the personalities of the puppies and we gave specific examples of why we described a puppy a certain way, from hours and hours of watching and interacting with them over weeks. So, I think the breeder is your best resourse. If you cant trust your breeder with this, then should you really be using that breeder?? A couple of families had obviously read some puppy aptitiude testing websites and started to do some rudimentary testing on the puppies they had narrowed it down to, and the puppies responces didnt really tell them anything I didnt already say, and were sometimes not very accurate. For example, one test was to roll the puppy on its back to see if it will submit to you. Well, the puppy didn't want to, and bit the persons finger. They didnt like that puppy.....but he had just woken up from a nap and wanted to PLAY! He was one of the calmer, more submissive puppies of the litter, they just caught him at a playfull time. So I dont put to much stock in a one time test.

[cindy456]

As a special ed teacher, I know that "tests" are only good indicators of the time frame they are given and not something that tells the whole picture, I would think that would apply to any living creature. I am not knocking any one's beliefs in a test for the puppy, but it naturally should not be the only indicator in picking one out. I really wanted to know what people looked for in a puppy and how they decided on "the one". I completely trust Maureen and think she has been very easy to speak to and a joy to hear from. Since I will not be able to see the puppy prior to getting it (due to distance), I count on her and trust her or I wouldn't be getting a puppy from her. I am just so excited about the day that I will get her that all I can think of right now is PUPPY thoughts.

Cindy

[tuffystar]

Cindy thinking puppy thoughts is great right now. Enjoy it!

[blueteal]

If I had chosen a puppy based on any of those tests then I never would have picked Denver
as he failed all(meaning he sat and cried through every test and did not participate at all) of them and he is the best dog in the world so I totally agree with Jac and say to be
very careful about choosing a dog based on that kind of testing............

[MaxandMe]

I trust my breeder more than any testing available as my breeder is with her puppies on a daily basis
SHE knows the ins/outs good points of her puppies and how they're real personalities are.

and i was fortunate enough to meet Max who picked me out but was a bit on the QUIET and what appeared as a shy side
the reason so many overlooked him (LUCKILY or i wouldn't have him now )

peanut picked me out but i was too busy looking for a different one in the litter it took me weeks to realize she wasn't taking NO
for an answer. she's sweet as pie, cuddly, easy going/laid back which i look for...but her energy level and independce as a puppy

well put it this way, had i relied on THE T TEST...i'd never have brought her home.
She's a huge snugglebug, kinda lazy at times hahaaseriously teh puppy energy leveled out at 11mos old when she started to mature
and still has a small independence to her i love like KNOWING but won't shake paws hahahaaaaaaaaa

[M&Tdoodles]

...Jac said

It all depends on the time of day, the mood the pup is in, whether or not he needs a nap...and sometimes, like humans, they just don't feel like doing it.

I agree whole heartily with this...nothing is 100%...I think its funny when people try & do this with our pups..like they really know what they are doing ...haa haa makes melaugh...and sets up red flags...
I really take it persoanlly when people do not listen to what we have to say about the pups...we try our bes to match up with the people are truly looking for..in PUP...and after a while of visiting with us & the pups the viewers will see what we mean...

[Jac]

Hi Martha, I am glad you brought this back...I have been reading through it and laughing...first, listening to Cindy as she tries to figure out "how" we decide...and none of us answering her! hahahaha And secondly, looking at the gorgeous picture of Mandy next to the posts from Cindy...and remembering how she wanted to find just the right dog...and boy, did she!

I also want to add to this thread, since we didn't really answer Cindy...there is really not one specific thing we can look at. It is a combined set of traits. For instance, when I am looking for a dog that someone wants to (hopefully) train as a seizure alert dog, I realize that what we are looking for is an observant, wise puppy because you can't train a dog to be aware of subtle changes in a person and warn them...it is something that the dog can either do or not. In the case of a seizure alert dog, I look for a puppy that waits and watches before he/she acts. Usually, that pup makes eye contact with me before coming forward for attention...and then it is also based on my close observations and action/reaction time with every pup.

The reason we couldn't answer is because ... well, it is tough to describe and every time is different.

But no one will ever know your puppy like the breeder who holds them and plays with them and watches them every day for 8 weeks...