Help us pick our puppy!

[rabidpecan]

Hello again! We just got photos of the three females we can choose from, and I thougth I'd ask for you advice. We'd like to get one that isn't super-curly, because we don't want to have to deal with matting and all of that, but we'd also prefer one that has slightly longer hair. I think I'm leaning towards puppy #3, but then again, she said that #2 is smaller, and I like the idea of a smaller dog. Plus I think she got her descriptions of puppy #1 and #3 mixed up because she says #3 is curliest, but it looks to me like #1 is. lol
Anyway, this is what the breeder had to say about them....

#1 is a blend of apricot and golden in color. Her hair is just starting to come in


#2 is the smaller, lightest and has shorter hair so far.



#3 has a blend of color(apricot and golden). She is curly than the other 2.

[rabidpecan]

This is all she said about personalities......."They are very friendly.
Temperments are great. All are very receptive and similar except for their color and coat texture." So I guess it wouldn't make much difference as far as that is concerned.

[cissy k]

Oooohhhh, they are all so cute!!

I like number one! I know the coat looks curlier than the others, but it is not nearly as curly as some that I have seen, so I am not sure the coat would be too difficult to take care of. However, the wonderful breeders on this forum would be much better at determining coat type from these pictures than I am.

Best of luck. Don't think you could go wrong!

ADORABLE!!

[lmtoth2]

If the personalities were the same I would choose number 1...

[annabelles mom]

Wow they are all so cute, I like the look of # 1 best, she just has that "pick me" look on her face

[Lucee&Rusty]

I love number 1 too! She has a pick me face

[Bella]

I would only use the pictures as a rough idea. Nothing beats meeting them in the flesh. Personality counts for a lot which no amount of pictures can get across.

Even a dog with relatively short hair can be a grooming handful. The only way to guarantee a matt free dog is either get a short haired dog or regular grooming. Plus I think the type of coat is a much to do with tendancy to matt as length. You'll be fine if your puppy is trained to tolerate grooming. It's actually a lovely way to spend quality one-on-one time.

There is no guarantee a small puppy will stay small. Mabel was one of the biggest in her litter by the time we picked her up yet she was the 2nd smallest of the litter when 4 weeks old. Now she is the 2nd smallest again both in height and weight. The 3rd smallest in the litter is now 24" high!!

Picking from those 3 will be so hard though. They are all just gorgeous. Have you space for 3 dogs?

I'm getting broody looking at these puppy pictures

[blueteal]

Very cute they are all adorable...........
I would pick number 2 as I like the lab look in that one
and the coat may be more like Denver's which means will probably shed
but with very little grooming................
Tough choice among those cuties for sure..............

[Jac]

Congratulations!
All three are lovely pups!
I think that #1 will have a wooly coat and the other 2 will resemble the typical F1 Labradoodle, scruffy, slightly shedding and easy to groom
I agree that the temperament and health of the pups are most important and that you have a good relationship (of trust) with the breeder.
I am surprised that the only info you get from the breeder about the three pups is that they are all super...of course they are! All pups are! But, by now, your breeder should know their different personality traits and that the temeraments sometimes do change...the breeder should, at this point, be having lenghty discussions about you and what you are looking for and explaining to you the differences in the pups (believe me, they are NOT the same!)
Someone above suggested spending a lot of time with the pups...in a perfect world, that would be great...but many breeders will not risk the health of the litter for people to come and spend a lot of time with various pups, it is a sure way to eventually introduce disease into a healthy litter of pups.
Also, puppies are not the same at any given time of the day or circumstance...my pups can be mellow one hour and chasing each other the next. Still, I can generally see the differences in them. Some are more independent, some are more social, some are trying to be top dog and others are submissive...some eat poop, some chew sticks, some like to play ball...there are many differences!
So, you do have to rely on what the breeder says, for the most part...and I would not settle for a blanket statement like you have been given.
If these are not kennel pups and if your breeder is living with them, you should be able to get much more information from the breeder to help you make a choice...and once your breeder knows what you are looking for, she/he should help you make a good choice.
So, my best advice to you at this point (since you love all of them and you find good traits in each) is to have a long conversation with your breeder and ask them lots of questions...and expect full answers.
These three are all really beautiful pups!

[Bella]

Jac makes an excellent point come to think of it. Mabel and her siblings were all so very different even at 4 weeks old. Some mellow, some hyper, some lazy as a bag of sugar.

but many breeders will not risk the health of the litter for people to come and spend a lot of time with various pups, it is a sure way to eventually introduce disease into a healthy litter of pups.

I've never heard of any Uk breeder doing this but since I've been Googling loads about doodles I've seen it mentioned on 2 breeders sites.

Not sure how I feel about that policy to be honest but then again I don't know anything about what outbreaks of diseases there is in the U.S.

[MaxandMe]

personally all 3 doodles look adorable but i choose puppies based on Temperament 1st, health above all.

i'd ask the breeder more specific questions on these puppies temperament/personalities. You can always deal with coat changes
but what kind of puppy are you looking for?

calm, easy going?
the energetic one that's more curious?
and so on as this puppy is a 10yr to 15yr committment

[Jac]

Good point, Bella, I am not at all certain that the health risks are the same in the States as the UK.
In the States, our biggest worry is Parvo. The virus lives in the ground for years...even my vet says that once you get Parvo, you never get rid of it. And puppies with Parvo die horribly painful deaths...it is a terrible disease and every breeder's greatest nightmare.
So, we all try to accommodate committed puppy buyers (they have a stake in the good health of our puppies too) but we take precautions and limit the visits and the time spent with puppies.

[Sammy-Doo's Fam]

# 2 Looks more like my dood...

Here's my Sampson as a puppy...

By aliciarose, shot with KODAK CX6330 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA at 2008-02-29

I agree that meeting them if possible would be a good idea...

[rabidpecan]

I appreciate all of your comments about meeting the puppies......but they live five hours away, so it's just not possible. However, I think I'll be calling the breeder tomorrow to see if I can get any more details from her. She's a bit older, so I'm thinking that typing on the computer isn't her favorite thing to do. lol We'll see what she says. Thanks guys!

[lindamarie]

Good Lord! They are all so cute!!!
I agree with everyone..get more info!
But, I do like #2 and the labby look! Ah heck! I don't know! I just went back and looked and I really couldn't say! haha! I'm glad I'm not you, I'd want all 3.......