WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR - Page 1

I just thought this may be an interesting subject, If you are buying a new WORKING LINE Puppy. What is the first thing that you look for in that Pup.
I will kick off and mine is that i look for a Strong Nerved Puppy, that is my No1 thing when picking it out, Or if the chance to pick it out from the whole litter has gone and i so not see that in what is left of the Pups to pick from, then i do not bother at all.
What are your opinions on what you look for and why, Puppies only
Steve1

1. nerves, with out this, nothing else matters.
2. outgoing/free
3. movement(follow me around)
4. prey/play/enjoys diferent surfaces/climbing around on things
5. food motivated

and the list goes on, of course a good gut feeling sometimes helps.


100. color

Good topic, I'm interested to see the responses. I don't have one (an opinion ) because I have not had one. I have been very interested and like reading the training posts etc. Thanks Steve1... oh and I like that cgageturner put color as number 100, lmbo Jennifer

Steve1 and cgageturner just interested to know, how can you tell about the pups nerves? I'm looking into getting a working line pup in a couple of years but do not know how to assess these things in puppies. Would it go under the category of confidence, ie a pup that is bold, or independent?

I know how to spot a good prey drive, but not nerves

cgageturner,
I second your post.
On another note, selecting a puppy can be unpredictable. One truly does not know what that pup will end up to be once an adult.  Not always of course, but sometimes. With that said some of the best ways to try discovering your new puppy is by what cgageturner said.   
Brandi

#1 nerves.....I like seeing a litter away from thier home environment....I like seeing how a pup acts with his/her littermates when play items are present....when food is put down....when the owner of the litter isn't present....how a litter/pup responds to me on first visit.  I like taking pups on walks to see how the interact with a stranger:-)....geez, I could go on all day! Good topic steve1

along with the first set of requirements

teeth, testicles (if male), clear eyes, thick bone and a structure that will enable it to do its work and no disqualifying faults.

Violet & Brandi
Ron has very much answered  your questions  for me. As soon as i meet the Pups i like to see self assurance a Puppy even at 7 weeks old will show no signs of nerves or of being not quite sure of what to do next, Nothing will phase it. Not everyone who is after a Puppy of the same litter looks for these things, it is perhaps not what they want in a Pup or what they want a pup for
 However i am sure for what i want a Pup for Sports Schutzund it must be that way,
Young Gina is such a young Dog she was like that as an 8 week old Puppy, Nothing ever bothers her if she meets strange dogs she never so much as looks at them very much aloof to any other dog around her in any situation, here is an instance
2 weeks ago she started running around the Ring to get used to it so she can take a Show Grade test this coming Sunday,
She was taken over from my brother by a complete stranger a young Lady into Show Dogs and knows the system better than we ever will
Gina went along with her as if she had known her a long time Ran the ring well Posed at a Show Stand Perfectly every time, she had never done a show pose only once before,
Another way as Ron has said You as a stranger can walk the little Pup away and it will go along with you as if it has known you all its short life, another of the litter will complain and pull back wanting to stay with the litter mates and owner as such It is not so sure of its self
There are so many ways you can find out about a young Puppy, But remember not everyone wants a Puppy for the same reason one of the other Pups of the same litter will make a very good Pal i am talking only for want i want a Pup for
I expect others on here will have there own thoughts on what they want to see in a Puppy, I hope they will put them forward
Steve1

Outgoing, confident, fearless, pups that run over to greet you,
also pups that want to explore their surrounding nose to the ground!