PICK OF THE LITTER!! FACT OR FABLE? - Page 2

Ryan: Well said, indeed!

Pup testing is important. I have it done at 7.5 weeks of age. Carmen Battaglia's method. I usually agree with the pup tester as my pups are raised in the house so i get to know them really well. But, if i don't agree, I go with MY gut feeling. sofar that has worked out with matching pup to families. Pup pics for conformation is done stacked at 6 weeks. The pick pups ALWAYS leaves last here, never first, should they not be all be pre-sold. I'd rather be left with 'my' pick, of course.

sgbh, its the overall package to look for, not just conformation when it comes to pick pup. if 4 males look the same, then you will pick the 'strongest' mind should you want a show prospect.

out of the litters I had even though uniform litters I always knew the one that I felt had the total package. I think it also proves because having novices over to choose from the litter they also could tell the pup had the extra needed and would always want him/her.

Thank you for your insight, Saoa

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR WELL THOUGHT OUT ADVICE/SUGGESTIONS ETC...AGAIN YOU MAKE THE SITE WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND I HAVE RECEIVED THANKS FROM PEOPLE ENJOYING ALL YOUR COMMENTS....KEEP'EM COMING. SINCERELY, SPORTSTUFF DAN

If 5 breeders look at a litter of 10 pups, there is bound to be at least 3 DIFFERENT Picks depending on who you ask - everybody is looking for something different -- based on what the know - The breeder of 50 years has a much different eye than the breeder of 3 litters in the past 5 years. And what you thought you saw may not be there in two years -- it may be better or worse -- And yes, I believe there are "twins" that appear the same in conformation, color, attitude, size, etc -- and they may or may not change over time.. In a litter of 5 it's easier to get 'cookie cutter' pups than a litter of 15 -- A lot of people (most) who HAVEN'T bred their own - don't know what they're looking for - wouldn't know it if it bit them on the ankle -- and the testing BY THE BOOK is just what the puppy did on that day - of that week -- test them again next week - you get different results. The breeder that spends time in the whelping box - knows each pups strengths and weaknesses from the 3rd DAY -- When I imported my last two dogs - it was a simple matter for me to TRUST the experienced breeder to send me what I wanted, based on our discussions. I got EXACTLY that in my Male -- and now in my little girl -- My male was selected BY THE BREEDER for Breeding "potential" and excellent temperatment -- I have no need to put a number on it - was he the 2nd best male or the 4th best - I really don't know -- I do know that he is EXACTLY what I had hoped for - I couldn't be happier. Same thing this year -- I have what the breeder called the "second pick" - but extremely similar to the 1st. Again - she more than met my expectations. And I don't care what people say -about this - but if a breeder KEEPS a puppy from their own litter - that means a lot to me in terms of depth of quality that they are willing to invest more time/money in raising a puppy. It means also that they think the genetics are important to the future of their breeding program - also important if you want to breed. We never priced the litter according to PICK -- and we never let people PICK THEIR OWN -- If they didn't trust us enough to get them the dog their family needed then they went elsewhere. People who say bring cash and take any one you want -- make it more and more obvious why they're having pups in the first place.

Great statement, Pineridge. You said it all. The only thing I would add: If you have a 'cookie cutter' litter of 5 excellent structured puppies with great temperament, you can count your blessings since your female, the dam of that litter must be a great producer. Chris

yup - I personally never got that -- mostly because I ALWAYS OUTCROSSED - AND I was CROSSING east/west german and Belgian working lines - so I got the opposite - POPCORN !!! But sound - and GOOD HIPS AND ELBOWS -- which was important -- and structurally correct - but not FLASHY _- Now, I think I'm gonna have FLASHY -- (I have a Karat's ULK little puppy bitch that takes my breath away!!) Hey, I love her, what can I aay !

Welcome to the club Pineridge