Selecting a working puppy - Page 3

Sue, see that's funny.  in my opinion I wouldnt want them to teach manners. 

I know what you mean, I even hesitated saying that.  I would want them to teach some manners, but only the manners I wanted and in the manner I wanted it done, we are such control freaks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You calling me a freak? 

Sue,

You said and I agree.....

So many times different pups develop at different rates, a pup that one week acts like the stand out, is the most forward, most bold, might be towards the back of the pack the following week.

I have had a dog that until he was18 months.....I though he was never going to make the grade.
The one thing that saves me in this area is knowing the bloodlines of the past. How
his parents and grandparents acted at the same age.

There are bloodlines you need to give a little more time and
ones that from day one are super dogs.

To me??  The best way is to find a dog whose traits and abilities you really like, and have the breeding repeated.  Puppies change and in many cases are no where near what they were once they mature.  All breeding is a crap shoot and you hope it comes out in the end.  By selecting parents with behaviors you really want you are doing nothing more than trying to stack the cards in your favor, but there are no guarantees.

I think you are all right, but the OP asked about selecting a working pup out of a litter. I assumed we all did our due diligence and have chosen nice parents and so on. And yeah, it's a crap shoot, but you pick the best pup. You don't assume that pup #2 may come out more in a week, month or year. Yeah, it happens quite a bit, but I would count on that less than #1 being a success.

Here is a dog that was the last dog in the litter
to be sold, and became one the most sucessful dogs to compete from
USA. 2 Nationals and a second at the World championship. The
litter was a good one and everybody was very selective. So Phil
makes a very good point. This dog I think could just about beat anything
out there to day.

http://www.working-dog.eu/dogs-details/106785/Buck%20von%20der%20Pfalz/

Not me, I won't forget them......they were a very good team.
Glen made payments.
Nobody would have thought that
dog and Glen would go as far as they
did. Glen got some help.

I think you are all missing the point.  Nobody goes out to look at a litter to pick a pup that looks like the third best pup out of 5.  Sure, it may end up being the best dog, but at the time, you have to be a moron to not take what is considered "your" best option.  And who says that the "pick" of the litter would have been yours or mine?  There are countless examples of the pick not ending up as the best.  Fado Karthago, etc.  How much of that is the crap shoot and how much of that is the handler, training and environment?  Who knows if Phil and Glen went out to have first pick, they might have still chosen the dog they recieved. 

I like the conversation and you guys are all right.  Puppies are like a box of chocolates without the labels on on the lid.  You might think you know what ya got, but kazaam!  Another chocolate covered turd. 

The OP asked for what people look for and what tests they run while looking at a litter.  I think we're getting a bit off track.  I'd be real curious to hear what some of you look and test for instead of beating around the bush.  If you don't buy puppies, then that is fine. Just say so.  I understand that too.