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Just curious what do everyone else see, in the pick of the litter. i know some people that look for the most hyper, hot acting pup, but i know some others who may prefer the laid back quite pup, and last i know people who really dont matter about the pick because they are all bred same.
just wondering, some of the best hounds you have owned, how did they act as a pup, where they your pick of litter?:):)
Which ever one seems the most interested in me is the one I picked.Quote:
Originally Posted by bently
if it's my litter i keep a hot one, and one that doesnt pay the others's no attention. and see how they both turn out.
It all depends, when you work with a line of dogs for quite some time you tend to learn the characteristics of the dogs starting from birth. When you know that much about your hounds your picks will be different. If its not your litter then you can only go about what owners willing to show you. Look for just a healthy pup.
Good health is the first thing to look for, second I like one that likes me, third I try to pick one that has energy but not O.C or too calm I like em balanced it usually makes for a smart one.
I have had pups I had to separate at 8 weeks and, I have had pups that shown no aggression for three yrs! I would say it doesn't really make much difference:) all though the slower starting pup is way less maintenance to raise, and who cares what a pup does? It takes more patience and its a lot easier if you no your own dogs but do to those devils tearing teeth out along with dog houses and anything else they are near I will take the nice pup:)
what about you large kennels, do the pick of the litter matter to you at all?
For me I have never really been able to pick the "pick" so to avoid giving away the best, I kept all either with myself or close mates and then checked them all out. Those that did not make the grade were placed in homes as rescues. Call me a woos but Karma has served me well this way instead of culling.
I keep a minimum of 3 from every litter, and most often 4-5 so for me its picking the ones i don't wanna keep. Wouldn't do a breeding were i only could keep one. However if i am to buy a dog from a breeder i would trust his opinion over mine.
based on your experience how did the ones that where hot acting pups turn out as adults then the ones that where not so hot? this is really no concern for me, just curious ow others feel about the pick of the litter and what they look for in a pup.
Seen how pups turn out to be hot adults, some made the cut some didnt. The biggest change i've noticed of anything isnt the dogs or the attitude but the people that had them. Seems like people i seen have success, regardless if their dog was hot, laid back, skittish or anything they always seemed to be able to bring out the best in that dog.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyRed
so true, u hit the nail on the head. i feel as if a good dog man always brings out the best in his hounds regarless. whats funny is that when i was first starting and building my yard, when i went and got the pups i was looking for i never seemed to get the one i wanted,but the one i least wanted and payed no attention to. my mentor always told me "its the man behind that dogs, not the dogs behind the man" and i took it and ran with. as time went on and it was time to show, all my hounds made me proud, and only had one that didnt work out.
now that i have my own breedings and yard, and i dont sell dogs, but they go to my buddies or stay on my yard, i just keep the ones am left with, and hope all make us proud.
I like the playful ones myself. I figure conditioning is a huge role so I want one that's easy to work. I also like the smaller ones just cause for a whike I had larger dogs. But with selective breeding to smaller males and linebreeding on top of that. It didnt take long to get the size I was after.
Watching the litter grow and picking from something you have only seen for 10 minutes is make a big difference. I remember when I picked up the male I now keep as my main stud, their were only three pups in the litter and I got to look at all three. Only for maybe 45 minutes, but it helped. My pick was based on confidence, the pup was very confident and comfortable in his pen, on the ground, and something I was most impressed with was in the car. This 6 week old pup was walking from the front seat to the back seat and jumping without hesitation. Of course I couldn't see these things on the yard, but the confidence played a huge role in helping me mold the animal I have today. Start with a solid pup and you should have a solid adult.
there is no known way to pick the best pup in a litter at 6-8 weeks , its pure luck, why have some of the top breeders in the world sold there best pups and kept some pup them self's that did not work out. if you want to keep the best pup from the litter then keep the whole litter. :hatsoff:
First, you should have some type of idea of what to expect, based on the parents. You should know what you are investing in before the breeding.
Second, I look for fundamentals, like soundness of structure, movement/fluidity, attitude about toys/food. That "look" in their eye of being smart, or not and if you have the advantage of watching the litter as they develop, you can find out who is a problem solver and who is not.
Just some things I consider.