Forums46
Topics537,992
Posts9,731,487
Members87,053
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
What do you look for?
#4078500
02/24/13 04:58 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,281
BradyBuck
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,281 |
I was wondering how you pick a puppy. I have had three labs in the past two of which have been very easy to train and made great dogs. The other one was insane. I may have just not had the time for him or just didnt know how to handle him. He had great drive and energy but was just to much for me to handle I guess. My question is..Are there certain things you look for in a pup when choosing one?
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: BradyBuck]
#4078563
02/24/13 05:58 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,038
IronSpikeLabs
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,038 |
Absolutely! I like drive, but not so much that the dog can't 'dial down' in the house. Then intelligence, and then a people-pleasing temperament. The latter two combined, result in a dog that responds well to light correction and makes training and handling easy. After that, I want a good nose on a dog - sometimes that's all you have to find a downed bird.
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: BradyBuck]
#4078856
02/24/13 03:05 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,492
Guy
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,492 |
I was wondering how you pick a puppy. I have had three labs in the past two of which have been very easy to train and made great dogs. The other one was insane. I may have just not had the time for him or just didnt know how to handle him. He had great drive and energy but was just to much for me to handle I guess. My question is..Are there certain things you look for in a pup when choosing one? Is this just going to be a pet? And/or hunting hunting dog? What kind of hunting?
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: Guy]
#4079527
02/24/13 08:30 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,059
MS1454
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,059 |
I work with the breeder who knows the pups best.
I'll take a Black Female every time.
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: MS1454]
#4079666
02/24/13 09:51 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,492
Guy
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,492 |
Picking the right litter/breeder is a much bigger decision than picking a pup within a litter. Once i decided on the breeder/litter, when i picked Molly out, she basically picked me, she played with me the whole time, or sat in my lap, never left my side... In the end I said "How can I not take this one home?"
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: IronSpikeLabs]
#4079999
02/25/13 12:46 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,574
Leonardo
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,574 |
Absolutely! I like drive, but not so much that the dog can't 'dial down' in the house. Then intelligence, and then a people-pleasing temperament. The latter two combined, result in a dog that responds well to light correction and makes training and handling easy. After that, I want a good nose on a dog - sometimes that's all you have to find a downed bird. Curious to know if you have any tricks to identifying these characteristics or just go based on feel?
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: Leonardo]
#4080031
02/25/13 12:56 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,492
Guy
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,492 |
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: Guy]
#4080181
02/25/13 01:43 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 226
Chris2713
Woodsman
|
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 226 |
I have never seen that chart, I really like it.
"I wake up in the morning and piss excellence" -Ricky Bobby
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: Leonardo]
#4080241
02/25/13 02:08 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,038
IronSpikeLabs
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,038 |
Absolutely! I like drive, but not so much that the dog can't 'dial down' in the house. Then intelligence, and then a people-pleasing temperament. The latter two combined, result in a dog that responds well to light correction and makes training and handling easy. After that, I want a good nose on a dog - sometimes that's all you have to find a downed bird. Curious to know if you have any tricks to identifying these characteristics or just go based on feel? Look for my response on this thread: http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u..._to#Post2678056
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: IronSpikeLabs]
#4081147
02/25/13 02:46 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,574
Leonardo
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,574 |
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: Leonardo]
#4083402
02/26/13 03:37 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 195
DH 1
Woodsman
|
Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 195 |
Try to pick a pup when the litter is 7 weeks old. Take each pup and roll him on his back and try to hold him down. A pup that will struggle for a while then give up will be easy to train. A pup that CONTINUES to struggle will be a handful to train. Read it in Wolters book "Water Dogs." It has worked for me...
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: DH 1]
#4083903
02/26/13 02:14 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 312
ShotGunWillie
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 312 |
From my experience there really is no fool proof plan with picking a puppy.
I look for different things, but nothing is set in stone. The breeder will know the pups far better than you will, considering they spend the most time with them.
The pup that appears shy during your ten minute visit, will be the most out going one the very next day. The most laid back one, the most active one, and so on....
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: ShotGunWillie]
#4084027
02/26/13 02:54 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,070
Ol_Yeller
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,070 |
Do your research on breeders/litters. Express your desires to your breeder. Trust their opinion. Worked very well for me.
"Duck hunter's minds are like concrete. All mixed up and permanently set."
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: Ol_Yeller]
#4084695
02/26/13 07:07 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,038
IronSpikeLabs
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,038 |
From my experience there really is no fool proof plan with picking a puppy.
I look for different things, but nothing is set in stone. The breeder will know the pups far better than you will, considering they spend the most time with them.
The pup that appears shy during your ten minute visit, will be the most out going one the very next day. The most laid back one, the most active one, and so on.... This is so true. I warn folks that one or even multiple glimpses/visits is only going to give incomplete snapshots of the true pup. It behooves the breeder to steer the buyer right - that's how you get happy, satisfied dog owners that come back and send their friends. We post many, many videos and keep in contact with buyers during those first weeks. It's a lot more work, but well worth it - in the end, everyone is happier. Do your research on breeders/litters. Express your desires to your breeder. Trust their opinion. Worked very well for me. This is a good example of the above. Steve just told me what he wanted and I steered him toward Jack. Same with several of the other pups in the litter. It seems everyone is happy and that makes me happy! Ask your breeder - a reputable one will be happy to work with you and will be honest about what you are really getting in each pup.
|
|
|
Re: What do you look for?
[Re: Leonardo]
#4085249
02/26/13 10:59 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 71
kruzie96
Outdoorsman
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 71 |
This test is in Wolter's Gamedog. I agree w/others that there is no fool proof test, but we did run these tests when picking out our pup, and I would say we got pretty much what we expected.
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), TreeBass, txcornhusker
|