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What do you look for? #4078500 02/24/13 04:58 AM
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BradyBuck Offline OP
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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?


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Re: What do you look for? [Re: BradyBuck] #4078563 02/24/13 05:58 AM
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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.



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Re: What do you look for? [Re: BradyBuck] #4078856 02/24/13 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted By: BradyBuck
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
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MS1454 Offline
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I work with the breeder who knows the pups best.


Originally Posted By: Fooshman
I'll take a Black Female every time.

Re: What do you look for? [Re: MS1454] #4079666 02/24/13 09:51 PM
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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
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Originally Posted By: IronSpikeLabs
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
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Here is a tool for picking a pup...

http://www.workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.htm

Re: What do you look for? [Re: Guy] #4080181 02/25/13 01:43 AM
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I have never seen that chart, I really like it.


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Re: What do you look for? [Re: Leonardo] #4080241 02/25/13 02:08 AM
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Originally Posted By: Leonardo
Originally Posted By: IronSpikeLabs
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



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Re: What do you look for? [Re: IronSpikeLabs] #4081147 02/25/13 02:46 PM
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Leonardo Offline
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Great info.

Re: What do you look for? [Re: Leonardo] #4083402 02/26/13 03:37 AM
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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
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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
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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
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Originally Posted By: ShotGunWillie
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.

Originally Posted By: Ol_Yeller
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.



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Re: What do you look for? [Re: Leonardo] #4085249 02/26/13 10:59 PM
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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.

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