Picking a pup on colour alone

[Nicola]

I'd never pick a puppy either at a week old or based on its colour. I bought both Ro and Caoimhe at just over 5 months old so I could judge their working/trialling potential and character but even if I was picking from a younger litter there's no way I'd want to choose at a week old, the pup I chose then could turn out to be noisy/shy etc. by the time I picked it up. I don't know why they want you to choose so soon, they can still advertise the litter particularly as they know which sex you want, surely they're not going to let people come to look at the pups for another good few weeks anyway?!

[mooching]

I'm surprised that the breeder is letting people have access to the pups when they're only a week old - isn't it usually not till they're 3 weeks old, to avoid the risk of infection?  Or is she expecting people to do it from photographs?

[Danni and Freya]

Hi everyone, thanks very much for all of your comments and advice, this place is a godsend  The breeder got back to me and has come up with a fair comrpomise. Hes going to sell the lemon boy, and leave the two black boys until there is interest in one of them, then I will choose which of them I like whenever that time comes. So hopefully I will have some time before I have to go and choose. I think thats fair and so im going to stick with him. Like people have said on my other post thats similar, if im happy with the breeder, living conditions, the pup I have now, I dont have a lot to worry about. Cant thank people enough for thier advice as I am so new to all of this, its very reassuring  thanks guys

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Good luck

I have to say, I wouldn't pick a puppy at the age he'd asked you, to BUT I did pick out both my boys when they were about 6.5 weeks old. I picked the first because I wanted a black boy but the big golden pup was SO cuddly and calm and just had these wonderful eyes that gazed into my soul, so I chose him instead... he turned into a big dog and was always really cuddly and sweet with a wonderful wonderful temperament, but was a completely hyper loony with a massive hunt drive as an adult.

Dave I picked because he was also calm and the biggest in a litter of 9.... he was still a very big pup when I collected him at 8 weeks but today, he still looks quite puppy-ish and didn't grow into a big dog . His character didn't turn out how I'd guessed he would either but I still love him to pieces . So although you have a bit more to go by when the pups are approaching 8 weeks in my experience, you really can't judge too much from their characters or final appearance even at that age Plus if you are only after a pet rather than a dog you want to compete with or work... and you're happy with the Dam and sire and the breeding conditions then your nurturing has an awful lot to do with it too

Good luck

[irened]

i picked my puppy on colour alone when he was 1 week old. The parents,grandparentd gg grandparents where all seen as were some older dogs from the same parents who all had wonderful temprements, needless to say Jarvis now 11 weeks is just as we thought super intelligent and gentle