Picking out a Pup

LoneRooster

LoneRooster

New member
The lab litter from which I have first female pick from was just born the other day and I am heading out there in 4 weeks to make my pick. I was wondering if any of you had any recommendations on selecting a pup. I plan on bringing a few clipped pheasant wings to see if those can draw the attention of a special little girl but besides that I am looking for any pointers that one can use to help find the right pup for the field. Thanks1
 
IMO the biggest thing is to pick the litter. After that I just go with my gut when I play with the pups.
 
From my experience pick of the litter will make him or her self known very fast. Good luck, you'll know here when you see her.
 
LoneRooster said:
The lab litter from which I have first female pick from was just born the other day and I am heading out there in 4 weeks to make my pick. I was wondering if any of you had any recommendations on selecting a pup. I plan on bringing a few clipped pheasant wings to see if those can draw the attention of a special little girl but besides that I am looking for any pointers that one can use to help find the right pup for the field. Thanks1
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Well if you're looking for Pointers, better change breeders/litters. Just kidding!

I always put a doggie treat deep in my pocket and find the pup that sniff's it out first.
 
haha I see what you did there! I like the treat idea..the tricky part to this is my fiance wants to be able to have a say in picking the pup..I might have to secretly stuff her pockets with dog treats..
 
Last time I pickd out of a litter, I did just that. Stuffed a treat in the pocket and in no time one particular pup came and started scratching at my jeans pocket. Wound up with that pup and he turned out to be the best dog I've ever had.
 
LoneRooster said:
haha I see what you did there! I like the treat idea..the tricky part to this is my fiance wants to be able to have a say in picking the pup..I might have to secretly stuff her pockets with dog treats..
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That makes the whole process easier. You pick one, she picks one, then you have twice the chance of getting the best pup. This happended to me in 2006!

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FCSpringer said:
Dark eyed dark mouthed pup, out going and a natural delivery. Good bite, and not skidish.
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What is the idea behind the dark mouth? When John and Chris bought Mars from me, John checked for a dark mouth too. That was the first time I had ever heard of that.

Btw, you haven't by chance seen Mars have you? Sounds like they are really liking him.
 
My old for fathers in the hound game told me this makes for a more trainable smarted dog. I have followed it my whole life and found it to be true so far. They told me they like that pup as well.:thumbsup: Actualy I never told many people about this, actualy thinking I did in fact have a neat little secret, LOL. But OH well. I also would want health screening done on a dog I buy these days. EIC in Labs for example, and so on.
 
Unless you have a crystal ball Picking a pup with a black mouth is an unexplained phenomena. Kind of like flippin a coin and calling heads or tails.
 
I thought this may draw attention.:rolleyes: No crystal ball. But all these years, the dogs I have tried, the ones with light eyes and no dark mouth, have always been more scatter brained or hyper, harder to train. Some litters all will have both. Those are good qualitys in my opinion. A dark mouth does not mean black mind you. For example, a Liver Springer will be a darker tan rather then pink. Harder to see, but there none the less. Call it a myth call it an old wives tale. I call it fact by trial and error, and advice from my olders that had great gun dogs.;) It's just something that has worked for me. No big deal, take it or leave it.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Getting a new pup is an exciting time and I cant wait.
 
Would it be worthwhile to bring a clipped pheasant wing to see if it garners any extra attention from any of the pups? Or at 5 weeks is it to early to do things like that?
 
You can, for me I find it not necessary. A small ball or non sqweeky toy is all I ever use. Which pups will bring it right back to you with out over trying. The pup will pick you too. Good luck:thumbsup: Always fun
 
I've tried several things in pups when picking them...yet they never stayed the way they were as they mature. As someone else said, pick the litter and pick for looks (which color, shape etc you like best) otherwise close your eyes and grab. If a good breeding they should all be good pups. There is NO guarantee in picking a pup.
 
PS don't pick your pup till 8 weeks old. The retrieve will change by then. Well allot will change. Go back and pick then. The breeder should have no problem letting people wait till it's time to go home.:thumbsup:
 
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