Looking at Puppies this weekend - advice
Discussion
After a very long wait it looks like we may now be in a position to get a dog!
The other half hasn't wasted any time and has already been on the phone to a few pedigree breeders and appears to have already booked a viewing for this weekend! She has her heart set on a black Lab.
Is there any advice anyone can offer around selecting the right puppy from a litter? I have heard you shouldn't pick the most boisterous or the most timid one but otherwise I know nothing about selecting a puppy - so any advice is appreciated.
Want to go prepared as the other half is likely to loose her mind and just want to take them all home!
Thanks
The other half hasn't wasted any time and has already been on the phone to a few pedigree breeders and appears to have already booked a viewing for this weekend! She has her heart set on a black Lab.
Is there any advice anyone can offer around selecting the right puppy from a litter? I have heard you shouldn't pick the most boisterous or the most timid one but otherwise I know nothing about selecting a puppy - so any advice is appreciated.
Want to go prepared as the other half is likely to loose her mind and just want to take them all home!
Thanks
Most will say take your time, see lots of puppies, check out the parents, breeder, conditions, etc, but... Once you see the first litter it's hard to be objective; It's something to do with the way they look at you that destroys all logical thought in your brain.
Best advice I got was... Don't pick the first one to run to you. Pick the quiet one! And with labs find out which is least food driven; They do like to eat.
Best advice I got was... Don't pick the first one to run to you. Pick the quiet one! And with labs find out which is least food driven; They do like to eat.
Yep, agree with the above. Don't choose with instinct. Watch them interact both with each other and with the breeders, to get an idea for their characters.
Definitely see mum (and dad, although dad might have been a stud dog). Be concerned/wary if Mum "can't be seen".
Reputable breeders should be clued up on family history (exhaustingly/boringly so!
); do homework on genetic/breed specific problems beforehand and ask to see relevant test results (although they might not have been done yet due to puppy age). Also check lineage/heritage if paying top dollar for a pedigree (don't be sold a 'pup'! Chortle!)
Marks of reputable breeders are usually things like offering free insurance for a number of weeks, issuing a "puppy pack", contract-signing and caveats for returning a puppy and healthy, happy pups and mum.
Some useful advice here...
http://web6.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I assume the breed choice has been made sensibly with due consideration to things like general temperament/exercise requirement/lifestyle matches...?
Definitely see mum (and dad, although dad might have been a stud dog). Be concerned/wary if Mum "can't be seen".
Reputable breeders should be clued up on family history (exhaustingly/boringly so!
); do homework on genetic/breed specific problems beforehand and ask to see relevant test results (although they might not have been done yet due to puppy age). Also check lineage/heritage if paying top dollar for a pedigree (don't be sold a 'pup'! Chortle!)Marks of reputable breeders are usually things like offering free insurance for a number of weeks, issuing a "puppy pack", contract-signing and caveats for returning a puppy and healthy, happy pups and mum.
Some useful advice here...
http://web6.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I assume the breed choice has been made sensibly with due consideration to things like general temperament/exercise requirement/lifestyle matches...?
Check particularly for 'Hip Scores' in Labs and PRN and Eye Scores. A reputable breeder should have all of this information. Parental Hip Scores are particularly important as they can be prone to Hip Dysplasia.
I would not agree with the above comments, you should choose on what you want from a dog, if you want a quiet household pet then choose an attitude to match, if you want a bold gun dog then choose a good solid bold pup. I also don't agree with the comment on food - all labs love to eat - its down to you to use that love to control their weight by measuring their food properly and using that want for food to aid training.
Also look back into the breeding of the dog to determine the look and genetics of the dog. Do you want a finer lab or a chunky, bucket for a head, lab? A working line with give you the former, a show line the later.
What do you want to use it for? Is it just for a pet?
Enjoy them, they are great fun. Get enrolled in a puppy socialisation class as early as possible and really use the first 16 weeks to get them introduced to everything.
I would not agree with the above comments, you should choose on what you want from a dog, if you want a quiet household pet then choose an attitude to match, if you want a bold gun dog then choose a good solid bold pup. I also don't agree with the comment on food - all labs love to eat - its down to you to use that love to control their weight by measuring their food properly and using that want for food to aid training.
Also look back into the breeding of the dog to determine the look and genetics of the dog. Do you want a finer lab or a chunky, bucket for a head, lab? A working line with give you the former, a show line the later.
What do you want to use it for? Is it just for a pet?
Enjoy them, they are great fun. Get enrolled in a puppy socialisation class as early as possible and really use the first 16 weeks to get them introduced to everything.
If I was after another lab I would go for a working line. Look better than the show types however lab lines can be a bit diluted between the two so make sure you get from a good breeder. Both have issues with hips in later life. These breeders are very reputable in the lab world
http://www.grangemead-labradors.co.uk/
I usually pick the one that comes up to me and is friendly. A pup chooses you not the other way round (apparently)
http://www.grangemead-labradors.co.uk/
I usually pick the one that comes up to me and is friendly. A pup chooses you not the other way round (apparently)
All of the above is good advice for choosing a puppy.
However, if you are going to speak to reputable pedigree breeders you will be interviewed by them to see if you are suitable to be the owner of one of their dogs. So......be prepared to answer questions about taking over insurance, do you know your local vets and have you approached them about registering a dog with them, how often will the dog be exercised (know your breed), how often will the dog be left alone, will you show the dog or is it just a pet (breeders won't let puppies who could make good show dogs go to people who won't show them), have you enquired locally about puppy socialising classes, can you get the breeders preferred food for the puppy locally, etc, etc.
I know that might sound a bit left field if you have not owned a pedigree dog before but if you fall in love with a puppy you won't want to be told by the breeder you can't have one.
Best of luck and pics are compulsory upon arrival of said bundle of joy
However, if you are going to speak to reputable pedigree breeders you will be interviewed by them to see if you are suitable to be the owner of one of their dogs. So......be prepared to answer questions about taking over insurance, do you know your local vets and have you approached them about registering a dog with them, how often will the dog be exercised (know your breed), how often will the dog be left alone, will you show the dog or is it just a pet (breeders won't let puppies who could make good show dogs go to people who won't show them), have you enquired locally about puppy socialising classes, can you get the breeders preferred food for the puppy locally, etc, etc.
I know that might sound a bit left field if you have not owned a pedigree dog before but if you fall in love with a puppy you won't want to be told by the breeder you can't have one.
Best of luck and pics are compulsory upon arrival of said bundle of joy
Thanks for all the great advice - it was all very helpful. Went to see the litter this weekend, going back at 7 weeks and hopefully then collecting our pup at 8 weeks. Everything with the parents and the breeders checked out - very nice people to boot! The pup comes from a working gun dog - so lets hope he has inherited his mothers smarts!
So now the other half is like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas day! Its only taken us 10 years of house moves, and job changes for us to be in the position to finally get a dog!
So now the other half is like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas day! Its only taken us 10 years of house moves, and job changes for us to be in the position to finally get a dog!
moustachebandit said:
Thanks for all the great advice - it was all very helpful. Went to see the litter this weekend, going back at 7 weeks and hopefully then collecting our pup at 8 weeks. Everything with the parents and the breeders checked out - very nice people to boot! The pup comes from a working gun dog - so lets hope he has inherited his mothers smarts!
So now the other half is like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas day! Its only taken us 10 years of house moves, and job changes for us to be in the position to finally get a dog!
Fantastic! Enjoy it So now the other half is like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas day! Its only taken us 10 years of house moves, and job changes for us to be in the position to finally get a dog!
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