Puppy testing and selection

[Zahnburg]

When considering a puppy, what kind of testing do you implement and what are you looking for in the pup to help you select that "perfect pup"? For the sake of this discussion we will not allow "an experienced breeder" to make our selection.

[onyx'girl]

First I look at the pedigrees and what was produced previously by the dam/sire/breeder before visiting the litter/breeder.

I want an outgoing pup, a pup that has pack drive, not so much independant, but can figure out on his own how to climb steps or get over an obstacle without whimpering.
I would like the pup to prefer to be around people instead of plush toys(when visiting to observe) and engage in a good round of tug when the toy is brought to the person for interaction.
I also want the pup to engage with littermates and not just lay down and observe the others playing.
Food drive is very important, but not the extent of bullying of other pups for mealtime(though I'd take a pup that may be a "dominant eater') I also want the pup to not be sensitive to noise, texture or weather, if ability to test that when visiting a litter.
I was lucky that my pups breeder exposed the litters to most everything available, noise, car rides in a crate were done several times before pups went home, crate training/housebreaking was introduced. I wish every breeder would be as diligent in giving pups experiences that Karlo's did, he settled into my home without a glitch~ transitioned so well, you'd think he was born in my home, never went thru a "fear stage" either(genetics not nurturing on that one).

[Whiteshepherds]

Originally Posted by Zahnburg

When considering a puppy, what kind of testing do you implement and what are you looking for in the pup to help you select that "perfect pup"? For the sake of this discussion we will not allow "an experienced breeder" to make our selection.

Tricky question. If you take the experienced breeder out of the equation, you have to question why the breeder you're buying from doesn't care who gets which dog. (Unless the breeder has an established relationship with the buyer)

So for this question I guess we get to pretend that all breeders let people pick out their own puppies? (otherwise you'll end up with a discussion about why they should or shouldn't. )

[lhczth]

Since I would not be testing a litter for myself that doesn't have the right parents/pedigree/etc I'll leave that part out.

First I want to see the whole litter and how they interact as a group. Then I will take each puppy out to a strange location and test them on their own.

I want a pushy, confident, outgoing puppy that when taken into a strange environment starts to explore. I HATE clingy puppies. Those that climb all over me and whine. YUCK. I let the pup explore for a bit and then I will call the puppy and want it to come and look for attention. I like independence, but also want a pup that wants to engage and be with people. This is usually when I will play with them with different types of objects. Throw toys, a metal dumbbell, a wad of paper, rarely a ball since they see these a lot. I want a pup that runs out, picks up and carries, but I don't care if they bring it back. Some will, some won't.

I will then bring out a tug or rag and play with the pup to see grip (it is genetic). I want it full, hard and calm. I may "challenge" the pup a little by staring at it to see the reaction. Some won't care, some will get chewy, others will stare right back and bite harder. I like the latter.

Then I will ignore the pup and let it head out to explore again. This is when I will drop a metal bucket on a hard surface to test for sound reactivity and recovery. I want a pup that either spins around and checks out the bucket or looks at it and goes about its business. I don't want them to bolt, to freeze, or to show fear.

At some point I will usually put them up on an object like a table that gets them fairly high off of the ground. I want to see a pup that explores and moves around freely, not caring. I don't want them to panic, to freeze and not be able to move, to get shaky or to flatten themselves like pancakes.

Then I will usually take the pup out, toss some food in the grass and watch them work. I like to see a pup that will hunt and hunt and hunt for the food until every piece is found and more and is not distracted away from the search by me, the noise of the park, the traffic, etc. I do other stuff like this with the pups, but this is just what I do on testing day.

Somewhere in here I will also do a pain sensitivity test. Pick the pup up and put pressure on a toe until the pup reacts. This gives me an idea of the pain tolerance of the pup and also how they react to pain. Then I will put the pup down and see if it will engage with me. This shows me forgiveness. I personally like a dog that is very forgiving/resilient, doesn't want to eat me and with a pain tolerance around 3-4. I would not want to place a pup with a family with little kids that reacts at a one or tries to bite and gets nasty.

Something I also try to avoid are pups that get car sick. I see this as a weakness in nerves so I watch for that when we take the car ride to the strange location.

We do some other stuff, but my mind is drawing a blank. This is my basic test.

[lhczth]

Just want to add, that something I also try to listen to now, after making some mistakes over the years, is my gut. With my own litters I have known very early on which pup is staying. It is just a feeling I get when I watch the pups interact and also a bit of that instinct that I have learned to listen to.

[cassadee7]

I found your answer very insightful, Lisa!

[GSD07]

Since I do not have any breeders around I would be interested in I do have to rely on the breeder in picking the pup for me. With that said, if I do not like the puppy I am fully prepared to turn around and leave without one, and I do not care about the deposit.

With my current dog, I wanted to see him to be middle of the road with a good hunt drive. When I approached the pen with the litter and put my hands in there, a couple of puppies were already all over me. My puppy was running towards me probably third or forth out of 9 puppies. He ran after a ball, went after food (he was the best nose of the litter and the only pup of the litter who tracked the food bags stored in the area LOL), retrieved the ball, didn't have a problem to be picked up, then wonder away when put on the ground, then come back when called, then join the litter again, then come back , maintained a very nice eye contact, didn't lick, didn't whine, had no problems with the 4 hours (bad weather) car ride home, no problem with meeting the other dog and new people the very first night home.

He was my love from the first sight, my gut feeling was that this is finally the dog I was waiting for such a long time. Well, he's over three now and I still can't believe my lucky stars My breeder was absolutely on the mark.

I will follow this approach with my next puppy, maybe modified a little based on the goals I will have in mind for him at that future point of my life. I hope it won't happen soon, though.

[JKlatsky]

I like a lot of what Lisa does.

The only other thing I can think of that I like to mess with is the pups ability to focus in on an object. If we're playing with something and I lift it up over their head (slowly enough so they can see it go)...what do they do? Some pups will almost immediately lose interest and just wander off. Some will sit and stare at it (I like this) and other will start to bark and jump at the object. (This is good too)

[holland]

Well I don't get a lot of things...and its been a while. Might have done some of those puppy tests. But in the end I selected the puppy that crawled into my lap and fell asleep and slept most of the way home on my lap except to throw up and eat her contract-when we got home she woke up

[susee]

And then to look at it from another perspective.
(A)
How would you like to help me select what you think might be a good temp/drive match for me when deciding what sort of Dog ( GSD) im looking for.
(B)
Then select one from a pretend litter of 3 f& 3M.

A little info
I have a 13 year old Border Collie -Spayed fmale, who is going to be veeeeery unhappy initally about this.

We currently walk off lead, early morning, then again around 4, then a quickie just 10-15 mins stroll in evening. Pretty used to very high drive, ready to roll 24 /7, full on working Dog, but she is happy to sleep and rest during the day after appropriate excercise, until she knows it's around that time again and will "remind me" it s that time again.


She is very very well behaved out off the gate, did Nursing home visits for 10 years with my parents in there, can take her ANYWHERE but when she gets in the car, or back home behind that gate she is very territorial, still.
So thats the temp Puppy will be living with

But, next Dog, i would like a little less drive, a great buddy, who with the right upbringing is going be a fairly calm east to manage, no kids of any age in the house, all grown up and moved out, just us now, no grandkids, yet,

So if you were me looking at a litter what traits would you be looking for.

To be really honest, if i did not have my BC, i would have prefered to get an older Dog, but i think Puppy is probably the way to go with her.
Its really interesting reading your posts, am learning a lot.

And have really enjoyed reading a few of the breeders sites on here and how they raise their babies in preparation for their new homes.