How to Choose a Puppy From a Litter
Picking a puppy can be a scary ordeal. First and foremost, make sure you have a chance of getting a good one. Choose a breeder that has had more than one litter and knows his dogs and how the pups will turn out. Make sure that the pup you are getting has a hunting pedigree. Also make sure that the parents and grandparents are used for the kind of hunting that you plan to do. Ask about he dogs’ range, retrieving ability, pointing instinct, and how they do with kids and other dogs. Any good, reputable breeder will spend time with you on all of these subjects.
After all of that, you will want to pick a pup that fits your lifestyle. If you are going to run every day with the dog, then you want one with more energy. If you are going to have it in the house, maybe you want a more laid-back pup. Don’t take the wallflower, but if the litter is socialized and prey driven, there shouldn’t even be one. Also, you might have a color preference, so that might play into your decision.
Buying a dog is a 10+ year commitment. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. When I am buying a pup, I tell the breeder what I want. This also goes when I’m selling a pup. If the breeder knows what you want and they know their dogs, then in might be easier to let the breeder pick for you. Most breeders will have pictures for you to look at if you can’t go see the pups. Make really sure that he breeder has a good socialization program. This doesn’t necessarily mean keeping the pups in the house, but human contact, handling a playing are very important. Does the breeder prey drive the puppies? This will help in getting a pup that’s not timid of birds, plus it will help in training later.
Ask the breeder if they have ever had any problems in their breeding program. If they’ve been breeding for more than a little while and they say no, they are lying. If the breeder has had problems, ask what and how the problems were fixed. It might be a big deal, but most aren’t. Make really sure that you know the breeder’s policies and guarantees before you pick up the pup. What it comes down to is research. If you pick a reputable breeder, you shouldn’t have any problems picking a pup. In fact, the pup will probably pick you.
Written By Professional Dog Breeder & Trainer Ed Hall
How to Choose a Puppy From a Litter
Picking a puppy can be a scary ordeal. First and foremost, make sure you have a chance of getting a good one. Choose a breeder that has had more than one litter and knows his dogs and how the pups will turn out. Make sure that the pup you are getting has a hunting pedigree. Also make sure that the parents and grandparents are used for the kind of hunting that you plan to do. Ask about he dogs’ range, retrieving ability, pointing instinct, and how they do with kids and other dogs. Any good, reputable breeder will spend time with you on all of these subjects.
After all of that, you will want to pick a pup that fits your lifestyle. If you are going to run every day with the dog, then you want one with more energy. If you are going to have it in the house, maybe you want a more laid-back pup. Don’t take the wallflower, but if the litter is socialized and prey driven, there shouldn’t even be one. Also, you might have a color preference, so that might play into your decision.
Buying a dog is a 10+ year commitment. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. When I am buying a pup, I tell the breeder what I want. This also goes when I’m selling a pup. If the breeder knows what you want and they know their dogs, then in might be easier to let the breeder pick for you. Most breeders will have pictures for you to look at if you can’t go see the pups. Make really sure that he breeder has a good socialization program. This doesn’t necessarily mean keeping the pups in the house, but human contact, handling a playing are very important. Does the breeder prey drive the puppies? This will help in getting a pup that’s not timid of birds, plus it will help in training later.
Ask the breeder if they have ever had any problems in their breeding program. If they’ve been breeding for more than a little while and they say no, they are lying. If the breeder has had problems, ask what and how the problems were fixed. It might be a big deal, but most aren’t. Make really sure that you know the breeder’s policies and guarantees before you pick up the pup. What it comes down to is research. If you pick a reputable breeder, you shouldn’t have any problems picking a pup. In fact, the pup will probably pick you.
Written By Professional Dog Breeder & Trainer Ed Hall