How do you pick a show puppy from a litter?

Check the appearance of pups and mum. Once you’re with the pups themselves, check them for: clear eyes with no redness or discharge, a clear nose with no discharge, clear breathing with no wheezing or coughing, clean ears with no redness and obvious wax or discharge, healthy-looking skin with no scabs or sores, shiny and soft fur with no evidence of fleas, sturdy legs with no signs of limping, their ribs aren’t visible, a clean and dry bottom. Look at the mother, too – does she seem healthy and happy? Is she a healthy weight? Is she interacting with the puppies? Does she seem comfortable with people? It’s a good idea to observe these things from a distance to avoid causing her any anxiety. It’s worth watching the puppies and their mother together for a while to see what they’re doing. Things to check include: whether the mother seems physically and mentally healthy, or reserved and withdrawn, if the puppies seem active and alert, or subdued and listless, whether the pups are interacting with each other, and their mother, if there are dog toys nearby, are the pups playing with them? do the puppies show any interest in you, such as coming closer to give you a sniff? Healthy puppies are active, curious, and interested in the world around them. Are the puppies relaxed around people in a home environment? If you want a dog as a companion, it’s essential that they’re well-socialised and introduced to a home environment in the right way. Your visit is the time to check how the puppies are behaving inside the home. As well as seeing the puppies interact with their mother, if they’re less than eight weeks old they should also clearly be living with her. Are the puppies relaxed and confident with the sight and sound of household appliances like the vacuum cleaner and kettle? Have the puppies heard noises associated with visitors, such as the doorbell ringing, and conversations? Do the pups get a chance every day to interact positively with people? Are they relaxed and confident being handled?

I generally do no evaluation until they are about 3 or 4 weeks old and on their feet, but I will have taught them to stack. Look for the pup who catches your eye as the litter romps around the room as they grow. That puppy shows dominance and is the most likely to love to show—but is he the best one? Keeping in mind there is no perfect dog, find the one who has the best layback and lay-on of shoulder, and check to see that the length and arch of the neck looks good. It usually will, if the shoulder is laid back as close as possible to 45 degrees. Check his outline while stacked, and then watch to see what happens to his topline when he moves freely. Lastly, look at the head, the eyes, and the ear-set. You need the clean, lean look of the head, with enough fill in the muzzle to support the large teeth this breed has. Now after you have gone through all the puppies, you hopefully have found one who has almost everything you have been looking for. Unfortunately, luck being as elusive as it is, anything can happen, so do not make any rash decisions about your pick puppy until he is at least a year old and out of the “puppy uglies.”

If you are able to pick out of the litter, go for the middle puppy. Don't go for the first to come to you nor the one that lags behind. Hold him like a baby in your arms, belly up, and see if he accepts that quietly and relaxes. Throw a set of keys behind him and see if he looks at them with curiosity but doesn't shy away. Clap your hands and see if he looks with curiosity but doesn't slink away. If you have room, move away from the litter and see their positions when they follow you, pick the second or third puppy. If you want a pet, you want the middle puppy, confident but not dominant, calm, curious and not shy, you don't want him to resent noises and you want one who will accept being on his back without fussing. Not that you will dominate over a puppy in training but you do want his personality to accept leadership.

Once you have selected the right breed of puppy for your lifestyle it's important seeing the puppy with its mother in the place where it was born. This will help you to get a feel for your puppy’s character and personality. Choosing the right personality to match your lifestyle is also important, for example are they more confident so could fit in a busier household or come to work with you, or are they more shy and maybe suited to a quieter home and lifestyle. Always choose a puppy that has been bred in a family home, as opposed to a barn or outbuilding. Look for a puppy that is confident and seems happy to approach you. Make sure the puppies have clear, bright eyes and clean ears that don’t smell. Look for clean teeth and pink gums, shiny, soft fur, a clean bottom and no sign of fleas. It can be hard to walk away from a litter of puppies, particularly if you feel sorry for them. However, if you are looking for a family dog, then walking away if you’re not 100% sure is the best thing you can do.