Quick Reserving Male Puppy Query

[Verbena37]

Hi,
We have been looking into getting a golden retriever puppy and it happens that someone we know has a litter due soon, meaning we would collect mid October.

The breeder already has other interested people who have reserved bitches/dog and we have decided as a family that we would like a dog.
How do I go about explaining that we really only want to put our name down for a dog, not a bitch? The breeder will definitely be able to find homes if there are bitches left but do I just say we will reserve a dog if there are enough?

Just tell them, they'll understand :)

Some people want dogs over bitches for various reasons such as size, temperament and not having to deal with dogs in season/it being a little simpler to snip rather than spay.

They really won't mind either way and will likely ask what you would prefer when you go to reserve.

FGS don't reserve a puppy without first seeing it with its mother and siblings. Dogs, like people, have different personalities and you want one that fits with your home environment. The most dominant puppy would be a handful for a novice owner. Ditto the most timid. By all means say a dog would be your preference, but not just whatever dog they want to palm of on you.

Have you owned a dog before?

I was trying not to out myself but the person is a very close relative so I know them very well and have met the mum before and met her last litter two yrs ago. She is a lovely gun dog and the breeder only breeds a litter now and again.

The breeder has beautiful dogs and is very well known and caring with his dogs. Therefore, people ask for them in advance and that's why I'm wanting to ask for a dog now.....as I know a couple of others also want dogs and a couple want a bitch.

It would be our first dog but we are not strangers to dogs and they've been in the family (grandparents/aunts and uncles etc) for years.
We aren't jumping into dog ownership lightly but I just wasn't sure how the choosing bit went with unborn litters.

Breeders seem to vary. We have two labs; ddog1 we had to chose the set and colour before birth. So we said yellow boy, but there may not have been one!

Ddog2 we went to see the litter of 11 black lab puppies and of the 5 available, we ended up choosing our gorgeous girl.

You can definitely say you are only interested in a boy. See what they say.

Sex not set.

Ok cool.

I'm impressed someone is still using a goldie as a gundog, just don't see that anymore!

Just tell them you would like to reserve a male, and be ready to not get a pup if other people have reserved males already - and she doesn't have enough! Pictures when they're born please!

Sad news.....just spoken to breeder and unfortunately the mum is only having one puppy so sadly we won't be having one from that litter.
DS very upset but going to keep looking or even have one from another litter from that breeder in future.