So, how did you decide which pup to pick from the litter?

[MarmadukeScarlet]

I have reserved a pup from an upcoming litter, I want a bitch - all fine so far - but I want it's tail left undocked, which is where I strat to feel anxious.

The breeder will only leave one pup undocked as they are a working breed - although most of them will probably go to pet homes.

I want the tail left on as I think it is not right for a non working dogs and I may possibly show it, so it needs its tail.

When I chose pups when I was a child and young teen it was more a) at X weeks you can see the conformation and pick a well balanced dog for showing, b) personality thing or c) even in a mixed coloured litter it was apperance.

What if the bitch he leaves undocked doesn't 'click' with us when we go to see them, of worse it is the dominatnt pup from the litter

Am I just making a big girly wussy fuss? (I think maybe yes)

We had the exact same issue when we wanted a Cocker Spaniel pup and wanted him left undocked.
All the other prospective owners wanted the tails docked (this was 4 years ago when you still had the option for non-working dogs) so we had to choose a pup extremely early on.
In the end we went by colour - all the pups in the litter were black/white apart from this one chocolate brown one, so we chose the chocolate brown one.
I think if the parents have a nice temperament then odds on the pups all will have aswell. I can't help with regards to suitability for showing as I am a tad ignorant in that area
Fwiw we were extremely happy with our choice, he turned out to be one of the most laid back pups in the litter (probably because he did not have the trauma of being docked ) and he is a delight!

Good luck.

Stop getting nervous, Marmaduke.

Of course, I could always come with you to drool over see the pups

When we went to look at ours, we chose the one who came bounding over to us and jumped on my knee. With hindsight the others probably thought "yes, he'll be a chewer that one, let him go"

I picked my dad's new pup for him when she was four weeks old.

My criteria?

I picked her up, and she made a really weird mooing noise like a cow. I thought 'what a strange dog, we MUST have her!'

She's 12 now, and my dad is still in love with her (and she still makes weird groaning noises).

We chose our Labradoodle because she was the smallest, who was a little less mad than the others and sat at the back looking pathetic. This was just a charade!

Anyway, you don't choose them, they choose you!

Definitely meet the parents.

Mamraduke has more experience than all of us in choosing pups.

She just wants me to come with her for a jolly.

• are,em, are all the pups, ahem, taken, Mamarduke?

I wouldn't touch the breeder TBH.

If she is getting the dogs' tails docked, even though she knows they will be pets then shame on her

Why not pick a nice rescue dog from the RSPCA?
They have had a massive increase in abandoned dogs recently, I'm sure you'll find a lovely pet.

It's just ridiculous for her to behave like that, most unethical in thwe 21st century.

We saw our puppy when she was a few hours old and every couple of days after that until we got her, as it was a friend's dog. We chose her whn she was about 4 days old! The children chose her purely on looks! Most of the pups were black (these were mutt pups), but a couple had some white bits. Ours has the collie look - white stripe down nose!

Ooops until recently I was a home checker for the RSPCA, I have a young son with SN they will not let us have a puppy.

The breeder is a he, the dogs are unusual in this country at the mo so currently the majority of them are in working environments, but are very attractive and I think that most will go to pet homes. I only know 3 people with them, 2 breeders both use them for HPR (hunt, point, retrieve)trials. And a pet owner who takes hers to the occasional trail day.

Bella, if you are near me you are more than welcome to come - in fact I'd like it very much! His last litter was 12, so you never know.

I have met both parents, they are very pleasant. The mother is particularly affectionate and good with my DC.

The show standard for this breed has only just been approved by KC, tbh I'm more likely to do agility with it (intelligent working breed = much stimulation) but DD wants to take it local shows. By her age I was in Junior handler of the yr comp at Crufts and the like, so she thinks she should be too

Have you tried the Blue cross, or the dogs' trust?
I know how officious the RSPCA can be, I'm not convinced the other charities are so difficult.

I'm surpirsed that as an RSPCA associate that you can support the breeder TBH.
But each to his/her own.

Sorry, I have come on here with an axe to grind.

It's obviously not an issue for you whether or not the other pups will be docked.

I shall apologise for coming into your thread and not really answering your question.
And go away.

I'm having a bit of a crisis day and am distracting myslef on here.

I have a very strong opinion on breeding and docking tails, but I appreciate this is not the place to have it.

Good luck with your pup

Indeed each to their own, I am doing what is best for my family - particularly my DS.

Taking a young (or older) dog of unknown parentage or history is, imho, madness with a young child. There is a reason that the RSPCA do not allow dogs to go to families with young DC, I am very dubious of charities that allow dogs to go to young families.

I don't think docking is wrong for some dogs, it saves tail injuries whilst working. A breeder hasn't always sold all pups before birth and leaving the tail on narrows the market - as does docking it to someone who wants to show or have a pet.

I think there are far greater sins in the dog breeding world than docking a dog who is intended for work.

I'm sorry you are having a crisis, in which case I'm glad I deleted my first reply to you.

I also have a big problem with breeders, and since I left home until having DS I only kept ex racing greyhounds. My last hound died when DD was 2 and I haven't had a dog now for 7 years.

Bella and I 'met' on here as I was being, erm, vocal about irresponsible breeders/breeding practise.

We chose our working (beating / ferreting) Jack Russell bitch based on her colouring and size. She was the smallest, (best for working down holes etc) and was a tri-colour with 4 large black spots on her back. Very pretty little thing.

We know her mum and granny well, they are the rat catching dog on 2 local farms and have gorgeous placid temperaments, not something JRs are known for! Just not ..er, very placid when a rt or rabbit comes into sight!

I was just about to jump in and defend Marmaduke, having had very similar experiences and having made similar choices to her.

But you're right, oops - this thread is about Marmaduke getting her long-awaited puppy

At the end of the day we all care about our dogs and that's why it can get a bit heated on here!

Marmaduke - I am up North, so don't think I am near you. Also do not trust myself to look at pups, especially as I am semi-sort-of looking for a GSD or Dobermann. Your Slovaks don't guard, do they?

xpost with Marmaduke - 'tis true, she roasted, grilled and fried me for thinking of breeding my lab, but then we became friends!

I have never had to treat a tail injury for a working dog.
I have had to amputate the tail of a staffy, an irish wolfhound and numerous cats' tails.

The vet will have to sign a certifiacte to prove the dogs will be used for working, or face the RCVS if they are sold as pets.
So the breeder is limiting his market by having them docked.

Anyway, having worked in animal charities for 20yrs, I still cannot agree with you so will walk away

I nursed working dogs with split tails when I was a vet nurse.

Are you maybe in the wrong part of the country, oops?

we have 2 working dogs (labradors) and neither of them have had their tails docked, so mot sure I buy the whole docking of tails theory.

I actually thought it was now illegal to dock tails

Our working JRT is undocked by the way.

'So the breeder is limiting his market by having them docked.' as I beleive I stated in my previous post.

Put youself in my position then...

I have a DS with physical disabilities, he has poor muscle tone and balance resulting in many falls or just bumping into things/people.

If I get a puppy who will grow up with DS' problems hopefully it will not be bothered by him staggering or falling. If I get a dog of uncertain parentage or history it may take this as a sign of aggression and become scared and defensive.

Or perhaps you think I should deny myself a pup because of the desire to keep DS safe isn't as important as rehoming a rescue? I'll try explaining that to my 9 yr old who has a life changed immeasureably by having a disabled sibling, not just that I've made her wait 4 years to get a dog.

As you say you are walking away, perhaps you should pop over to the ladradoodle thread and vent your spleen at over there at people purpose breeding mongrels for fashion accessories.

Bella, most of the ones I know live outdoors so I think they would be great guards. I know a very nice chap in Lincolnshire who breeds them...

Labs have much thicker stupier tails than pointers, also thicker coat, I have seen tail injuries on 2 dogs both of whom ended up with 3/4 length tails after several ops.

stumpier

Ooh, Marmaduke, you do have my sympathy. You set up a thread asking how to choose your pup and you get held responsible for the whole moral argument over tail docking.

When this all blows over I might get your chap's number if I may, please

Enjoy choosing your pup.