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)

Thank you my lovely I'll sort it out for you.

OK, I can see you nare cross that I have questioned your use of a breeder to supply a puppy and I apologise for offending you.

And I shall def go away now.

I have answers to any specific points you may ask, bella, and anyone else who wants to discuss, but not on this thread. and probably not today as I am proably not good company just now having has a number ofilnesses myself, and losing much of the sight in one eye over the last few months. But that is another story and again not for this thread.

I hope yur kids ahve fun woth their new pup and it all works out for you marmadukeScarlet

Get well soon, oops.

Come back when you're feeling better and I'll tell you about my plans to puppy farm CKCS.

Joke.

Sick joke I know.

But a joke.

Do get well soon though

Enjoy chosing your puppy Marmaduke - I am very

I would love to come and snuggle puppies

Gah, did not count on the lab!

It's okay, hippo - we can all fit in my Volvo

For the others to be docked, you will have to pick your puppy so young your choice will purely be on colour/cuteness and your knowledge of the breeder and doggy parents.

Its pot luck otherwise regarding personality that young - this is more evident weeks later, and is dependent on training upbringing etc etc.

Gut instinct and cute factor will be all you have!! I'm sure you have researched your breeder and met before - so have fun choosing (and remember you only wanted ONE )

I think we chose our pup within 24 hours of being born, from e-mailed photographs. We had met the breeder several times beforehand though, and met mummy and daddy dog. So I felt safe.
It was a gamble, but one worth taking because I wanted to keep the tail! And at that time (4 years ago) it was very very hard to find a Cocker Spaniel breeder prepared not to dock.

Just read an early post of yours OP and if your son has SN get your pup trained well - early socialisation etc will be really important so the dog is a companion for your son rather than a pita for the family - you will have your hands full otherwise

The vet who docks the other pups could well be prosecuted unless he or she sees good evidence that it is LIKELY the pups will go on to work. Just being a working breed is not enough. Local authorities etc are beginning to crack down on this.

As for picking a pup, there are behavioural temperament tests you can do, too. I think Wendy Volhard had some, but I'm sure google will help!

Ohh MistressSeuss talk pointers to me What sort do you have? What is personality like? I know a good few and they are all v reliable tempered.

Yes, I have been in contact with the breeder for 6 months and have met both sire and dam. He has another bitch that will be having a littler later but I particularly want one from this bitch as she is v. friendly.

Hippo - I am sure you do not have doogy-smelling-full-of-dc's-rubbish Volvo envy!

Quite possibly the same car, Marmaduke. Boot space is my main criterion for choosing a car, second only to NCAP crash tests (Gawd, I really am a sterotypical boring lab owner, aren't I?).

Am so excited for you, Marmaduke

Marmaduke he's a lovely old boy I got through pointer rescue when he was 5 - gorgeous! He was a nutter off the lead - ran and ran for miles, then spent the rest of the day on the sofa. His arthritis now means most of the day is spent on the sofa, keeping an eye out for the postman - for his daily woof!! They are really great dogs - typical gundogs that respond well to training then are loyal for life (and like stinky sofas - he has his own thank goodness!)

What do you have?

I'm getting a Slovakian roughhaired. The 2 breeders I know also keep GSHP and GWHP. Apparently the SRHP are a litlle calmer and easy to train .

Will be taking it to a local 1 to 1 gundog training chap as well as other lead/obediance based and pre that some serious socialisation.

When I was a teen it was my job to socialise all my parents pups, I used to take them on trains and busses, to the park etc to get them used to noise and people/other dogs.

I like the pointer shape, it is very (imho) balanced and elegant. I quite wanted a deerhound or rough haired lurcher, but DH not keen (he wanted a GSD or Malamute/husky) so we sort of met in the middle at viszla or SRHP. After a few meetings with both types we decided on SRHP. Like a slightly lighter boned Weimeraner with rough hair and more sense.

I've not seen one - but they sound lovely! Don't believe anyone that says they are calmer and easier to train-very biased

Its sounds like you are doing everything you can re training etc - with a pup you do have the chance to, I just had to put alot of hard work in with my boy as he was so much older - but it was worthwhile

Would happily get another pointer (esp as pointer rescue were lovely) or a lurcher - but not just yet as the baby is keeping me busy!

Marmaduke would the breeder be able to help you choose? I know when I got my pedigree pup (like you i had rescues in the past but got a pup this time as dd was only 2)my breeder vetted her puppies and prospective owners and would not let a dominant puppy go to a family with young children etc. Even at a young age I would think the breeder could tell which pup was most dominant, and maybe which might be good for showing, he could help you narrow the choice down! I only had the choice of 2 boys and it took me ages to decide though, they were both so cute. Your pup sounds like it going to be very cute. I hope you have lots of fun with her!

Well, I'm now really upset. The breeder had 2 litters at the weekend - one to the mum we really like and one to another that we didn't really spend much time with/didn't click with.

The mum we like had 8 bitchs other had 3.

He is going to dock the whole of the litter from the mum we like and leave the other litter undocked.

I don't want a docked pup as I think it is wrong and unnecessary, I need a dog that has the right personality, I have promised my DC that we will be getting a pup in July.

I am cross that the breeder didn't inform us that he would do this as another bitch I met (licolnshire) and liked has had a litter since and we could have had one of those.
The 2 bitches are sisters and similar personalities.

I have had all new fencing and paved an area of grass, changed our summer holiday but most of all built up the children's hopes.

When will I learn not to involved the children in something that is so out of my control?

Poor you, Marmaduke, and your poor dc's too.

Would you really not consider a pup from the other bitch's (undocked) litter?

Not really, though she was a bit timid (esp for a gundog) tbh - with the best will in the world DS is adorable but falls over ALOT due to physical disbilities and can be rather noisy.

The bitch we liked, it is hard to explain, but she was so eager to please and loving. Everytime I looked her way she was looking up into my face waiting for me to interact with her.

BTW as I was seeking this old thread I spotted your one about pup now or Sept, what did you decide?

Sounds like you are making a wise choice re the bitch. You are right to stick out for what you really want and good parents but of course with the breed you want it's hard. You have my every sympathy. Will he definitely dock all of the first litter? Can't you persuade him you don't want one docked?

As for me, yes I have booked a bitch who'll be ready end of June. And I was just thinking yesterday that you and I would be able to trade house training tales with our two new pups

Yes, I would have enjoyed seeing who did the biggest puddles

I have sent him an email, but I'm not hopeful. He and a friend are having first and second pick of litter bitches, if he leaves one undocked for me he limits his choice to, well 7 bitches - which doesn't sound too bad to me. Really what are the chances of him leaving a tail on one and it turning out to be the best pup?

I don't even know what age they dock nowadays, pups are 3 days old at least so may be too late already?

We chose one of our two lovely Scottie bitches because she came up to my husband at six weeks and nibbled his fingers, as though insisting that she was the one for us.

She actually grew up to be a not-at-all bitey dog, but very sweet-natured with our babies and small children.

She died just a week ago at 13 after a happy life and I am so glad my husband chose her. Even though she was a devil for running off on hunting trips. My husband followed his heart and it was spot on.

We miss her like mad and I still keep thinking she'll walk through the door and demand a walk because it's nearly two pm and that's walk time.

Don't wont to get into a docking debate, but out of interest who does the docking? Does the breeder do it or is it the vet? Are the asleep while its done? Or is it elastic band round the tail like they do with lambs?