Picking a puppy from a litter

[goldenmoments]

Hi, I'm just looking for a little reassurance. Myself and my husband picked a puppy the other day which was very exciting. We were always getting a dog this year and we had discussed the breed and the sex of the dog and I was hoping for a golden colour dog. Coming home my husband said he thinks the pup will be more a red colour as it grows. We basically had the pick of the litter so I'm wondering would I be really cruel to go back and have another look as there were various shades of golden pups in the litter? We have paid a small deposit. Im not sure whether it's just nerves that we are dog owners second guessing myself a little. Thank you

Why is the colour more important than temperament and fit? Both my pups chose me. I just sat in with them and watched and waited and finally they picked me.

We are waiting for our new puppy, sometimes you just know when your dog is your dog. My dh wanted a black one we came away falling inlove with a red and white spanador, she settled with us both. We been to see her since and she's adorable full of affection with me and the kids. You might not have much pick if others have picked their pup.

I chose one too, ended up with a pup that I’m pretty sure wasn’t the one I picked! Show breeder, good name etc - never again!

Colour really isn’t important.

BTW the colour changes as they grow.

Did you ask the breeder about their personalities ?
I couldn’t visit to pick so told the breeder about our circumstances and let her pick.

Our first dpuppy dh told me to get the one that barked at me!! Said if it was brave enough to back chat already it was feisty enough for our household!
Second one we chose a more reserved one after initially choosing a prefered colour!
Wasn't sure ddog 1 would be that impressed with a pushy dpuppy!!

A conscientious breeder should be guiding your choice based on which pups from the litter they feel will fit in best with your household and lifestyle based on their temperament. Not just letting you pick your favourite colour.

Tbh colour should be the last consideration. I look at confirmation, attitude, engagement and boldness. I've just taken home a 9 week old sprocker. I went for the pup that was inquisitive, interested and enthusiastic, even though I'd originally gone to see his brother who was a solid colour rather than him with white on him. But as I want a working dog these traits are far more important as his brother was far more timid and tbh laid back!

This was our second choice dpuppy!! Who could regret her??

Colour often changes as they grow.

What breed is it?
If it’s a poodle or poodle mix or r a ship tzu you’ll probably find that it fades much lighter over time.

My chihuahua lad was the most perfect bright, flawless and crisp paper white when I bought him.
He’s matured into a cream dog with a very dark cream/light tan ridge down his back and the rest a lighter cream.
If I’d picked him based purely on his beautiful white colour, I’d have been incredibly disappointed now!

It would be very shallow to change the puppy based on the colour of its fur.

I thought this thread was going to be about how do you choose a puppy based on personality and temperament.

Colour is totally irrelevant and tbh I would avoid any breeder that allowed you to go back and change your mind based on the colour of the dogs' coat!

A good breeder will talk to you about your lifestyle and what you want from a dog, and will match a dog to your life. Yes, you should be able to pick things like sex, but otherwise a decent breeder should be doing most of the work when it comes to matching pups with their families.

Oh if we're doing puppy pics.....!!! Gary.

I actually had to read this twice to make sure I understood... you're picking a pup for the colour? You realise that golden coats change as the pup grows?

I can't imagine what kind of breeder would play along with this.

Our pup picked me.
I had gone to see them and had my eye on a couple but FawkesPup was according to the breeder, the chilled one. And he was when I met him. Not reticent, but not fighty like the other male pups. Tail waggy by the pen desperate for my cuddles and just wouldn't leave me. Super affectionate, waggy happy pup. Had the kindest little face....and that was it. He picked me.

The number of strangers that comment on what a lovely nature he has, and how lovely he is. So glad I went in there with nothing other than wanting the chilled, friendly pup.

Open mind.

Most of my puppies have been rescues. With the one that was still with her litter we enquired about a specific pup, but were allowed to choose and she picked me anyway. She made a beeline for me and sat on my feet then sat calmly having a cuddle while her boisterous siblings pinballed around the room attacking each other. She seemed calm, but confident, which is what I wanted. Dh wanted her sister, because of her colouring (she was a beautiful sable and looked like a little wolf) , but I was adamant and it turned out I was right. Our girl ended up as the perfect family dog (incidentally, she ended up as dh’s heart dog) while the one he wanted apparently developed a howling problem, which was quite apt considering her appearance.

The one time we had a pedigree pup, the breeder did a comprehensive programme with the litter encompassing early socialisation and personality types. She then selected which pup went to which family and she got it spot on. Our girl was perfect for us.

Our next pup will be coming home in a few months and again the breeder is extremely experienced and dedicated, so she will guide us to the right pup. We have been in contact for a couple of years and I know other people who have had her pups, so I trust her judgement and am sure she will far better placed than me to know which pup is our best match.

I don't think it's entirely fair to judge OP for caring about the colour of the dogs coat. I have a preference for coat colour on the breed I like and don't see it as an issue, it's part of the choice for selecting a breed. We chose the breed based on its suitability but still wanted the colour variation we chose (tri colour rather than lemon).

Well ours chose us, he's a totally different sex and colour to what I thought I'd like but that really isn't a deciding factor, or shouldn't be

Not a dog owner but I feel sorry for this pup that you're choosing based on looks alone and that it might now never be good enough.

I'd be embarrassed to change my mind based on this and as a breeder I might withdraw the sale. Surely temperament is the crucial aspect.

I wouldn't change my mind after meeting the litter and would still choose the one best suited to us.

But equally I wouldn't necessarily visit a litter of a colour variation we weren't keen on. In the same way we'd only visit litters of the breed best suited for us.

My DDad always said put your hand near the puppies and the first one to come to you is yours. It proves inquisitiveness, intelligence etc.
His heritage was romany gypsy, they know their dogs.
He'd laugh his socks off if he heard a puppy was being picked on colour.

I think you ought to really think again about getting a dog.

Every puppy that I have picked has been 'the one'. I could not imagine picking one and then changing my mind in case the colour was not right.

But you spent time with that pup right? Had a cuddle got a feel for their temperament spoke to the breeder about their personality and behaviour.

This should be what you base your decision on, not colour. Both of my boys colours have changes since they were pups and you have no way of knowing how it will end up.

Do people really choose a breed without caring how it looks? For us the suitability of a breed was the deciding factor but I also know there's certain breeds I don't like so wouldn't have one.

Coat colour isn't the most important thing, and shouldn't be, but I like how the coat colouring looks on my dog.

As long as you aren't selectively breeding for coats that cause health issues I don't think it's unreasonable to care about how the dog looks.

@Stellaris22

I don't think it's entirely fair to judge OP for caring about the colour of the dogs coat. I have a preference for coat colour on the breed I like and don't see it as an issue, it's part of the choice for selecting a breed. We chose the breed based on its suitability but still wanted the colour variation we chose (tri colour rather than lemon).

This. I mean if the ‘right’ colour puppy wasn’t a good fit and they chose it anyway, then of course it’s a stupid decision. But it makes no odds if the other pups are as suitable and friendly as the other one. I wanted a white American bulldog, I found a litter of ten, there were 6 white, only 1 of them I wasn’t keen on the personality. There was literally no difference between the other ones personality wise, they were all happy and friendly and fearless, I went for the one with the cutest face. I’ve also got a Rhodesian ridgeback. Absolutely no difference between personalities with this litter, it was from one of my best friends dog and I spent nearly every day with them, I chose the one I did because her coat was absolutely stunning compared to the others. If you’re a good dog owner spending a huge amount of your time, effort, money and life in general on a animal that will become a part of your family potentially for the next 15 years, why shouldn’t you get exactly what you want? Especially when you’re paying through the nose for them nowadays, it would be a bit different if you were turning down a rescue over the colour. If that’s what the op wants and what she’s paying for, why shouldn’t she get it?