what age to choose puppy from the litter

[Yllasin]

Found a lovely litter through personal recommendation, just a one off for the bitch.
Visiting at 4 weeks, one crawled into my lap, fell asleep and stayed there. She is one I'd picked out from photos as being obviously active.
Mum says to pick her, but I'm feeling it's too early and want to keep my head engaged.
Going again next week, but would like to hear some opinions from more experienced folk please.
My children picked the pups last time (and did a great job, going by the long term results) but it's just me choosing this time.
I'm thinking they will change a lot over the next few weeks and their confidence and activity level will be more obvious. Thanks in advance.

Our cavvie chose us when he was 3 weeks old, he came over to my 5 year old DD, she picked him up, he fell asleep on her shoulder and he was officially ours! Still sleeps nose to nose with her 8 years on.

The breeder should be able to guide you to which puppy/puppies would be most suitable for your household/context.

No one will know the puppies as well as the breeder so describe the dog you want and let them choose for you.

Personalities are often easier to spot 5 weeks +.

This.

The breeder should be asking you questions about your life and tbh throughly vetting you.

5+ weeks. But when I got my fourth dog a few years ago I asked the breeder to let me have the boldest boy. As she knew I had decades of experience with the breed, she did that. And as successful as being chosen by the puppy!

I think you want to pick the confident but not crazy puppy.

If the breeder is decent then I agree they will grill you and discuss which pup will sort you best. If it’s a “one off” (backyard breeders) you need to be bloody sure they’ve done any necessary specialist tests the breed requires on parents before breeding. (Hips? Eyes? Etc)
My first dog was the only one available. But she ran into my arms when I met her. The other chose me at five weeks by standing and staring into my eyes whilst holding one finger in her mouth!

Yes, we've had long Q and A sessions both ways! But it's still early, I know. She has told me basically what they've been like so far. 2 little bitches have been more sleepy, all the dogs are more pushy thus far. She's keeping one herself but hasn't yet decided which one. Not an easy decision!

Has she said which has the better food or toy drive? Have you seen any evidence of toy/food drive for yourself? Those are the easiest dogs to train. Which sex is she keeping one of? Surely she knows that?

She should be able to tell you more than ‘they are sleepy.’ By now they have personalities…depending on the breed she could even begin training them to do their jobs in particular places. I first visited my golden at four weeks - the breeder wouldn’t stop talking about the various differences:

’Miss Pink likes the push her luck, but only with Mr Green so I have to keep them separate as he’s to passive to fight back’

‘Miss Yellow likes to eat her own poo - perfectly normal but I’m keeping an extra eye on her as she is a bit small and Mr Blue always shoves her out the way.’

‘Mr Purple eats everything is sight and hogs all the toys.’

We've had four puppies over the years. The two easiest (that is, best fit for us) were the two bitch pups who chose us (one of those came over to us very quickly at every visit and was eager to engage with the DC; the other crawled into a lap and fell asleep). The one I found hardest both to bond with and to train was the breeder's pick.

Just be aware the puppies who are bold enough and energetic enough to initiate repeated contact are likely to be livewires with minds of their own.

So, I'm half waiting to see if the same one does the same as at the first meeting. That would decide for me, for sure!

what breed are they OP?

She's keeping one of the bitches, and has 2 that she's probably going to choose between, but she's not looking to show, just another pet.
And they are starting to use a toiletting area and all are weaning.

She's not at all pushy, I can't imagine her 'going on' about puppy's various qualities, and I did feel quite confident that she's right in that they will keep changing from 4 weeks onwards. As other people have suggested.

Will see over the coming weeks how they develop.

☺️

I did not have a choice. I had to search for 18 months to find a puppy whose parents had both been screened for a particular gene.
I then had an hour long interview on the phone with his breeder who insisted that I drove 130 miles each way before she would consider taking a deposit.
He was the last of 5 dogs

Our breeder helped us pick (we were first time owners) - we knew we wanted a boy but otherwise we put our trust in him. In the end, there were five puppies - three girls and one other boy. We went with the smaller, cuddlier boy in the end - he is absolutely lovely and the perfect dog for us, but he is very people orientated and doesn't like being left on his own, lol.

All the photos/videos from his breeder have him sitting on someone's lap, haha.

Love a lap dog 🐕

Whippets. 😍

@Yllasin he weighs in at nearly 20kg and he'll be six next month - still thinks he's a lap dog though

I met my little man when he was about 4 weeks, then again at 8 and at 12 when we picked him up. At 4 weeks he crawled on my lap, at 8 I really wanted to look at his litter mates, but each time I picked one up he crawled onto my lap and up into my arms, this happened a few times. He picked me and I'm glad he did because he is the love of my life.

I've heard this from many friends about their dogs. I'm going with gut feeling and have reserved the girl who crawled onto my lap. I had also liked the look of her just in the ad photos, she's always at the front, looking confident. I want to be able to take her everywhere, and it seems like a good start. ☺️

Oh I’m envious, I love whippets! They are such lovely dogs.

When I chose my girl it was pure instinct. I just loved her more than the others. Turned out to be a good pick as she was an angel.

My lad picked me at 2 weeks and 2 days. At that age pups have only the sense of smell - they can't see or hear and they also can't walk. But he smelled me and we watched him wriggle out of his nest (carefully watched by his mum) and drag himself over to me, with his nose twitching the whole time. There was no decision for me to make. He is now 8 years old, and is devoted to me. And I him!