Pass Along PDJ
June 2008

Pickin' Pups
by Steve Smith

think most of us, given the option, would prefer to have the pick of the litter when it's time to get a new pup, I know I do, and once I paid extra ahead of time for the right to do that.

But most breeders and pro trainers say it's more important to "pick the litter" rather than get the pick of the litter. If the bloodlines are good, all the pups are going to share the same gene pool, so you could almost close your eyes and pick a puppy and be safe.

But we don't, do we? We look them all over and play with them, and see who's shy and who's outgoing, and finally make our choice.

ou've probably heard about this test or that test to determine a pup's disposition, but one method I got from an old-time breeder-trainer is to take a pup at six or seven weeks, put it on its back, and hold it there. If it doesn't struggle much or at all, it may be too docile for your needs. If it struggles and yelps and doesn't stop, it may be too hard for an amateur to train easily. You may want the one that struggles for a bit, and then submits and lies still. That may be the one with the drive to be a good hunter, and the disposition to accept your training. Of course, if you do have the pick of the litter, you can test all the pups, can't you?

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