Do you all agonise over which puppy to keep?
My boys are currently six weeks old and I change my mind daily - Gosh it's hard

I have never bred but have had a look at your site ,they are sweeties. I have no idea how breeders make the choice. Wish i could have one now

I choose between 6 and 7 weeks and then stick to it

Thanks we are moving house so camera packed already. They all have their ears up now. One is beautifully marked which is great but one other who is not quite so well marked looks the better specimen of the breed so far. Of course then you add number 3 who is just gorgeous, full of mischief and so fine boned. I love them all but as I didn't ever intend to keep a boy feel I need to be very strong with the decision and either know what to keep or keep nothing if they won't be good enough. I have until 12 weeks to decide or run two on if needed but think that's wimping out a bit.

Do you have others in your breed who's opinions you value who could come and have a look at them? Even though we had pretty much made our mind up which one last time, it was nice for other knowledgeable people to come along and choose the same puppy. I found it invaluable!

This time round it will be the same. We're hoping to keep a bitch, and hope she has more than one show quality to choose from. Fingers crossed!

I guess you just have to make your final choice and then stick to it...

Yes loads but I guess we all like different things and types. The owner of the stud dog may want to buy one is there is one good enough. I would rather chosse the best dog than the best marked. I guess ir comes down to fault weighing. I have tried to be sensible and have made a chart assesing head/ ears/ front/ tail etc and filled it in for each pup at 6 weeks and will do so again at 8, 10 and 12 weeks. Trouble is I think it's harder than buying a pup when you can go on looks alone. I am a big softie and so am letting my feelings towards each influence the decision too. I know which I would keep as a pet and interestingly he is neither of the two I am tempted to run on.

We have narrowed ours down to 2 dogs they are 9 weeks now and are taking them to the stud owners kennel to help make a final choice as we are struggling as well.

I had it easy last time - Tuppence was a single pup and she stayed :-)
Good luck choosing between your two faves

Bruce gets my vote - what a sweetie !!!!!!

Dead easy then - keep the one the stud dog owner would choose..... ;)

Bruce is the interesting one - Great head- looks better now his ears are up too, good body, biggest ears in litter but he hasn't stolen my heart like the other two. He is more masculine (I have only had bitches till now) and I don't know. Adding to the other post- Bruce I think is who the stud dog owner would keep and she has bred 118 champions. It will be interesting to see. At first glance Rueben is the one and probably the one an all rounder would go for but I suspect a breed specialist would go for Bruce, Angus is a wee dainty pretty boy who is very naughty and funny

Had to be nosey and check them out!  God how I love puppies!  :-)

Have to say that Bruce would be my choice.  But I know how difficult it is.  In January 2009 I actually had a judge come round to check out a litter of 3 as I kept dithering!

I hadn't imagined how hard it would be. It's knowing the best age to pick - Interesting Brainless said 6 weeks for her. I know paps go a little ugly at 12 weeks so should decide before then if I can, then there's the running on question if I run two on is it until 6 months and if so do I take them both in the ring and then decide? or is it until testicles appear and then make final choice once entire. It's so much easier having a single pup. I would happilly have a litter of one great quality pup and no decisions any day.

The owner of the grandsire is coming to see them next week so that may help.

Funnily enough 12 weeks is totally out for my breed too.  They are so ugly at that age that you want to hide them away (and start doubting that you should have kept them in the first place!)  :-)  :-)

Sounds very familiar then by about 5 1/2 months they are lovely again

12 weeks for my breed too,  their legs get longer at 12 weeks and they look out of proportion

Bruce looks a little sweetie...but then again I know ZADDA about your breed so my opinion means nothing!!

It must be so difficult..good luck!

If you didn't ever intend keeping a boy, are you sure you want to, would it be better to wait for another litter and keep a bitch? :-)

> If you didn't ever intend keeping a boy, are you sure you want to, would it be better to wait for another litter and keep a bitch? :-)

This is part of my agonsising - It would certainly make life easier for years to come but dad is being exported and so I would lose my chance and really admire him.
I guess because we breed to get something ourselves then I almost feel obliged to keep one which I know is silly and not the best way forward. If pups were poorer quality I would probably sell as pets but at least two will do well in the ring I think.
I also considered letting stud owner buy whichever she chooses and then use him at stud later if he is good enough which again lets me keep a peaceful easy all female pack.

I find it very hard to decide!!!!

Perhaps it's just as well I only got a single bitch, no choices for me! :-D

That's what happened to me last time Lucy and she has been fab.

> I also considered letting stud owner buy whichever she chooses and then use him at stud later

sounds like the way to go, I too am a bitch only household.

Havent a clue on your breed but I had to have a nose at your site too.
Reuben was the little face I fell for ,though obviously dont know what the rest of him looks like.
If showing was that easy ,we could save lots of money by sending a little pic to the judge lol

> sounds like the way to go, I too am a bitch only household.

It would make sense but equally it would be nice to have my own dog shown by me in the ring.
I am going to take a few more weeks and some sdvice before deciding maybe at 8 or 9 weeks

> If showing was that easy ,we could save lots of money by sending a little pic to the judge lol

Think of the hours we would save driving too!!

Bruce has the best head. Angus is under-headed for a male pup I feel.

Reuben looks nice but doesnt have the width or depth of head that Bruce has and Bruce also has bigger ears.

Have you got any more photos of the pups?

And before anyone says....what would I know about your breed (I have pugs and staffords).....my mum and sister breed them and I regularly view and critique litters with them....

Like your puppy bitch as well...shes coming on nicely! Well done on her wins lately as well!

Thanks for comments most of which mirror my own thoughts! We moved house on Thursday so I haven't been on for a few days which is not like me.

I have added some shots to my site today of the boys in show pose and that has also helped me look- It's a bit easier from photos than looking at all the cute bits you love.

I am pretty sure it will be Rueben or Bruce who stay and possibly the other may be bought for the ring by the stud owner. I feel Angus is probably a pet and yet he is so dainty and so like Pixie as a pup that I worry about making a mistake

Best of luck with whichever of the pups you choose to keep!

Its been so interesting looking at pictures of your babies from so far away here in New Zealand!

Thanks for that honour....

The two boys are quality pups so that makes choosing even more difficult. If one was obviously a pet one, then you would have your pup chosen!
Sadly life is never that easy!

Let us know what you decide.....

Will do thanks for taking the time to comment. I suspect it will be Reuben who stays which is also linked to how easily he fits in and how low maintenance he is compared to his brother. I have another 4 weeks before the first  one must go

Love the look of Reuben :-D   but as I know diddly-squat about paps... :-D 

This is the hardest thing about breeding, knowing which one to choose... 

Good luck with picking one, I'm always convinced that the one/s I sell will be better than the one I keep LOL  Murphy's Law and all that :-d

I'm just glad I don't have a breed that has 10 pups I would never choose!!!