Hi
We went to go and pick a puppy today after 6 months of getting to know the breeder and her dogs -  we instantly fell for one of the more cuddly girls.
She loved being cuddled and we were really taken by her.

Our only small concern would be that she seems to be a bit more independent in the pack.
She will play with litter mates but is a lot less fussed. She'd prefer to be watching them and occasionally join in. She's completely not bothered when they pull at her ears, but is one of the larger pups.

We don't know if this means she is perhaps more intelligent and a bit independent.
Or if it's the opposite and she hasn't quite understood how to play yet.

They're only just 4 weeks old. So lots if scope for temperament to change.

Thanks:)

In my experience, you don't see the true characters of pups until 6-7 weeks of age, and personally I would never even choose which one to keep myself as early as 4 weeks -unless there was no choice because I wanted a certain sex or colour. I have often marvelled at how one pup can appear one way at 5 weeks and suddenly just one week later can be entirely different. The breeder should be able to tell you about the individual pups' characters as they will be with them all the time and so get to know them.

> The breeder should be able to tell you about the individual pups' characters as they will be with them all the time and so get to know them.

When I sold our puppies, I tended tgo know which puppy might suit which buyer, as most breeders, spending hours with their litters should be able to.    As said 4 weeks is very young to be certain how a puppy might be.    In any case, I didn't let people see mine until at least 5 weeks ....... be advised by their breeder would be my recommendation.

Thanks for your reply.

We completely agree that we would have loved to have gone at 5/6 weeks. Although unfortunately we're away and the breeder couldn't guarantee reserving a bitch for us until we were back. She is formally advertising next weekend and so we're sure they'll be quickly snapped up.

We've been in touch with the breeder for 6 months and really got to know her and her dogs well so we're confident the pups are having a great start.

As you say the pup may just not have come out of her she'll yet. Although if she does stay a bit of a loner in the pack is this anything we should worry about?

Thanks :)

It wouldn't be something I would worry about unduly. It may well be that she will grow up into a dog that adores her humans and isn't too bothered about meeting other dogs. The advantage of that will be that she won't be the 'bog off' dog that spends her walks dashing off to see other dogs, not a bad thing to my mind.

On the other hand she is still a baby and babies change day by day and she could be completely different when you see her again.
Have the breeders voiced an opinion as to her character?

Thanks for your comments.

The breeders said she's more laid back and loves being handled and cuddled. She doesn't really whine or yap.

When we picked the other options for the bitches  were a smaller quite light  (golden retrievers btw not sure if I mentioned) girl who was quite sure of herself. We wanted a slightly darker girl so discounted this one.
Second option was a confident and loud/barky girl who was more interested in her litter mates and Mum than us.
The one we picked would put up with her litter mates tugging her ears and biting her fur. She'd go and snuggle with them and watch them play (think she's still working all of that out) and would join in a bit when the others started it, but would never initiate it. She loved being held and was quite happy to have a sleep in our arms.
Just noticed that she wasn't as interested in playing and took herself off to a separate corner at times u less she wanted to go and cuddle a litter mate or was sitting and watching them play. She loved her food/milk mix tray came out (starting to be weaned)  and started licking it off her litter mates paws.

We decided that a more chilled pup now might be a better sign than a barky very confident 4 week old pup.

Thank you :)

With my last litter, I had 2 bitch pups available. One was smaller and quieter & one was slightly larger & bolder. I had a first time dog owner family & a family who had dogs & wanted one which would bring their other dog out... both families gave me their requirements & I was able to place the right puppy in the right home... It was easy as I was with the puppies & both families are happy with their puppy 

I know some owners want to pick their puppy but as the breeder is with them from the very first, they get to know them really well & I believe new buyers ought to be guided. Ok sometimes there will be a couple of pups that could be equal, this is when buyers can then pick 

> We decided that a more chilled pup now might be a better sign than a barky very confident 4 week old pup.

In my experience with terrier breeds, you don't see full (and as such true) character until about 12 weeks.

At 7-8 weeks you you see the beginnings of character when puppies play. For example some pups are more proactive and tend to be "on top" more often, others appear to take middle ground being happy to join in the play but not "winning" much. There are of course some some who already display signs of reactivity or timidness or yappiness at this early age which may not improve and so it is better not to choose them. All pups tend to be friendly and fearless with people including those the meet for the first time at this age.

By 12 weeks the pups' brain develops more, they notice more of their surrounding environment and they responses become more refined. The more proactive pups are more likely to display more settled/friendly/confident/considerate temperament (this is why I would always prefer the pup who tends to be on top at 8 weeks without showing signs of reactivity). The "middle-ground" pups could reveal some lack of confidence or less brave character, for example at 12 weeks they may become careful with people they meet for the first time or large dogs for example, while proactive puppies continue to greet everyone with full trust and friendliness.

Bottom line if having to choose at 8 weeks I would always go for the pup "on top". When breeding for myself though I tend to keep two or three puppies a little longer to better see their qualities including temperament.

When I was at the position of choosing the dog I have now, also a golden, I asked the breeders to help as the four girls looked and acted the same. The wife had spent the whole time with the puppies and had watched their characters develop over the weeks. When she described the character of my dog I knew she was the one for us as she was a pup that liked her cuddles, appeared to have a low prey drive yet was confident and outgoing.
She got it right as my now four year old golden is confident and friendly, very attached to us and keeps with us all the time, loves to greet other dogs but is perfectly happy with sniffing noses and moving on and thankfully isn't overly interested in searching out the local wildlife and can be off the lead in most circumstances.
I think her only downside is her insistance in wanting to greet other dogs although she does recognise those that don't want to say hi and will steer clear, but she's getting less needy about the greeting thing and it's become easier to interest her in something else. I would prefer it if she was dog neutral but I'm not sure that's going to happen as shes innately friendly.

The pup you've described sound fine to my eyes, but at so young an age you won't really see her true character and unless you are visiting regularly and seeing her at different times of the day.