Hi,
I will be getting my Golden Retriever puppy very soon, and I went to have a look how the litter is coming on today, because I couldn't wait any longer. The litter contains 7 bitches of which I will be choosing one. I am glad I went, but wish I hadn't in a way, because I fell in love with one of them, and as I am to get 4th pick, there is a chance that the one I want will be gone when it's my turn to choose.
What I was wondering is what would be classed as a good showdog? What features would you look for?
The reason I ask, is because the people who are picking before me all want their puppies for showing and the puppy I want is chunky and has quite a boyish little face. When I saw her, I thought she was a boy until the breeder confirmed that she was a girl. The other girls are all smaller and have girly faces, which is why I am wondering what breeders would go for, can anyone give me some ided please?

Golden heads strengthen as they mature so even a male with a too stronger head might just look rather hard for some tastes as he gets older so for a bitch I would look for a nice feminine head. Plenty of substance in the body BUT NOT FAT! Standing nice and square with a level topline and good tail set (The tail coming straight out as a continuation of the topline rather that sticking up or set down the rump! Nice straight front legs with good angulation of shoulder. Nicely angled rear legs (But not long in the second thigh!)

This is just a quick list, so much more comes into it, the jaw changes as the puppy grows so I would want a bit of growing room there. Also movement, I would watch the litter moving to see if there was any glaring faults at that time.

After all this, If it's for me. Does it have that little extra thing which makes me want to share the next 15 years with it? Because however good it is, to me, if that's missing then I just don’t want it!

All this is assuming I wanted to show the puppy. As my interests are more on the working side I would have other considerations to take into account although if bone conformation is wrong for showing it will be just as wrong for working!

Regards John

Awwww John,
After all of the coolly logical rationalizations, you are such a romantic!!!! :D Thinking about the spark of a "perfect match for the next 15+ years." How sweet you are :)

Thats why my dogs are no good Toodles! I let the heart rule! But at least I love "The Flower" :)

Best wishes, John

John - and that's the way it should be for us all;) I love my boys to bits - didn't care that an Orange Roan has a harder time in the ring and even if they didn't get anything at shows I wouldn't love them any the less. They are members of our family foremost and show dogs second. Thats what they were picked for - suitability for showing only came as a second thought.

regards

Pam n the two mad utts

Debbie
is your puppy for showing or a pet
if I was getting a puppy for showing, I wouldn't want 4th pick. ask your breeder for guidence, if she is a reputable breeder she will be able to advise you on what to look for

Jan

Hi Jan,

I do not want a puppy for showing, I only want her as a pet. I am only asking what you would look for in a showdog, so that I have some idea if the puppy I want is going to (possibly) still be there when the other three are picked. The breeder seemed to be favouring the little girly puppies and she is one of the people who are picking before me, so hopefully the others will go for the same look too.

Debbie

frankly by the time you go back to choose, they will have changed so much, that onlythe breeder will know which one you liked originally, assuming she made a note of it.

When you go back I am sure you will love whichever pup you choose. It will also be easier, as I am sure the breeder will put away the ones already chosen, so there won't be the temptation. this initial visit will have given you an idea if you liked the litter and their Mum, and the other dogs, to be sure they were from the sort of person you would wish to have a puppy from, and that the breeder got to know if you wedre going to get one of the precious pups!

Enjoy the anticipation.

My first bitch was the only one left, and I didn't mind at all! Even though I di see the others.

Since my dogs all chose me through various tragic situations, I'd be terrified to try to pick one out of an actual litter with a mommy present!!! Good luck, dearie :D
toodles

It's awful having to pick one, especially if they are all bright little buttons:D I had to choose from a litter of 6, two of which had been picked (the show ones). To be honest there was nothing to choose between the others - so I left it to the kids! The one that interacted more, sat for a fuss nicely, waited until it was his turn again etc. The breeder thinks we made a good choice too:D

If she is meant to be yours she will still be there for you:)

Anita

I think thats right, if I am meant to have her she will be there for me when I go back. My Nan always taught me that what will be will be, and I think that is probably the right way to look at it, she always said that if you didn't get what you want then it was not meant for you. Oh well, I will just have to see when I go back.

Ahh, it's easy for me to say though isn't it, I can imagine how you are feeling:)

I hope you get the one for you:D

Anita