My stud dogs puppies are 4 weeks old this weekend.
We are going down to look at them next weekend (5 weeks) as I prefer to look at them at 5 weeks think its a little better than 4 :)
I have pick of litter.
I origonally wanted a girl from the litter however there is only one girl.
I had seen the pups at a week old they were big fat chunky puppies totally gorgeous!!!

I am finding it really hard to compare the girl to all of the boys, she was born a very big puppy but now seems to be a little bit bigger than the smallest dog. (he's a good weight thou just a little fine in bone)
I don't know if she will be big enough to show. I was wondering if it is worth while comparing her to the boys or just looking at that she is a good weight with good bone and beautiful structure.

This game is so confusing! I will take lots of pictures next weekend and hopefully that will help.

Just wondered what others did when they wanted a girl and only had one!

Thank you

Hight, or lack of, isn't a massive fault in the grand scheme of things.  I showed a girl who was said to be under the hight that is prefered - she was still above the minimum hight measure for the breed but was "unfashionably short".  This girl won not only on overall appearance, she was super square, but also because she oozed the character and will to win that is a requirement of show dogs.  Basically, because of her extra spark she was able to outshine many of the other dogs.  Look at how she interacts with her siblings, carries herself in general.  Don't ask which is the girl in the litter, just watch and see which one draws your attention - you may be pleasantly surprised :-)  I have heard unanimously that the best age to tell potentional is at 6 weeks - due to the growth patterns I think.  You'll need to see them several times though as like people some may grow legs first and then body, or body and then legs :-)  JMHO.

I am in exactly that position..

My litter is just 13days.. all boys bar one girl.. I could nit pick between 3 of the 6 boys.. and have definately decided to keep the girl..

She is smaller than the boys.. and it is difficult to look at her yet.. since she is just 13 days.. but she has good bone, excellent otter tail, a lovely head.. all I have to hope for is she has a good topline and tailset.. but the signs are there.. :-)

dont compare her to the boys.. look at her properly.. compare her to the standard.. look at her as you would look at any other puppy

the only time I compare pups who are so similar, is in movement.. I look at pups individually, choose the ones I 'nit pick' and them allow them to move and play..

Thank you.

The parents are of good hieght so I don't think it is too much of a worry.

I think i am just panicking over nothing, the boys are very big much like my stud dog, he has always been considered as a 'big boy' :)
Thats why we love him.

I went to see them at a week and picked up the one that caught my eye which was the girl so hopefully she will again :) I don't mind if I have a boy just would love to keep a girl so can keep my stud dog's line going! :)

We are really interested to see what they turn out like as it is an outcrossed litter and they all looked so similar so want to see if they take after mummy or daddy :)

were going down at 5 weeks 6 and a half and then 8 if we decide they are nice enough.

Wow, so you really will be able to see how they grow and develop :-)
Good luck!  I do so love young puppies.  So full of fun and without fear.

They all have such different personalitys :)
We love them!
Were doing a repeat mating as we are so pleased with them :)

When you get a pair that really "click" then why not :-)

I did a repeat mating last year from a litter previously and the whole litter were completely different to the first.  This was a complete outcross so I suppose that was why.

Certainly in my breed it would be no point comparing a bitch to the dog puppies as I would expect them to be heavier in head and body generally than bitches.

Also five weeks I would just be getting an idea of who not to keep, and it would be at least 6 weeks and more like 7 or 8 before I would make a definite choice.  Even then it is very much in the lap of the Gods, if the bitch pup looks promising, and mostly I would base my decision on how good the overall litter, or nick was, and the quality of the parents as to whether I was going to keep the lone bitch.

AS an example the sire of my first champion was the only dog in his litter, and he was top winner in the breed in his time, and his lone litter sister won the group at Crufts, and is the Grandmother of another.  Quality not quantity count.

Like Brainless I wouldn't let the fact the there is only one bitch puppy put me off if you'd prefer a bitch :) 

One of my girls is the daughter of a single bitch in a litter of seven (of the 6 boys 3 UK Ch & 1 US Ch) who went on to take the CC record in bitches (27CCs), won the Group at Crufts 05 and Crufts G3 in 2006 and showed looking like a youngster at the grand age of 11 years :)

OK, this is the stuff that dreams are made of for most of us but IMO if the lines are known to be excellent producers with sire and dam well matched for type, then the chances are much better for a more even type throughout and truly quality litter.

Good luck with your choice, whatever way you decide to go.
best wishes, Teri

We have jsu had a litter of four females 1 male. We wanted to keep a female but nothing really stands out to show, we therefore have decided to let them go...And wait till we have what we feel is a show quality puppy. This kind of evidences the fact that not every pup is show quality..as some breeders will tell you.

Im in your spot right now, I have a litter of three, 2 boys one girl.  I like the girl, and wanted a girl, but I also like the one male.  Its so hard!   I was told in my breed that what you see at 8 weeks, is a smaller version of what they will be when they are adults. 

If I like them all, I think I will do Eeny Meeny Miny Moo, to choose!!!  (kidding) 

craspin LOL :) ...well 3 had 1 girl 3 boys i wanted a girl ,but i know shes not the 1 for me this time ,but ive fell in love with 1 of the boys ,ive never kept a boy before but im keeping this 1 ;) ...its was love at 1st sight i think :):)

I've just been set a piccy of the girl!!
She is absolutly bloody gorgeous!!

Now this is making it so much harder.

The thing is i've not seen her stood or moving lets just hope i get my new show doggie :)

The owners have not shown their bitch she is a pet. But is well worth showing, is drop dead gorgeous, (is litter sister to Top Winning Dog this year, and Would have pushed very hard if she was shown to beat her sister)so have persuaded them so show the black boy they are keeping. (well im showing him)

Looks like even if I don't have the girl i will have something new to show.