Hello lovelies. I hope everyone is winding down nicely for the weekend.

I'm (hopefully) due my first litter at the end of October, and if there's a nice boy, I would love to keep and show him. However, what I would love advice on is how you choose your show puppy. I'm talking all aspects; how you test for movement, drive, performance, type, etc. My stud dog owner is a long way from us, so he can't really come to us to see the litter and I don't want to drag them there, and though I can take pictures and ask for advice, I'd like to know how you choose your show puppy.

I rely heavily on documenting the ancestors and their litter-mates as puppies and through development to help me choose pups. 

I would certainly want as many photos of the parents and grandparents as baby pups at 6 to 8 weeks and then as they matured to give you an idea of how the liens involved develop.

I would then think it essential to have the opinion (in person) from the people involved in these lines.  At the very least you will want their feedback on weekly photos from about 5 weeks and video footage.

So invite the stud dog owner (preferably the breeder of the stud) and the breeder of your bitch, for a puppy pickign party, otherwise it really will be guesswork unless your one of these people who are good at picking puppies in your breed.

I think this is where you need breed specific advice. For my first litter, I had the stud dog owner, the bitch's breeder (what about your bitch's breeder?) and several other judges (both stud dog owner and bitch breeder also judges) come to see the pups, the majority picked one particular pup so that's what I kept and yes he turned out very nice looking. The second time nobody was able to come so I was on my own, had only two bitches to chose from, and most definitely picked the wrong one! (The one I DIDN'T pick is now a very successful show dog! The most successful I've bred! The one I kept is okay but nothing special and will never do anything major. Has one minor fault -ear carriage- which is very obvious to anyone. Best she's ever done a few RBB at champ shows and the odd BOB at Open shows.) Third time I'd learnt from my mistake and knew what to avoid and did manage to pick the best. But it's so much, and the majority of the points I go on are very breed specific like heads, ear carriage, eye shape, body shape, tail carriage, colour and markings in one breed but not in the other. I don't really look at movement as pups all move differently to adults, but you can look at natural stands -many puppies will just suddenly stand all four square when looking at something and they just LOOK right -if they stand nicely naturally they are of course built well and if built well should move well. Then there is of course bite and in the case of dogs, testicles! Don't just assume they are there as they might not be. And last but not at all least (rather most!) temperament.

Thank you both for your replies!

I would ask the bitch's breeder, but she's an outcross and her breeder doesn't show. I'm not trying to sound holier than thou here but I honestly think I would be better at choosing one than she would, which sounds so mean in type but it's true.
I do have friends who show and could help, which I intend on asking, as I know they've all chosen champs of their own from litters and will hopefully be able to advise me in the right way. I have litter photos of the stud, and his stud, and litter mates, ones of pups that the stud and the stud's sire have thrown; all of that was taken into account before I decided he would be best for us. I hadn't thought of comparing the two though so will definately do that when the time comes.

As for breed specific, yes, of course it depends on breed and specific traits, and I would kick myself if I chose the wrong puppy, though pleased if a few went to show homes. Colour is also of some concern, as my bitch is of a darker colour than the stud and carries a certain colour gene that's difficult to get right (it tends to fade) so I had to make sure this stud was of the same colour as much as possible and not lacking in type because of it. Thankfully he's very much that colour in his pedigree with the exception of about four dogs. For this reason I can't keep a dark puppy, its colouring has to be excellent (this sounds very vain and cosmetic but in our breed there are only four recognised colours; black, white, black and silver, and pepper and salt, and the colour I'm breeding for has to have banded hairs, the right colour undercoat, etc. as I'm sure you all have with your breeds too) otherwise I think it would end up being too dark to show.

Thanks again guys, I suppose I will have to just consult the breed people when the time comes!

We are having similar issuess,have to chose a boy from 4.We have sent pics to the breeder,looking at one that resembles thesire at a similar age.The one that my O.H likes (and he seems to have a good 'eye' has a some slight pink pigmentation on the nose.Though its disipating and the breeder of the bitch is a breed specialist and judges at Champ show level doesnt feel its an issue - I am keeping an open mind :)

Think if the breeder of the bitch and stud are unable to help you would be best asking those who show and have bred the dogs they have been successful with. In other words showing and being a judge is not enough it needs someone who has proved they can pick a pup at 8 weeks that goes on the have show success. I judge but would not be able to tell you which pup from your litter is a good choice.

If this matters to you you must locate someone who can really pick a puppy...within your breed preferably.

Are there no breed specific forums you could join and see if there is someone who lives fairly close by with the right credentials who is willing to help out.

I am lucky to have a wide group of show/breeders who can help me assess the few pups I have and I am slowly learning and so pleased when they have come to the same conclusions that I have.

I know where you are coming from re colour/pigment as my breed has the biggest variation of any other breed and thankfully some are not acceptable in the UK and hopefully never will be. 

I have Pat Hastings books/DVD on how to pick a pup etc, she assesses pups at exactly 8 weeks old and it is done away from their normal surroundings and by someone not known to the pups as you get a more accurate over all idea of each pup who is scored individually as opposed to comparing with other pups in the litter. She holds seminars all over the US where people having pups of the right age can bring them along to be assessed as part of the demo, unfortunately I don't think she has been to the UK.

Two breeders in my breed have had litters assessed either at a seminar or by going privately and said it was well worth it and the ones picked for the ring had gone on to be made up to champ status[not as hard as it is here]and recommends the process to other breeders. 

Good Luck getting the right assessment of your pups.

Are you a member of your breed club? If so (and possibly even if not) there might be a local District Representative who would be able to help you, either directly or by putting you in contact with someone knowledgeable in the breed.

if you can  get as many people  who show or have the knowledge of the  breed to come and look at the pups (most people like looking at other peoples pups especially if they are different lines)

Thanks everyone,

Yes, I am part of a breed forum and do have a lot of showers and breeder contacts that could come over, I'm hoping we can get one in particular that's not TOO far away (living in Norfolk means everyone is far away, unfortunately, lol!) so I may be able to. I feel like I know what to look for but you're all exactly right; having an inkling and guessing won't necessarily get me a winner!