Hi everyone,

Hoping for some help on what I feel is one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make!

I have two pups out of my litter to choose from, both have good show potential, but one is more of a gamble as she's a little small at the moment, however, this pup has a huge, "look at me" personality and is the colour I wanted and I've had a good bond with her since she was small, but I can imagine her and mum clashing as she ages. The other pup looks excellent, she stands out in looks very much and my mentor who is very experienced in the breed liked her a lot, but she is quieter in personality. She stands perfectly for me already whereas the little one won't stand for a minute, I think she might be easier to train as mum was quite a handful as a youngster and I think little one is going to be very much like her. So it's a bit of a tough one, the one I like more that may or may not be good in the ring, and may be a little monster like her mother was, or the safer option of the quiet one that shows excellent potential and I think may fit into my pack best?

I've been going round and round in my head over this and really need some help! Any experience or advice would be appreciated!

I'd say some of it depends on your breed. In both my breeds, I'd always chose the over the top active/outgoing/even over the top in biting, over the more quiet one, as chances are the quiet one will never be mentally strong enough for showing. (Far easier to take down an over the top pup a step or two, than getting a timid one to gain confidence.) That's one lesson I've really learnt. I have one stunning looking bitch of each breed that cannot be shown due to being too timid, and both were the quiet ones as pups, with littermates far more outgoing. But in other breeds this isn't something you'd ever need to consider. At the same time, the dog that says "Look at me!" can often win more than one that doesn't show itself off as well, even if the quality is slightly less good.

I had a similar problem; I chose the naughty one. She had nicer features and more savvy, but the other pup had nicer substance and a much quieter, gentle temper. Don't get me wrong, the one we kept is a doll and has a lovely temper, but she's cheeky!

I would go with your heart; if you think she's still a good prospect then definately. Why not run both of them on (if you can) to see how they develop? I know it isn't ideal but it's always an option if you're really stuck.

If the one that you think will fit into the pack and not clash with her mum when older is also a good show prospect, which it sounds like she is, I would go for her. Don't forget you have to live with her at home the other 99% of the time! But if you can run them both on for a couple more months that would be worth doing too.

In my most recent litter two pups were very close for me, I kept the one who didn't have the same pushy primadonna character as her Mum, yes the one I let go is more of a show girl (and is being shown too, and will probably be more successful), mine has the attention span of a gnat, and has yet to show especially on the move as I know she is capable of, but you have to live with them and in my case it matters that the dogs live in harmony.

The one I kept is very full on with play and pesters everyone, but knows when to back down.

Also which pups has the traits you were looking to improve on most?  I wanted length of neck and leg, so kept the one that showed these traits more.

No choice for me, I would keep the one you think will fit into the pack better. If you kept the other pup and she did go on to 'clash' with her mum as you already fear, you would probably end up having to rehome one of them. IMHO much better to keep the better fit and not risk a future problem.

Sorry but have to ask - what does POL stand for?
I keep thinking it means "Point Of Lay" as in chickens.... I'm sure that can't be right...

> I keep thinking it means "Point Of Lay" as in chickens.

PMSL.. Pick Of Litter.

> PMSL.. Pick Of Litter.

Doh!

Thanks so much everyone, great replies, gave me a lot to think about. I have decided to go for the quieter one. Fingers crossed she does turn out as nice as she looks now!

When I bred the litter that Curtis was born in he was very overshadowed by his far larger outgoing brother. In fact when potential puppy owners came to see the pups, Curtis ran away and I can always remember the husband saying 'You're going to have problems with that one'.   

Well I haven't shown Curtis a great deal but he has 2 RCC's and loves being shown, he is a calm sensible outgoing adult dog now who will happily be shown and gone over by judges.    Personalities change when litter-mates get sold and as they develop their own characters.

I can't possibly advise on which pup would be best as I alway keep the wrong one regardless!!lol. but....I've yet to have bother with a bitch pup and her mum.  I always find that the mum excuses all the annoying and ridiculous behaviour from the pup, (like she never looses her puppy license) forever.  I had one mum and daughter in which the daughter was a terrible nature.  She picked on one of the males and because she'd gotten herself into a scuffle, mum had to get involved too and she'd always been great with that male.  As soon as the pup found out that mum had her back, she picked on everyone and tried to take over the pack at 9 months!!  I found a lovely show home for that girl as I had to separate those two for safety reasons! I think they might have taken me on!!  This always puts me off keeping a bitch pup.

I think it depedns on the individual bitches (and maybe breed and age when pup kept), I have had 7 generations now and some Mums are very permissive/forgiving, and others very strict and won't tolerate any nonsense, and laid down clear boundaries..

I have problems with mother and daughter in that if daughter has a squabble with anyone mum will still charge to the rescue and the two of them will gang up on another bitch. Daughter is playfighting but mum means it. I have to be very careful and they are never left with the others if I'm not supervising. I make a point of splitting up up a lot of the time as well, just so that daughter learns independence.

I always find that the mum excuses all the annoying and ridiculous behaviour from the pup, (like she never looses her puppy license) forever.

On the one hand, my 6 year old bitch is still treating her 3 year old pups as PUPS -if they want her food, she walks away, for instance, and they get told off if they misbehave, and they accept it. On the other hand, I have had to permanently split the 6 year old up from her 12 year old mother, as last year she attacked her mother. I think it was because the younger bitch was the one having pups now (she'd had a litter a few months earlier) and the older was retired and spayed, and the younger one decided she was now top bitch. I wasn't going to risk anything so granny was removed -to live with the toydogs and sleep in our bedroom, being extra spoilt.

I echo Brainless and Goldmali,

Stick with what is best for the litter and welfare of the dogs. Why not try to get a really good show home for 'Madam' and then you can mentor the owners in the ring?