Can anyone recommend anything? It doesn't have to breed specific but if it was that'd be excellent (greyhound). The more I read the better :) I do realise that there is no magic wand that can pick a perfect pup and things go wrong and change but I'd like to choose with the best hand possible. Also, despite people saying that you can't know with pups how come we so often see litters for sale with some pups to show homes and some for pet homes only (ie unsuitable to show) Are they born with a fault (say incorrect bite) or is the breeder guessing as to how they will turn out?

this is VERY new ground for me :)

There are very few people that can guarantee they have chosen the best pup in litter.  You are really asking the impossible!!  :-)  If it was that easy someone would have told us the secret by now.  :-)

I could probably name 2 or 3 people that I know personally who usually choose right.  And they have been showing for a million years, and have a lifetime of experience in breeding and really studying the pups in litters.

Your question is a bit like "how long is a ball of string?"  :-)

I'd say your best bet is to trust the breeder to pick for you. They KNOW you want to show, they KNOW you will show abroad, so it is very much in their best interest to pick the best for you, and they will have the experience.

> this is VERY new ground for me :-)

May I suggest that you get out and about to shows, so that you can gain experience by watching the winners.  After 10 - 15 years you will be half way able to choose a pup out of a litter!!  :-)

Yes i do know that Jean but while I'm not expecting to be able to pick a perfect pup I don't think it's any harm reading up in advance etc as well. Unfortunately, I'm limited with shows as there are only two greyhounds shown here. :( However, I keep up to date with all the breeders'/exhibitors' sites and so on and so forth. :)

>Are they born with a fault (say incorrect bite)

Mismarking is another reason for being a non-starter showing-wise.

The best anyone can say with an 8-week puppy is that it has show potential - ie it has nothing to currently rule out a show career. However anything can change at any stage!

That makes sense although wouldn't factor for greyhounds. I suppose I was just curious because I saw photos of a litter on facebook recently and one pup was described as for a pet home only and would make a lovely pet. the others were described as being suitable for show/pet homes. I could only say that perhaps she wasn't as striking or impressive as her siblings, I wouldn't have been able to pinpoint what the 'issue' was so that concerns me for picking my own pup.

> I could only say that perhaps she wasn't as striking or impressive as her siblings,

I doubt that was the case, more likely she was lacking in depth of chest or front or rear angulation or something like that. The best way for you to choose a show quality pup is to trust the breeder to do it for you. It takes a long time and looking at a lot of litters to be able to see the potential in them :-)

edited to add if you pm me the link to the pups I'll have a look and try and describe the differences to you?

Chaumsong, I should've phrased that better - I knew that wasn't the reason but I am not experienced enough to pick up on the actual reason myself. I could only guess. :) You're all right about trusting the breeder too, I guess I'm just excited so learning what I can. :)

Will pm you now once I find the link, thanks.

When I had my litter a couple of years ago now a friend printed off an article called BORN TO WIN - BREED TO SUCCEED By Patricia Craige (Extracts from her book)
I am not sure if the article is available on the internet, it might be worth a google or see if the book is available, the section I have is Picking Puppies, and is quite informative. That might help, I agree with other posts that the breeder will have the most experience, but at least you will be able to understand why she has chosen one puppy over another.

> at least you will be able to understand why she has chosen one puppy over another

And do ask your breeder to describe what he/she is seeing at every stage, an experienced breeder will be able to tell you what he/she is looking for in the pups and will be able to articulate precisely what is good in the litter and why some pups might never be show quality.  It will be well worth you reading as much as you can about desired conformation in your breed and learn the 'points of a dog' so you can look at the same things your breeder is.

You may find one or other of the pups appeals to you but it would be of great help if the breeder could narrow down the choice for you.  Once you've found a breeder you like then perhaps you could spend an afternoon with them talking about the dogs they have/had, looking through photographs, and talking through what they have been aiming for in their breeding.

My breeder is fascinating on this subject and can show me pictures of dogs I admire and discussing what they looked like at 5, 6 and 7 weeks.  Some pups, like clothes, don't look like much until they are 'on' - by that I mean that they could be a little unprepossessing whilst mimbling about the whelping pen, but put them in a baby 'stack' or really look at them move and all of a sudden they start to look very impressive indeed.  With a little support and coaching from the right breeder I suspect that you will find you see more than you might imagine you would :)  Good luck

Thank you very much, these posts are very helpful. I will try to search out that book. :) I think I'll also email the breeder and ask for some advice,I know she will help me pick but it's good to know as much as possible anyway. I am dead-set on a male and that's about all. Of course, even though it looks like it will be a big litter I will not have 'first pick' so hopefully all the show potential pups are not gone by the time I pick ;) ;)