I went to see my future puppy this week, the pup is first and foremost my friend! Whatever but i would like to have a go at showing.
I had a choice of two, both lovely but one according to the breeder not show potential for various reasons. However he was lovely and trying to jump on my knee.
The other one is a stronger specimen, has “show potential” but he ran off to play with a toy at first, he did eventually come to me and was very friendly.

I know it is him i should have and im probably over analysing but is tye fact he didn't come to me a bad thing? I think im just worrying over nothing

My pups always choose me, but, bare in mind, the breeder is with pups 24 hours a day, so sees more of their character.  If they have no worries about the pup with more show potential, then I would be swayed by their advice.

I would really put head over heart in puppy-choosing.  I've made the mistake so many times of choosing the puppy that seems to choose me etc etc - and often it doesn't work out...

You will bond with whichever pup you bring home, so bring the one home which you will be able to do the things you want to do, with...

Thank you thats what I know I should do but Zi think ive been reading too many books and theories re puppies! One book says the pup that runs off and does hos own thing may not be people orientated or be a loner. But i wasnt there long so poss different on another day.
He does look to be the most forward pup though which I hope is a good thing

If you want to show you have to take the show potential pup, when we bred we let good puppies go because they where not right for the ring, mostly attitude differences you need a out going confident puppy, sitting watching the litter seeing the day in day out differences in movement attitude head carriage eye carriage, how they react to unexpected noises and other everyday things makes choices easier at times well marked puppies some times were not the best at the other things

I've not done that badly so far, but I think I'm also a realist.  By letting a puppy choose me, it's the one that stands out in a litter, not just the one that jumps on me first, or retrieves something.  It's the one with everything that I like about it, and that is happy with me as well.

From my last litter I kept a dog and a bitch. The bitch was really sweet and cuddly, the boy was really aloof. By 6 months it was completely role reversal with the dog being really cuddly and the bitch very aloof. I wouldn't let a pups personality at 8 weeks sway you too much. If you want a show dog, trust the breeder and choose the show potential pup.

As said, provided the breeder knows their stuff, and can evaluate a puppy at what could be a young age, go with what they recommend.  They spend 24/7 with their litters and that allows them to get to know each puppy very well.   I'm assuming they know you want to show, and so wouldn't want you to take the 'wrong' puppy if it's going into the show-ring with their name attached!!

"The bitch was really sweet and cuddly, the boy was really aloof. By 6 months it was completely role reversal with the dog being really cuddly and the bitch very aloof."    That sounds very typical, certainly so with mine.   And it's similar with humans eh.