EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Just wondering what do you look for in a puppy when choosing for a hog dog I read alot about taking the pup that comes to you etc but my best dog was always independant and not overly needy or freindly any other opinions?

I always keep the first pup to leave the nest.

I like a independent actin' pup... one that can look you in the eyes and likes people... I don't keep one that doesn't look to me for affection... hard to reward a dog like that...

MOST of all(for me) CONFORMATION.  If it ain't built right, I don't want it. 

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How can you tell about the conformation of a 6 week old puppy? Hope I dont sound stupid.

I want the one that will let you pat it is happy for the affection but if you quit it goes and sniffs and wanders.  I do not want the shy timid one.  I like independence I don't like a me too pup.

i agree with you its a shot in the dark you win some you loose some.cull factor is what counts knowing when to and when not to.lol.it's a damn gamble.

Got to keep them longer than six wks that's how... seems I can usually pick out the physical traits I don't like by about 12 wks...

-Proportionate?
-Deep chest?
-Square in build?
-Adequate bone?
-BUILT TO RUN?
-Good head?(ashamed to say it, but I WILL cull one if I don't like it's head...)

... All stuff that starts showin' by that age in my dogs...

Add to that list, ear set and bit. Ugly is visible early ;)

i disagree mr purebreed sometime them shy dogs make the best ones aint just anyone gonna catch him.you make him your own ,and yall good for life .i show all my dogs who's alpha in MY dog pack may sound crazy but its worked for me for years i'm not telling anyone to beat em down either. a coward dog aint worth a thing.what i'm saying is show him your friends but you are topdog and you aint taking no crap off him.i've had a bunch of shy dogs out of them bennett /perry dogs they aint weak they just dont want to be jacked with.just find a happy medium i guess and to each his own.i'd never cull a pup at six weeks some of my best have come into their own after a 1 1/2 old.i've took biting dogs that no one could handle and got wherte we had a agreement they did'nt bite me and i would'nt get rough on them.again just a single opinion from one man to another.

Nope I agree with you but I do not have the patience for a dog that will not come to me when called I cull in a heart beat for that.  This is why I do not chance it and I want a friendly but not buying for your attention pup.  Seems most of the time you will get best of both this way or maybe I'm just lucky when it comes to that.

And when I say shy I mean cowers to you when you go up to them.  Now my lacys do but so far they always grow out of it so I do give them some leway there

If you're picking out a pup from someone else's litter... just close your eyes and grab one.

They change completely from week to week and month to month. I don't agree with culling that early for conformation either. The last two sets of pups I raised has proven that to me. The ones that were ill built as pups turned out to best built in the bunch.

Pups change so much that first year it's hard to cull one unless there's an obvious physical or mental problem. ;)

I dont like a dog that cowers, but I wont cull one for it, if everything else is clicking. But i wont tolerate one one I cant catch.

The best dog I have had so far my wife picked it out of the litter. Go figure. It's a crap shoot.  Just pick one.

At 6-12 weeks, just pick a male if you want a male or a female if you want a female. That the only two thing that are not gonna change. Everything else is 50/50.

they say an 8 week old pup is a miniature version of a grown dog. After that most will go thru different stages including the ugly duckling stage but there are a few that look good even during the growth period. They call these flyers in the show curcuit.

I will try to buy a pup from a known bloodline if I need to but prefer breeding my own.

I agree it is a crap shoot when buying a pup. That is why I would buy 2 or 3 to inprove my chances of getting a good hunting dog.

 I like good conformation and a red or dark yellow gold pup with a good length of ear but with a good ear set. Do not like a dominant pup that is too occupied in convcincing the other pups he is the boss. Also do not like a pup that shys away from me. I do not like a hyper pup, I like a calm and confident pup.

I do like a leggy pup that is tight built and one that plays hard for a whil and then goes off exploring and is observant of its surroundings. I look for a certain facial expression, dark eye and a certain demeanor in the pup.

I like a short smooth coat...and it cost the same to feed a good looking pup as it does an ugly one so might as well try for the good looking one.

X2..  The only thing I will cull one for that young is if it's mostly white with a white head..

ive raised four mostly white with white heads and double glass eyes on em all an no problem yet knock on wood!!

when I raise my own I try to pick the whole package but performance comes first. The pup must pass a finding and winding test as well as a trailing test before I get rid of any. Then I test for ranging in the woods. I like slick short coats and the right temperament. I also like looks and color and a good ear that breaks over even with the top of the skull. Good leg for speed and agility and not too heavy boned because endurance is a must. I like thick muscled up forearms. If the pup passed the testing then a certain amount of independence is built in and the pup should not be shy nor overly aggressive.
I like a 5 inch docked tail.
I don't always get what I want but am always looking for these traits...