been my observation over the years that it's not acctually the picking of the pup but whats done after you pick it that determins the results
My system never has failed me. But I also agree with what halfbreed is saying. We don't have to spend long hours training but enough contact and exposure to keep them at their peak or at least meet the minimum requirement in the learning/social curve.
I never pick a hyper pup or an aggressive pup that wants to be reminding the other pups he is the boss. I don't mean one that is playing rough but one that does it every day. I like a pup that is laid back but not lazy. I test for winding and trailing at 8 weeks and a few more times until 12-14 weeks. I find out who rolls out in the woods at 3.5-4 months. I keep about 4 pups to this age before I cull down some. The older the pup I get rid of the higher quality it should be.
I am not saying I will pick the best pup in the litter but more than likely I am picking a hunting dog. Hasn't failed me yet and that is why I prefer picking from my own back yard.
I pick and cull extra hard because I do not have a lot of hunting places so have to keep the very best because the very best do not need as much exposure or conditioning as the average pup.
Like someone said earlier, it also depends on the breed and strain of dogs as to when a pup can really be tested.
I also have my favorite colors but I do not let it interfere with picking a pup...or at least I try not to.
Picking a pup from someone elses back yard is more or less mainly luck because we do not have enough time to test them. Just have to go with how the paents and grandparents hunt and some quick checks just to make me feel better.
With grown dogs I have always studied the pics in the full cry magazine to see if there is something special I can find/see in the winningest dogs...
They say a pic is worth a thousand words and I try to read into it.. I usually see a regal dog that is above it all and can hunt with the pack or alone because it doesn't matter. The dog has confidence written all over it and I "try" to read the same in a pup but of course in a smaller version.
