- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Picking sheepdog pups
- Thread starter neilo
- Start date
- Location
- Devon
And don't tell @CopperBeech ?
- Location
- North wales
Go for the one you liked the most , temperament is the most important thing for me
- Location
- Western Oregon
I've seen and used several approaches to picking a pup over the years. One is the "pheno-beano theory. If there is a pup marked like the best dog you've ever had or seen, pick that one. When I was doing more breeding and training years ago, a set of behavioral tests was popular. People would come out and put the pups through a series of tests, holding them on their backs etc. The problem I saw with that (and I have a behavioral science background) was that when you repeated the same battery of tests with a litter of 7 week old pups the next day you got completely different results. Dropping a small child in a yard with the whole litter, coming back 20 or 30 minutes later and asking them which one they liked the best always seemed to work well. Overall, I think making everybody pick theirs first also worked very well. My theory was the other guy was more likely to pass up the prize in the litter than I was to pick it. Pick the parents not the pup.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
I chose my first bitch out the litter as she was a favourite of the breeder's daughter. I have three kids, so wanted a pup that was well used to that type of interaction. Never had cause to regret that, she has a lovely nature and boundless enthusiasm for work.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
The breeder of the dog & bitch came to see them yesterday, and was commenting on the markings of several of them being similar to various different dogs in their pedigree.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
'Pink' may have picked herself last night. I let one of my other dogs in for her daily play with the pups, while I was prepping their tea. Aunty Suzie loves bouncing round with them, and I don't think the extra interaction and stimulation will do them any harm at all.
Pink was the only one that started chasing her originally, bouncing up to her, then dropping on her side with her tail wagging. The others all joined in the game afterwards, once they'd got braver.
Then of course, I picked up 'Red' and she looked at me with her doey eyes......
Pink was the only one that started chasing her originally, bouncing up to her, then dropping on her side with her tail wagging. The others all joined in the game afterwards, once they'd got braver.
Then of course, I picked up 'Red' and she looked at me with her doey eyes......
The best dog I ever had was totally unremarkable, bog standard "pup" given to me as a wedding present. Nothing stand out about her at all. Left to my own devices, I next decided I needed a harder dog, and spent 2 hours sat on the floor observing the behaviours of a litter and picked my pup. Damn I was right - hard and also flipping useless. Be careful what you wish for! I carry a Howitzer wherever I go to stop him and a few Valium for me. (Lot to be said for a soft dog....)
.....a reason bitches tend to be more expensive.
- Location
- Scottish Borders
U just need luck ! Pick one , and good luck . There are so many traits to choose/ not to choose, you’ll go round in circles and keep them all
I notice a lot of trialling boys go for a smaller dog, just wonder if it’s because they will last longer, rather than a big dog who may be sorer his joints etc
!
Oh and some more good luck!
I notice a lot of trialling boys go for a smaller dog, just wonder if it’s because they will last longer, rather than a big dog who may be sorer his joints etc
!Oh and some more good luck
!
Downton_shep
Member
- Location
- Leintwardine
What one did Paul like the best?
Greythundercloudys
Member
My dad who was a great sheepdog trial man , always liked one with black on the roof of its mouth and also liked the shy ones that stayed at the back of the kennel
a trial will be a different use than in working / flock environment.
big bushy tail is what to go for
big bushy tail is what to go for
Maybe Neilo should look for one with a bit of fluff on its head? Tougher for outdoor lambinga trial will be a different use than in working / flock environment.
big bushy tail is what to go for
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
I pick a short haired one so i dont have to clip them. My red bitch in my profile pic is long haired though travelled for an hour and a half to the middle of nowere to get thete and be told the short haired ines were gone so took the prettiest red one. Shes turned out really good as a work dog if a little shy sometimes. Especially around electric fences
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
He was always going to have his pick of the dogs (he did pick my favourite of the 3 dogs). The mother carries most of his best lines and he wanted to retain them, so that was the deal when I bought her.
Downton_shep
Member
- Location
- Leintwardine
But did he say what bitch he liked?He was always going to have his pick of the dogs (he did pick my favourite of the 3 dogs). The mother carries most of his best lines and he wanted to retain them, so that was the deal when I bought her.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire