What is the best age to pick a puppy from the litter?

paddlinglikecrazy: What is the best age to pick a puppy from the litter?
We are looking at a litter of 1/2 English, 1/2 American Labrador Puppies on Sat evening the 21st of April. (My husband works with the breeder).

The puppies will be 9 days old.

Should we pick our puppy right away based on appearance?

Or, should we go back later and pick a puppy when they have more personality?

This is our first time selecting a puppy from a litter, or a dog this young.

We have no clue if it even matters, so any advice is very welcome.

We are not new dog owners however, we are already owned by two lab mixes. One a year old and one 9 years.

Thank you!

Answers and Views:

Answer by chetco
You won’t be able to tell much about them until they are at least 3 weeks old. However, you could put a deposit down for choosing your pick when they are a bit older.
Here are some good tips for choosing your puppy from a litter> https://members.tripod.com/~Marge_S_2/nonframes/Picking_a_puppy_from_a_lit.htm

Answer by Emily S
You will not be able to determine the drive/character of a pup until about 6 -7 weeks old. Week 6 they change a LOT, so a real outgoing pup might not be quite as much so when compared to the littermates at 7 weeks of age as compared to 4. Know what I mean? A shy pup at 4 weeks may ‘blossom’ into a perfect companion at 7 weeks and a ‘playful’ pup at 4 weeks might end up being the ‘alpha’ or ‘hyper’ dog at 7 weeks…you just don’t know yet.

My breeder (of my 2 working border collies) does not let anyone on the deposit list (there are always 50 or so people on the deposit list!) pick a puppy until the pups are 7 weeks old and they are always picked based on characteristics that appeal to the person’s lifestyle. (she sends videos to those that cannot visit the pups) Other things are taken into consideration but if the puppy is not a ‘fit’ personality and drive-wise, she reserves the right not to let that person have that specific puppy. She also starts clicker training them at 4 weeks old so by the time they are 7 weeks old not only do they know a slew of basic commands, but their ‘learning style’ can also be assessed and each dog placed in a home where the training style and learning style match perfectly.

There is a lot of helpful information on this and many other topics on her website. You can go to both the information page and the puppies page for more information.

She has a long history of matching the exact right dog with the exact right person so I’d say I trust her method!

www.lockeyebc.com

Answer by Waylon V
a pup should not leave it’s mom until it is 8 weeks old for many reasons so just pick your pup then

Answer by liz l
my mothe rhas bred chihuahuas since i was born and other kinds of dogs too.generally you shouldnt take the puppies away for at least six weeks.but if you want to be fair to the pup and the mom you should definitely wit until eight weeks.that way the puppy is fully weened and ready to be on its own.it will probably still whine and miss the other puppies and its mother but it will adapt to its new surroundings soon enough.pay it a lot of attention and start working on potty training immediately.it isnt too soon toat least start paper training and then slowly move to house training.

Answer by potogold
As a breeder we don’t allow anyone to pick a puppy until they are over 7weeks of age. The first reason is we breed to keep something for ourselves and we can’t see what we want until the puppy is moving and has grown personality. I prefer for the puppy to pick their new mum and dad, the puppy that keeps coming back to you after you have been there for an hour that chews your shoelaces, or falls asleep on your lap or at your feet, that’s the one. Good luck with your new family member.

Answer by Linda
Never choose earlier than 5 weeks old, and 6 would be even better! Visit all the pups on a regular weekly basis, and get to see their personalities and looks develop. Also, it’s not good to take a pup from the litter before 8 weeks old.

Answer by chi chi
i think 8 weeks would be better

Answer by Little Budah
Nine day old puppies are adorably precious but beyond their individual markings or coloration, there is little upon which to base an immediate decision. Is it important whether or not you choose a male or female?…If so, the breeder will gladly point the girls out from the boys and go from there…Visit the puppies a few times. There eyes open at twelve or thirteen days old at which time they will all have blue eyes and their vision will still be somewhat blurred. See the puppies at four weeks of age when their personalities come to life and each one has it’s own distinct characteristics…There is always a bully in the group..the one who is stronger and pudgier..the first to get your attention by shoving his way to the front…Be a bit leary of the “tough guy” as you may find yourself tough out of luck when it comes to home furnishings and the important necessities like your cell phone or TV remote being left intact..ah, isn’t he a cute little devil?.. Don’t over-look the “runt” of the litter…He/she can sometimes be the most affectionate as a show of appreciation for their no longer being pushed around and for finally being a member of a more gentle and loving family…Breeders no longer make it a practice to release puppies before they’re eight weeks of age…By that time, they have been initially wormed and, as a rule, the breeder has seen to their first set of shots at six weeks…The extra two weeks is sufficient time for the puppy to have recovered from any soreness..stiffness..or the normal side effects associated with puppy vaccines… Hey, happy puppy decision making!…Uh, your two other dogs have seniority sooo, enjoy your soon to be “third” best friend in the world!…