Question about an experience I'm having with picking a puppy - Page 1

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by gsdkiera on 09 April 2016 - 03:04

I wanted to run an experience I am having with a puppy by the members of this forum to get your thoughts as I’ve not had this kind of experience with a pup before. I pretty much have pick of the litter in a litter of pups who are 4.5 weeks old. The litter owner is a good friend of mine, I know both parents of the litter very well, and I have interacted with the entire litter (there are 10 pups) from when they were a day old. From the very first time I met them, I have been really drawn to a particular sable female. She is one of the smaller pups in the litter, and I can’t tell you what drew me to her from the very first as when she was a day old she could really do nothing to draw my attention but lay there and let me hold her. I have continued to interact and play with every pup in the litter every couple of days over the past 4.5 weeks, and although there are a couple other pups that I would be really thrilled to have, there continues to be something about this little female pup that keeps bringing me back to her. Here is the question, though. Although I am not looking for a pup with over the top high drive and energy (which there are going to be a couple of in this litter), I want a pup with good working drives and a very active demeanor/energy level. All the pups, whether I am there or not, and no matter who they are interacting with, display the same temperament all the time, pretty much no matter what. My little female, however, is completely different with me than she is with others and when I am there and when I am not. When I am not around, I am told she is a holy terror, picking on all her litter mates, tearing apart the paper in the puppy room, causing general havoc along with most of the other pups. She doesn’t particularly want to be picked up and held, is always on the go, and is a high energy, high drive pup. When I come to visit, however, she interacts with the other pups but is pretty happy to just sit by me and look at me. She meets me at the door to the puppy room, will let me pick her up and hold her and never complains, even if I hold her on her back (which she completely detests if anyone else does it). She plays but I never see the crazy puppy antics that I have been told by several people she shows when I’m not there. So, my question is, is it a good or bad indication that she is so different when I’m around? All the other pups act the same with me as they do with others, this is the only one who is so strangely different with me than she is with others. I have treated all the pups the same from the very beginning, playing and testing them all the same way. Any thoughts? Has this pup just picked me as I was thinking about picking her but am hesitating because she is not showing much when I am there other than an intense desire to be with me in particular, or is there something about me that is shutting her down in some way that bodes not so good for a future working relationship? I sent someone out there today specifically to look at her because they are wanting a lower drive, lower energy level pup, and they said the whole time they were there, she was nothing but ornery with both the other pups and the person looking.  I obviously won't be bringing a pup home for another 4 or 5 weeks at the soonest and will continue to visit and interact with them all in the meantime, but I Have never had this happen before when picking a pup and am curious as to others thoughts.


by hexe on 09 April 2016 - 05:04

I'm sure I'll get all kinds of grief for this, but if there's a connection between you and this pup, I think it would foolish to ignore that. My first GSD was a pup I had a similar connection with--she was also a very busy girl when with her littermates, but she also knew how to entertain herself in acceptable ways, though naturally she did leave her puppy tooth marks in a few items in the first few weeks after I brought her home. I initially was looking for a male pup, not a female, and that's all I had considered from each of the several other litters I saw before I went to Win Strickland's place...and I didn't realize I had asked her to show me the bitch puppies until after I'd put my deposit down on her and pulled out of the driveway. That's when my mentor said to me, "You do know you just put a deposit down on a female pup, right? 'Cause we've been looking at males only for the last few months..."

That pup turned out to be everything I could ever want in a dog and then some, and I've never regretted that selection.

The only caution I would offer is to do some serious soul-searching, and decide whether you could be happy with this pup regardless of whether she's the easy-going, quietly content little girl who greets you when you visit them, or she's really the wiry, pushy pup that everyone else reports her to be when they see her. If you don't think you could stand it if she were the latter, then it would be a risky choice to make--but I'm a big believer in following gut feelings, especially when it comes to dogs.

Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 09 April 2016 - 06:04

I think this puppy is picking you.
I also think / my gut says - going on not very much, except
many years of being around dogs - that what will happen is,
once she gets her way and you choose her, she will start to
show you those attributes which currently only others can
see in her.
Like Hexe, I feel the crunch is whether you want to rely on
this pairing turning out right, and if you can still want the dog
even if it doesn't ...

bubbabooboo

by bubbabooboo on 09 April 2016 - 13:04

Pups are better at picking people than people are at picking pups.

by gsdkiera on 09 April 2016 - 14:04

I would be very pleased if she turned out to be the higher energy, go get it pup that everyone else sees. She just doesn't sho me that side when I'm there visiting which is why I sent someone else to look at her who Is looking for a lower energy, low drive pup to just be a companion. That person laughingly reported that this pup is WAY too ornery and on the go for her as she was being a holy terror the whole time she was there. Others have reported the same, but when I visit, she just sits at my feet and looks at me. She does play with the others in a laid back sort of way, but I've never seen what she shows the others which is why I'm wondering if she'd ever show it to me if I did go ahead and pic her. I'd be more disappointed if she stayed super quiet than if she turned out to be higher energy.

Jenni78

by Jenni78 on 09 April 2016 - 16:04

I have picked a lot of pups for people. I analyze EVERYthing pups do for many weeks until I make my decisions. If I were the breeder, I'd be strongly suggesting you take that pup for a few reasons. 1) When choosing pups, after you've already done all your "real" homework, your gut is as good as any other decision-making criteria. 2) I LIKE that she is different with you and super-focused on you, and is only a holy terror when otherwise unoccupied, or with other people. That, to me, shows she HAS the drive, but isn't going to be a nightmare about it and puts a relationship with "her" person first and will be a more attentive, tractable pup. Additionally, it may be that you're a stronger handler than the others who have visited her and she is doing what dogs do- reading people and acting according to the feedback they receive. 3) You are not going to sleep at night if you take a different puppy. You will always wonder what became of "the one."

Koots

by Koots on 09 April 2016 - 16:04

I think that for a person who has multiple dogs in their life, that usually there is one "special" dog with which they have a special connection. It sounds like this pup could be your "special" dog, and if you don't choose her then you may be regretting that decision, as you may never know that kind of connection that she is indicating you may have. You have a few more weeks to visit and decide, but I think that pup has chosen you for some reason, and that it would be nice for you to realize that reason. Please let us know what you decide, and I am curious that if you do chose this girl, what will develop as she grows up. Also, puppy pics are always appreciated....Teeth Smile


Markobytes

by Markobytes on 09 April 2016 - 17:04

Excelent post Jenni

by gsdkiera on 09 April 2016 - 17:04

Thanks, everyone. Jenni, your thoughts are especially appreciated as you are entirely correct and this is where my thoughts keep going with her. We wouldn't have to work much on focus, that's for sure; I've got it the minute I walk in the room. I plan to start interacting with her and a few of the other pups more on an individual basis over the next little while and see what happens, but I am really leaning toward this little sable female. Was jus concernd about whether I'd get enough drive out of her to have something to direct in our work, but the breeder keeps saying it won't matter even if I don't; she'll do what I want just because it will please me for her to do so. Will keep everyone posted!

TIG

by TIG on 10 April 2016 - 00:04

Thumbs Up To all who have commented. I agree.  Kiera I do believe you have been chosen. I actually have seen this several times in life - once with a young dog the breeder had held back as she was a much smaller pup and the breeder wanted to make sure everything was ok with her. A person or two had looked at her but it just was a no go. Until her to be owner walked in. There is love at first sight. This pup walked over, sat next to her and said quite clearly with her eyes and body - where have you been I've been waiting for you. And today many years later that bond is still as good.

I also think the breeder has it right " breeder keeps saying it won't matter even if I don't; she'll do what I want just because it will please me for her to do so." and if so this is going to be a very special dog for you.  Once you have had that kind of willingness you are spoiled forever and will always be looking for it again. Unfortunately it is getting less and less common in the breed. So I say even if it is only a possibility - grab for it and hope that's it's the brass ring.

Finally like all the others, I too am a believer in the gut. So here is wishing all good things for both of you  and please keep us posted.

PS in the spirit of full disclosure as I have told several times on this board, I was the beneficiary of being chosen by a dog. Not a pup but my Nemo who was 6 at the time he marched out to my car, climbed in and said I'm going with her and thank goodness Julia had the grace to say what Nemo wants, Nemo gets and we had such a wonderful 10 years together. I was blessed. And I was also blessed in the reverse. My Remy came to me at 11 months because when I met her the day she arrived in CA from Holland at 10 weeks of age, the most self assured pup I had ever seen - knowing nothing at all about her background and not caring (me the pedigree nut) - I said if the day ever comes you don't want her I'll take her. And you know I think somehow she knew that. Her nickname , the Reminator tho it came to be associated with her strength in protection actually came from the fact that she was extremely destructive and somewhat out of control that first year. But when she came to me, I never saw that side of her. She was home where she belonged.

 

 






 


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