Where to Find a Dog with the Right Stuff - Part 2

In Part 1 of this article series, I discussed buying a pup and considering bloodlines. Now we'll get into the best breeder and how to choose the right litter.

The most sensible way to find a top-notch pup for yourself is by doing heaps of research. Ask each breeder why they decided to breed the pup's parents. If they can't give you solid reasons, you might want to have a squiz elsewhere. Whenever we breed dogs, we ought to aim to better the breed by pairing parents with similar good qualities and different bad ones. Highlighting the good bits and reducing the not-so-good ones through selective breeding should sort out certain issues within a few generations. Before you snag a puppy from a breeder, make sure they're doing the right thing by breeding quality dogs for the right reasons.

When you're having a squiz at past litters, nearly every pup's gonna have a dead ringer look to either their mum or dad in looks and personality. Have a yarn with the litter owner to find out if either of the oldies have been bred before. If they have, grab the names and phone numbers of the people who snagged the earlier pups. Give these folks a bell and check if they're stoked with their buy. Let 'em know what you're planning to do with your doggo and see if they'd reckon the breeder's good for that. It's not a sure bet, but it's fair dinkum going to up your chances of snagging the sort of puppy you're after.

My favourite way of finding a puppy that fits my needs involves repeated breedings. I let someone else do the experimenting of seeing what the first litter turned out to be. If the pups from the first litter look good, have an excellent personality, want to please their owners, show the ability to be trained to a high level, have a strong desire to retrieve, and are genetically sound then I want one from the next litter. Repeated breedings of good dogs are the safest way for you to get a high-quality dog.

After you've done your homework and sussed out the top-notch litters available to you, it's time to hit the road. Have a squiz at as many litters as you can so you won't be second-guessing yourself later. It's bonkers how many people will snag a pup without doing any groundwork. They don't think about the next dozen years they'll be spending with the doggo. Just a heads up about going to check out potential litters, leave your chequebook at home! Visiting a litter of puppies can be a proper emotional experience. You might end up buying a dog that's not right for your future needs because you can't tell the kids or your missus, 'NO.'

Choosing the right litter is the trickiest part of buying a pup. Now's the time to pick the individual puppy you'll be spending heaps of time with for the next ten years. You after a little bloke or a little sheila? I get asked every day whether a male or a female makes a better retriever. I reckon there's little difference in the end result. Boys seem to grow up faster but that's not always a good thing. If you can handle the female's heat cycle, I don't reckon it matters which gender you go for. However, it can be real frustrating for your little sheila to come into heat the week of a national comp or when you've planned a hunting trip and your mates all have male dogs. In both situations, you and your doggo probably won’t get to join in the fun.

When it's time to pick your pup, how does anyone know which one to go for? I've heard about heaps of tests to suss out the seven to week old puppy in hopes of not stuffing it up. The problem with these tests is that pups aren't always consistent in their behaviour. The most bossy puppy in the litter might be out to it 'cause he's knackered himself at the tucker bowl earlier. I prefer to have a yarn with the breeder and ask him to lend a hand with my puppy choice since he's around the puppies more regularly. In the end, I reckon you let the puppy choose you. If a few have grabbed my attention, I muck around with them and pick the one that wants to hang around with me or won't stop nipping at my trouser leg. When in doubt, let your missus pick the puppy. We all know sheilas never stuff up and will therefore choose the top pup.

Stay tuned for the 3rd and final article in the series about choosing started vs. finished dogs.

Always check your local and state regulations related to dog training and the use of game birds on private and public property.