This is a bit long I suppose only for the super enthused lab lover folks to read lol
First let me say that I know picking a pup can be hit or miss regardless of any kind of intention the pup shows at 7 weeks. I’ve heard the story of using a duck wing to see which one goes for it best/faster or brings it back and then the dog ends up a lemon while the laziest pup in the group ends up the Champ. All that aside, I have to say it was still intriguing to see what this pup I’m about to describe did yesterday while I was there to pick one out.
I’ve been to a couple of litters so far and have been actively searching for a good Hunt Dog with a decent pedigree. Not so much one filled with Champions but at a minimum Field/Duck - Hunt/Work dogs not just pets. These pups Great-Great Grandsire on the Sire’s side to the top is EBONSTAR LEAN MAC and on the Dam Sire’s Side to the Top is ‘NITRO’ YELLOWSTONE’S TNT EXPLOSION. Compared to those two Stars it’s been tapering off but still a lot of really good dogs in their blood line recently too. ANYWAY!
I went to see these pups with the strong intent of picking up a black male. He was actually the only black male left out of just two thrown. The other two blacks were females and the rest yellow.
I handled all of them to include the females even though I had no intent on picking a female. While they were all playing and the owner and I were just talking I gave a little whistle while I was kneeling. Immediately this Yellow Male runs right to me. I extend my hand to his head and he sits perfectly and looks right into my eyes as I pet him. The other pups paid no attention and kept playing. We talk, I handle the pups more. They all kind of move towards their kennel under the heat lamp. I give a little whistle again and here comes the Yellow Male again except this time he SITS FIRST before I can extend my hand to him and waits for the Love. Surely not mind blowing I know that, but with the rest of them just mulling around I thought it was pretty neat.
On top of that the Black Male was smaller than this Yellow Male by about 1 ½ shoulder to shoulder. This Yellow had a demeanor about him that was unlike the rest. He seemed much more confident. I also saw him a couple times put his nose to the ground quickly, curl his tail and start sniff hunting something, not sure what but after 10 seconds or so he’d go back to playing. The Black Male also was the runt of what was left of the litter. He wasn’t the Litter Runt but was #2 according to the owner. The black male was also smaller than his two black sisters and his yellow sister. Definitely smaller than the Yellow Lab that came to me and about the same if not a tad shorter than the other Yellow Male. The Yellow also had a better feeling coat than the black.
Sorry for all the repeat I’m trying to be as informative as possible.
So in the end the Yellow stole all my black male intentions away. I snapped a couple picks to try and compare them but think I failed to get a good one to go off of. Either way here they are.
I left a collar on the Yellow Male to somewhat reserve him for a few days while I decide. The owner had no problem at all and didn’t even ask for a down payment. Just said let me know in a few days and if you decide not I’ll mail your collar to you.
So what do you guys think? Any TIPS on picking a pup? How should I decide Yellow or Black in this case?
Here's the two rascals;
First let me say that I know picking a pup can be hit or miss regardless of any kind of intention the pup shows at 7 weeks. I’ve heard the story of using a duck wing to see which one goes for it best/faster or brings it back and then the dog ends up a lemon while the laziest pup in the group ends up the Champ. All that aside, I have to say it was still intriguing to see what this pup I’m about to describe did yesterday while I was there to pick one out.
I’ve been to a couple of litters so far and have been actively searching for a good Hunt Dog with a decent pedigree. Not so much one filled with Champions but at a minimum Field/Duck - Hunt/Work dogs not just pets. These pups Great-Great Grandsire on the Sire’s side to the top is EBONSTAR LEAN MAC and on the Dam Sire’s Side to the Top is ‘NITRO’ YELLOWSTONE’S TNT EXPLOSION. Compared to those two Stars it’s been tapering off but still a lot of really good dogs in their blood line recently too. ANYWAY!
I went to see these pups with the strong intent of picking up a black male. He was actually the only black male left out of just two thrown. The other two blacks were females and the rest yellow.
I handled all of them to include the females even though I had no intent on picking a female. While they were all playing and the owner and I were just talking I gave a little whistle while I was kneeling. Immediately this Yellow Male runs right to me. I extend my hand to his head and he sits perfectly and looks right into my eyes as I pet him. The other pups paid no attention and kept playing. We talk, I handle the pups more. They all kind of move towards their kennel under the heat lamp. I give a little whistle again and here comes the Yellow Male again except this time he SITS FIRST before I can extend my hand to him and waits for the Love. Surely not mind blowing I know that, but with the rest of them just mulling around I thought it was pretty neat.
On top of that the Black Male was smaller than this Yellow Male by about 1 ½ shoulder to shoulder. This Yellow had a demeanor about him that was unlike the rest. He seemed much more confident. I also saw him a couple times put his nose to the ground quickly, curl his tail and start sniff hunting something, not sure what but after 10 seconds or so he’d go back to playing. The Black Male also was the runt of what was left of the litter. He wasn’t the Litter Runt but was #2 according to the owner. The black male was also smaller than his two black sisters and his yellow sister. Definitely smaller than the Yellow Lab that came to me and about the same if not a tad shorter than the other Yellow Male. The Yellow also had a better feeling coat than the black.
Sorry for all the repeat I’m trying to be as informative as possible.
So in the end the Yellow stole all my black male intentions away. I snapped a couple picks to try and compare them but think I failed to get a good one to go off of. Either way here they are.
I left a collar on the Yellow Male to somewhat reserve him for a few days while I decide. The owner had no problem at all and didn’t even ask for a down payment. Just said let me know in a few days and if you decide not I’ll mail your collar to you.
So what do you guys think? Any TIPS on picking a pup? How should I decide Yellow or Black in this case?
Here's the two rascals;
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she's gunna kill me 
