Well you may remember four weeks ago tomorrow I posted that my Lab had a healthy litter of nine! We still have a very healthy litter of nine and one healthy runt called 'Ruby' who is rapidly catching her brothers and sisters up.
Well, I have a waiting list of buyers who have all been today and put down thier deposits and had a puppy cuddle and fuss over mum.
Now all of them wanted to choose today, which I told them they couldn't do as they weren't old enough and not showing enough personality yet.
I have said they can chose in 2 weeks time, but how do you stage it?
Do you let them come on a first come first served basis, as two ladies really want to be the first to chose so they get the pick of the litter!!! None of them are planning on breeding from them and I have placed endorsments on the pups to monitor this, but I think the competiveness in the buyers is making them want to chose first. Which part of me can understand.
So really just want some advice how experienced breeders deal with competative buyers!!!!!

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Down on the farm I have my human babies, my dog babies, my cow's babies. Somewhere I might try and find time for me!!!!!

Its good that they are keen.

From my personal experience as a buyer of a pup, I got to view the litter of 4 pups at 4 weeks old and only one was left unreserved (which was Ollie). So the choice was simple; either him or a pup from another litter, and obviously we couldn't not have him.

I think its good to make them wait until 6 weeks as there is much more personality there. Some breeders choose the pups for them, to make sure the right pups are going to the right homes. Maybe this is something you may wnat to consider? Or if you want them to choose, I would go on who contacted you first as to who gets the pick of the litter.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

I have been very fortunate that all my puppy buyers have agreed to be led by me, I didn't let them choose until quite late as I was keeping but they all described their existing dogs personalities, their hopes for their puppies and we went from there.

Working homes had priority picking, and I more or less chose the others for them with photo's and descriptions of personality.

It worked out very well in the long run

At 5 weeks we viewed the litter and discussed with the breeder which ones we liked the best. We were told that there would be no decision until 6 weeks of age and that the breeders would allocate the puppies according to whether they thought the pup matched us, so we were led by them. We didn't put a deposit down which was good as it gave both parties the right to refusal without the complication of money having changed hands. As it happened we got the pup that we had liked the most anyway .

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To an extent I usually select/recommend puppies to the potential owners at 6-8 weeks (some longer if they are late bloomers, remembering they have to stay 12weeks)-if someone with kids is on the list, I'd pick the biggest, calmest pup (and apart from my pop the biggest have all been most docile) the feisty ones go to more experienced no kids homes, and the tinies go to people who have had toy terriers before, and I am confident they will care for a tiny Properly.
I hate always mentioning size with YT, but it does play a big factor in matching puppies with homes. There have been a few times when the puppy opposite from what I would have suggested is selected by the buyer- one I did let go like that and oh how I regret that (I had been assured the kids would be ok with the 2nd biggest boy, but he has had a few accidents in his new home) the others I refused (the littler ones usually) and offered to help find another breeder for them- and of course I got yelled at and huffed with for saying no to one lady; also got called a pathetic joke by her because she has every right to pick a puppy (she hadn't even been on a waiting list btw) by standing in the middle of the room 1st visit and just pointing to a pup, and didn't even want to hold her 1st, yet turns out she wanted her for breeding ... And did you know that putting endorsements on a pup obviously makes you narsacist!?

I do think that many pet buyers need a little more education on the variation of personalities within even one breed, as thru read breed standards (sometimes) and think that is Exactly what they will get- you should expect the standards temperament, but all dogs will have individual dogyalities!

(Sorry for the rant btw!)

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"...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..."


'You know, I've given the matter some thought, and I think I would be willing to be a house pet to a race of super intelligent aliens; the learning opportunities would be abundant. Additionally, I like having my belly scratched.' Dr Sheldon cooper. *

I don't think it shoud JUST be on a first come, first serve basis as some people may not be suitable for certain puppies (as mentioned). I know some people will give potential show/working homes higher priority. Just don't let yourself be bullied into who gets to pick which puppy or made to feel bad for saying no, you should get the final say and if any of the pairings don't feel right then put your foot down!

Thank you for your opinions,
I am edging on the side of choosing for them as they are going to be asking for my opinion anyway.
One lady is taking two boys, (she works and lives on a farm like us and has the space, she has just lost the last of her last pair of brothers she had to old age so I am OK with letting her have two, if she hadn't had experience with two before I may not of let her take two) for her I am thinking that she should have the two middle boys, as in not the most dominant or the mildest mannered one but the two in the middle so there is not too much of a power struggle between them. What do you think? She has asked me to chose for her.
The runt is going to my parents so she is already spoken for, then it is just me to chose one! Which is the hardest decision because they are all our babies!!!!

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Down on the farm I have my human babies, my dog babies, my cow's babies. Somewhere I might try and find time for me!!!!!

I have refused four people, one had too much of a sob story with their old dogs, one wanted a chunky show shape when mine are from a clearly successful pedigree line of field trial labs! So I told her she would need to find a show style breeder, she then replied that she liked my dogs shape?!! One told me through the questionaire I send to them that she would be at work all day, but her old dog was fine with it and the pup would get used to it!! And the last one was just rude, so I told her they were all sold!

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Down on the farm I have my human babies, my dog babies, my cow's babies. Somewhere I might try and find time for me!!!!!

For some reason, considering the amount of dogs I have owned, I have only chosen a puppy twice. The first was a border collie and as it was about 35 years ago I cant really remember but pretty sure she was quite young. And the other one was my current youngest and I chose her at 4 days with the proviso that if she did not grow up as I expected I would not have her. She was spot on!
I have had other collie pups but I have just been to see the litter and come away with the puppy so a case of choosing among those left or walking away if I did not like them.
When I have bred I have only had one litter that was big enough to give a choice and they were reserved by colour and sex when they were tiny and by character later on within those choices later on.
To be honest, if I had booked a puppy from a litter I would expect to get what I wanted and would want to be committed earlier than 6 weeks.

I chose my puppy at 4 weeks; it just happened I was the first person to visit so I got first pick.

I think your idea about the 2 'middle' boys going to the same home is very sensible, OP.