Re: [pyrnet] choosing a show puppy

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/1/00 11:06:23 AM Eastern Standard Time, JKW9298@aol.com 
writes:

<< Isnt it basically true you wont be totally able to tell if a puppy is show 
 quality until it is a little older? >>


<<There's differing opinions on this, but several professional handlers (who
handle and have been around Pyrs, not smaller breeds) have told me that
what you have at 8 weeks is what you'll have as an adult.  If there's a
fault at this point, it will stay.>>

Any assessment at almost any age under 3 years carries some risk.  That's 
where your good breeder comes into it.  6 to 8 weeks is a wonderful time to 
see what's there and again at 6 months and then maybe forget about it until 
two plus years.  There are always exceptions on both sides, but in the main 
this is true.  So a well chosen puppy from an experienced breeder with good 
gene stock that they know very well, is not too much of a gamble.  Now, how 
good is good?  There is good, very good, and out of this world good.  No one 
can tell about much past the good stage as puppies, but that's all any of us 
can expect anyway.  If you want the top dog in the country, you will have to 
wait until it is about 3 years old, find someone foolish enough to sell it 
and mortgage your house to buy it.   

Joe