Frustrated w/ waiting list issues for our new doodle. *updated*

[Three Doodle Life]

i'm feeling really frustrated with the waiting list for our litter. After doing a lot of research into different breeders and feeling I had found our best choice, I placed a deposit on a future litter back in December 2014. We are 4th on the list out of 10. The breeder has always advertised that they match pups once they are six weeks old and after a "meet and greet". From the beginning I've stressed to the breeder how important personality and temperament are and that looks are secondary. She did ask us to give preferences in regard to sex and color. I listed our first choice as brown with no preference on gender.

The pups were just born last week and nature being nature there were 8 pups instead of 10 and one being kept back for the breeder. I was really happy because of the remaining 7 there were 4 browns. The first three on the list wanted brown so I thought I might get to choose the last brown. I was excited but I figured choosing was weeks away. Two days later the breeder sent out a preliminary match list. I was really perplexed because I thought choosing went according to order of deposits after 6 weeks. I got additional emails asking me again what I could or could not accept. I reiterated that personality was key and I wanted to meet the pups before choosing. I said that I was open to either gender but that I still wanted brown first but that I might choose black depending on personality.

Tonight I got an updated preliminary match list and it now looks like people farther down the list are getting their preferences and I am getting what is left. That sounds really crass and I don't mean it that way. From the beginning I thought that you got to make your choice/match in order of the waiting list. I was looking forward to meeting the four remaining pups once the first three people chose. Now it looks like the pups are just assigned based on what other people say they have to have. There are three people behind me on the list that are getting their first choices when I am not. Does this sound right? Am I wrong about how waiting lists and choosing work? The person getting my first choice for color just did their deposit a few weeks ago and were almost last on the list.

Apologies for rambling. I'm just upset about this because I've been looking forward to it for months. I really wanted to meet the pups and pick the right one. :-(

[Diane and Alma]

Is there a group here on DK of people that have pups from this breeder?  If so, perhaps you can ask them how the picking process worked for them.

[Kaitee and Orwell]

Glad you straightened things out. I personally would never purchase I dog I haven't met or felt I had some kind of hand in choosing. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Glad to hear you are feeling more comfortable with the process.  We did not choose or see our puppies in person until it was time for pickup.   We were sent weekly updates and photos on the litter, but we did not learn what puppy the breeder picked for us until after they were 7 weeks old.  The breeder picks the best family for the individual puppy depending on its personality traits, etc.  At 7.5 weeks, she then emails a photo of the puppy that has been chosen for you and its personality test results.  At any time you can accept or refuse her choice, and if you refuse, you can wait for another litter.  I had no issue with the breeder picking the puppy for us as she is with them 24/7 and has a much better idea of their characteristics, etc than I would seeing them for only 15 minutes or so on one given day. It worked for us, but there may be others out there that are not comfortable with that.Try not to worry.  It will turn out the way it is supposed to.  I cannot wait to see your new little one!