Just learned of our place on the waitlist

[Anita Lee]

The breeder just let us know we'll be 8th out of 12 spots so we will have five to choose from.

The breeder guides the choosing but it's ultimately up to the families. It's our first dog and we want a dog that's mellow (so I can bring to work) and is naturally great at obedience work. And, as a big bonus, a dark apricot color.

Pics of the litter at 1 week below.. How many of these will be apricot (either light/dark)? I'd also love to hear everyone's thoughts on the likelihood of getting the perfect puppy with our place in the waitlist.. I'm sure they are all great but don't know how many mellow dogs you can have in a litter! We're definitely somewhat worried about getting a dog that is hard to train or unruly.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Looked at your pics-very cute--but color does change a lot--the lightest one may end up being the darkest red...when they are older and you go to visit, lift up the hair and see if it is lighter or darker at the skin--that is a hint of which way it MIGHT go--but these will probably all be light or dark apricot. See the one with all the kinks in the hairs at the top? Will be curlier fleece or even very curly compared to the others who will be wavy. 

[Anita Lee]

This is so helpful! I think it's very tempting to think that you can find "just the right one" when you hear stories about how other people picked their puppy or were magically picked by their puppy. After reading some of these responses, we're certainly open to different personality types as it sounds like environment and experiences trump personality at 8 weeks.

What do you think of personality tests for dogs? As a breeder, what is/are the most important thing(s) you use to judge a puppy's fit for a family?

[Ginny Nightingale]

I do not do a test per se, but because they are all around me all day, I can see which ones are a bit more "alpha"--the first one to try the water bowl, the first one to enter a new area, etc--the others watch and learn-those are often the ones that are the easiest to train--not because they are mellow, but because they are smart--they get it. If the people getting the pup are older with grown kids, we often place the pup that likes to snuggle more than play and if it is a playful happy pup, it might be great with a family with young children, although the parents have to be informed as to how to raise a pup in that situation.It can be a disaster if not done right...but there is no hard and fast rule to it--

My best trained doodle (I have three) is the smartest by far--and she was a challenge as a pup because she had to be convinced that I was in charge, but is a fully certified therapy dog now and the best dog I have ever had--and I have had quite a few!

[Kaitee and Orwell]

I would definitely say be as open as possible. I am one of those people who were magically picked by their puppy. There was literally no other puppy I would have gotten... it was him, or I would wait for another litter. Because of my happiness with my boy, I think it's best to go in with limited thoughts and try to turn on your intuition. If this is your first time picking a pup, try to be as calm as you can. I know I was nervous to start out, but there really should not be any pressure. 

[Adina P]

Mellow is not necessarily easier to train. 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I would also rely heavily on the breeder's recommendation, because you will only be there for a short time, and you might get a true picture of the puppies' personalities during the brief time that you are there to choose. Try to be as clear as possible when you describe what it is you are looking for in terms of temperament, and allow the breeder to help guide the selection. The more descriptive you are, the more likely you will be to get the right match for you and your family. And if the breeder posts videos online, watching them from week to week will be very informative. Oh, and have an open mind about which gender you choose. I read so much about the differences between males and females, but in the end, I think that gender isn't as important as personality. Lots of luck to you!