How did you choose your dog? Or was it the dog who chose you? Are you happy with your choice?

[Camus]

I wonder how you guys chose your doodle? Did you have a chance to see and choose from several puppies or dogs observing them when playing and interacting with them? What were the signs that indicated you that that one was yours? Or did you just choose one by picture and couldn't see any personality in him yet? Did the breeder guide you? Are you happy with your choice? 

What is your opinion about PAT or Volhard test and other similar tests?

Choosing a puppy is as difficult as choosing a wife, isn't it? Or do I complicate things too much?

[Jennifer and Jack]

For me, Jack being social was very, very, important. I wanted a dog I could bring anywhere and do anything with, I didn't want him to be fearful of anything.. I had no idea just how much I would get that!! He is also very sweet, possessive of human beings with other dogs but not me Go figure..

[Camus]

These are my thoughts too. I agree with you completely. 

Your story is very similar to mine. 

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I got to choose Bexter.  I wanted a boy & there were 4 boys in the litter, all red which is what I wanted (the 2 parents I chose had been bred together in the past & always had red pups thus far).  The mom is super mellow & the breeder said her pups were usually pretty laid back, which is what I wanted.  When I visited (and I visited TWICE) I did the Volhard test (or at least a lot of it...) and immediately 2 pups emerged as my favorites because they stayed around me.  The other 2 weren't really interested in people.  I wanted a social pup, so they weren't options for me really.  By cuteness, they were all very equal.  Actually Bexter was the lightest red color and the biggest (and I thought I wanted the smallest, reddest).  Anyway, I did the test on the pups & EVERY TIME Bexter was the winner for me.  He was submissive and he was very affectionate!  I KNOW he was meant for me.  I waited a year & it was SO WORTH IT!

[Camus]

Hey! This test is great, isn't it? 

Off topic: I hope Bexter feels better. 

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

Hudson was chosen for us by his breeder. He was shipped, so we didn't have a chance to meet him in person before he arrived. He is a perfect match for our family. We just got Lily and I thought it would be fun picking out a pup from the litter. It was a lot harder than I expected! I went there thinking we were getting a curly male pup and we did pick one of those, but then wanted to see the females just to be sure. Well, we fell in love with Lily and changed our minds. We wanted low key and she was more low key than the males, but she was still interested in playing and interacting with us. We didn't pick her up until 2 wks later, and in the mean time I kept doubting my decision because although she seemed perfect for us, it wasn't what I went to the breeder thinking we were getting. We have had her for a little over 2 weeks now, and so far I couldn't be happier that we chose her. I'm a big believer in personality/temperment over looks. (although we do think Lily is adorable :) 

[Camus]

Great story! It seems that there are quite a bit of people like us who change their mind and get a girl instead of a boy or vice versa at the last moment.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Well you did get a doodle, not much chance of getting anything but cute here. Never saw an ugly doodle in my life.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Our breeder picked both of ours and did a great job. However, I do trust in letting things happen as they are meant to, so I took that approach with my doodles as well. The first time was mostly based on personality and sex and the second was based on looks as the mother dog has a history of having outstandingly friendly and loving pup, so personality wasn;t an issue. Both are great doodles and I can't imagine life without them.

[Camus]

You are lucky! I love the picture "I heart you".

[Camus]

It is not silly! I am a very intuitive person. I saw the picture of the first female puppy from the first breeder and just understood it wasn't mine. I can't explain that. I really wanted a girl, she was less expensive than Camus, it was much closer than the other place but I didn't take her. 

Thank you for sharing your story.

I like the name your daughter (?) chose for the puppy. 

[Camus]

LOL. Thanks for sharing!

It could be an interesting discussion "Stories of our pets' names".

By the way, there are two Camus on this forum. One is named after the writer Albert Camus, and ours was named after the cognac.  

[Phoebe's Mom]

I had researched the breed for months and the made a spreadsheet of breeders.  I narrowed it down to our breeder as she sounded so friendly and forthcoming with info over the phone. We were supposed to take a puppy from a later litter but there were two openings in Phoebe's litter and she asked if we wanted one of them. We chose, from pics only, between a tiny black girl and our Phoebe who was the largest female in the litter of ten pups (5 girls and 5 boys).  We had her flown in from Arkansas and it was the best decision ever.  Phoebe is perfect for us in every way...active when we need her to be but she quiets down immediately and demands very little from us.  We are so blessed to have opted on taking a puppy earlier than we had planned because we got the perfect dog for us!