Advice on puppy selection day please!!!

[Monica And Cooper]

Hi doodle friends. Needed some friendly advice. Our puppy was just born almost a week after anticipated and while I'm completely elated I'm in somewhat of a pickle! Turns out the puppy pick weekend is the weekend of July 4 and my family and I are leaving town on a vacation that was planned and paid for before we decided we were getting a doodle. I thought of catching a plane from we we were traveling but the flight times aren't working out. The drive to pick the puppy is about a 9 hour drive one way. I asked if it could be done a day early but rules are strictly enforced for sat and sun every hour on the hour.
My husband thinks we should pick based on the puppy trainer test and breeder input but I was initially really opposed to not picking our own pup and I'm feeling really bummed.
I guess what it boils down to is has anyone gotten a puppy without being at the puppy selection and how did it work out for you?
Thank you so much

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Monica. First, I'm surprised that the breeder would schedule puppy-pick day for a holiday weekend over which so many people are traveling. That being said, my first labradoodle, Wally, was picked for us by his breeder. We selected our second labradoodle, Charlotte, without seeing her in person. We made our choice based on her breeder's recommendation and on weekly videos that we watched of her interacting with her siblings. Both are fabulous dogs. I'd say that if you trust your breeder and you are extremely clear in describing what characteristics are important to you, you should be just fine.  

[Monica And Cooper]

Hi Laurie. Thanks so much for the reassuring response. I guess the weekend lands on exactly 6 weeks. The breeder doesn't do videos, only weekly pics :(.
Wish us luck! :)

[VScott & Lloyd]

Congrats on the birth of your puppy!

We just got our puppy this weekend and we did not choose. There were 2 puppies left out of 8 when I inquired with the breeder and the puppies were 6 weeks old at that time. Both were cream males and the breeder said they really weren't much different. I told her about our family life and what we hoped for in a puppy. She choose for us and although we've only had him for a couple of days, he is the sweetest thing. Very engaged with us and catching on to potty training already.

That being said, I would go with the breeder input and the trainer test if you can't be there. Perhaps the breeder can take video of the puppies a few days before puppy pick day so you can see how they're interacting with each other (passive v. assertive, etc.) which can tell you about their temperaments. You can also read up or youtube videos on puppy temperaments and what to look for.

Good luck!

[Monica And Cooper]

Thank you!!! Congrats on your new puppy!!!! He's adorable! How exciting. Sounds like you are enjoying!!! Thank you for your response, I'm starting to feel better!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I picked both my puppies long distance, having seen them on the breeder websites and talking to the breeders. I couldn't love them more or ask for better dogs.

[Monica And Cooper]

Thank you!!!!!!

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

I have two doodles that were both chosen for me by the breeder, based on the description of what we wanted in personality first, and then color, sex, size. In both cases, I got exactly what I hoped for and they are now 6 1/2 and 5 yrs old.

If you have good communication with your breeder, she should be able to fulfill most if not all of your requests.  I feel a good breeder wants the best home for her pups and will try to make every match as best she can. She knows them the best, and to me, a 15 minute visit wouldn't tell me nearly enough to outweigh what she suggested anyway.  

Many people like to see the home that the pups are in and meet the parents, but that was not possible and I had a lot of faith in our breeder and she is a recommended breeder on DK so others had been to her home already.  Good luck, and my vote is for letting the breeder pick your pup, and go have a nice vacation.

[Monica And Cooper]

Thank you so much!

[Adina P]

I think it is totally okay to pick based on testing and breeder's knowledge of the puppy...PROVIDED that the breeder is a knowledgeable dog person and experienced breeder.  She is with them EVERY SINGLE DAY and should know them quite well. I would rather trust an experienced breeder than my one hour with a puppy.  I had first choice from a litter of 4 and although I wanted a dainty white female, I ended up choosing the HUGE RED MALE because he had the right temperament according to the breeder.  Although we drove to pick him up, I had never met him before that day.  I have NEVER regretted it!

[Monica And Cooper]

That's a great point. Thanks so much Adina

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I didn't pick either of my doodles! With my first one I had 7th pick of the litter and there were two that the breeder thought would be good for me but she picked out Loki, I was very nervous about not having met him first. When I went to pick him up I also met the other little boy she had thought would be great and he seemed nice as well but Loki was exactly what I wanted. With my second doodle I had first pick of the litter and the breeder (same as my first doodle) called me to tell me she had the perfect one for me and this time around I just trusted her with out question. Honestly every puppy is so adorable and I would have taken them all with me if I could have so I found it reassuring that someone with way more knowledge and experience picked my puppies. They see them day in and day out and know way more about them than I could have ever figured out in a quick visit. Good luck!

[Monica And Cooper]

Thank you so so much!!