Perceptions...and analyzing pups...

[Reuben]

I copied these definitions from a dictionary.

1. perceiving: the process of using the senses to acquire information about the surrounding environment or situation
"the range of human perception"
 
2. impression: an attitude or understanding based on what is observed or thought
"a news report that altered the public's perception of the issue"

3. powers of observation: the ability to notice or discern things that escape the notice of most people

4. psychology neurological process of observation and interpretation: any neurological process of acquiring and mentally interpreting information from the senses

But number 3 is probably the one that is very useful in picking the best pups from the litter...When we cant afford to keep the whole litter for whatever reason then we do the best we can when deciding which pups to keep. We do this in hopes of picking the best for hunting or working. This is most definitely not a science or even hundred percent accurate but we do all we can to increase our chances of picking the best pups...

What I look for...

A pup that is not hyper and one that can play hard and then go off exploring on its own...

A pup that is not too dominant

A pup that is built right

A pup that is intelligent and not shy...

A pup that uses its nose

As the pup gets a little older


A pup that ranges out and is independent

A pup that bays good

On the perception end of it...I look at a young dog and consider how it is hunted or lack of...the experience level of the handler...I see a trashy pup as a good hunting dog prospect and possibly a natural...I see a pup that gets caught up by a big boar in a bay pen and really gets beaten up...just to get back up and get right back in a the hogs face...I see this as a big plus in the pups favor...I look at all the little things and analyze them to decide what kind of dog a pup will make...

So how do you see it???

[J.W.]

New to the MB but thought I'd chime in on the topic. First off I try my level best to start with the right litter. I believe this is the most important choice. Next I exculde dogs that for one reason or another don't seem to be quite right. Then I immediately fall back on the tried and true method of eenie meenie miny mo. Never fails to whittle it down to the only one worth having. JM2C

[Reuben]

welcome aboard JW...

most all I know use the eenie meenie minie mo...might not help...but I tend to split hairs..

[Corey]

I agree for the most part, I will say for me independence is very important but I believe to a pup too independent leads to a harder to train dog for lack of eagerness to please.  And a pup that continues to get rolled by hogs in pen and yet goes back for more shows heart and determination, I would expect a bay dog to get out of the way and continue to do its job. that gets rolled consistently I see too dim to move or one that is going to be pretty rough. But that is simply my own interruption. All we can do is make educated or intictive guesses, put the time in em and hope we're close to right.

[Reuben]

I agree for the most part, I will say for me independence is very important but I believe to a pup too independent leads to a harder to train dog for lack of eagerness to please.  And a pup that continues to get rolled by hogs in pen and yet goes back for more shows heart and determination, I would expect a bay dog to get out of the way and continue to do its job. that gets rolled consistently I see too dim to move or one that is going to be pretty rough. But that is simply my own interruption. All we can do is make educated or intictive guesses, put the time in em and hope we're close to right.

Corey, you are right about to much grit if the pup gets too tight at a young age...but if you are looking for rough then that is a good clue for that trait...

and too much independence can be a pain in the rear...