Question of the Week

Laura Libner

Grand Rapids, Michigan

I start grading my puppies in a litter between eight to 12 weeks of age. Some of it can depend on the lines, but I can usually tell during that time who I want to hold back and who I can let go of. 

Ronnie Irving

United Kingdom

A colleague of mine in Border Terriers once answered that question by saying: “Not until at least a year old!” There’s probably some merit in that view!

Janice M. Leonard

Denver, Colorado

After 60-plus years in Shelties, I start formulating my opinion of a litter at birth with the obvious — to me — virtues and faults. There are things we look for each week that keep a pup in the promising pool. At six weeks we start measurements, and each week there on we worry about big enough or too big. Shelties go through so many changes, and it is vital to know how the line matures. The details in head can keep you surprised well up into a year or more. If you like to gamble, then Shelties are a breed for you.

Tom Bradley

Watertown, New York

First of all, there’s always a large portion of luck, but with my Pointers, I start literally at day one. Special attention went to the girls, as I rarely kept any males. Then color and markings got attention. I never kept any lemons, but that was just a personal preference. So, in the usual multi-colored litter, I would be down to three to four girls. Grading was fairly easy at that point as, in many cases, they grade themselves. Temperament, attitude and markings. 

I bred infrequently, so each litter got a lot of hands-on attention. At 10 to 12 weeks, I’d sell the “pets” and keep the next three to four until they were about 16 weeks. At that point, I could be down to one to two keepers.

I don’t think that this is foolproof, but, for me, it usually worked.

It’s important to realize that time and the number of litters that you produce have a huge influence on your decisions. 

There are characteristics in breeding Pointers that I have always found interesting. In a multi-colored litter, I often found that the newborns separated themselves by color. Now, not always, but frequently enough to be noticeable. This even before their eyes were open and less as they matured. 

Breeding Pointers without regard to color can be dangerous. Liver and lemons are color linked (liver or flesh-colored noses), as are orange and blacks (black noses). Too much breeding only within these links is harmful. I have long professed that liver is the base color of the breed. Every two to three litters requires breeding to a good liver dog for future soundness and health. In most cases, liver dogs are not fancy, but they are usually very sound and carry all the necessary qualities for future good health. In conformation competition today you will see very few liver dogs, while in major field trial competition livers dominate.

I bred my favorite and best black-and-white bitch to Mr. Wehle’s liver dog National Field trial Champion Elhew Italy. First, she had been bred three times but never produced a single puppy. “Tim” was 11 years old, but managed to get the job done. Four liver puppies. Mr. Wehle kept the best bitch and the other three went with great success to field folks as personal shooting dogs. I was no longer breeding Pointers at that time, but felt that this breeding created for me the best stepping stone possible. 

Marlene Keene

Elk Grove, California

We evaluate our puppies from day one of their life until they are six to seven weeks old. 

Mary Dukes

Marshville, North Carolina

Although I don't actively breed any longer, I suspect this is very breed specific. With Whippets, I used to do a preliminary grade at eight weeks. At that point, the show-potential puppies could be sifted from the pet puppies, and the pet puppies could go to their new homes. I would run the potential keepers on until 12 weeks and then reassess. I tried not to look at them analytically much in between.

Linda Tilka

Madeira Beach, Florida

I start grading my pups the day they come into this world, and I never stop until I have picked the pup I want to show and keep. Every day they change a little, but I eventually gravitate to the one. If you know your breed, it does not take long to know which is the chosen one. The rest of the litter is sold to people who want what that pup offers. It's fun watching what you create turn into something beautiful.

Linda Cooper 

Alexandria, Virginia

I was taught by an old-time breeder, 30 years ago, that a breeder has an idea at birth, due to being wet, what could be a promising pup by the "feel." IYKYK!

And the ideal ages to do structure evaluation is eight AND 12 weeks ... then 16. Of course, depending on the breed, watching for bites. However, surprisingly a lot of breeders of Working and Sporting breeds do not seem to understand that the lower jaw grows MUCH slower than the top. So you can sell a show prospect at eight weeks with a scissors bite that may go off before six months. Having large raw bones to chew on for a good year or more helps strengthen the jaw and neck muscles.

You can have a good idea by eight weeks on front and rear angulation, but it is best to grow them out until at least 16 weeks. I cannot understand breeders who send puppies out the door, even to pet home at eight weeks because they are literally still babies without being trained to grooming, lead, etc.  

Jeanne Nonhof

Plymouth, Wisconsin

I am watching them from the moment they are born. However, hard and fast rule; Eight weeks is the drop-dead day! For my breed, after 60 years in Samoyeds, that is my experience. 

Liz Thorpe

Fox Island, Washington

I look at them at eight weeks. I invite several breeders and owners over for a puppy party. Together we grade them. I find the input from several people helpful.  

Of course, I’ve been watching them from birth and making decisions as they mature.

Francee Hamblet

Mounds, Oklahoma

I start grading puppies the first moment I have my hands on them. And that process continues until they leave, either for their new homes or until they pass away in my arms. Grading is a lifetime process.

Helen Dorrance

Leander, Texas

According to the late Pat Hastings, the best age to grade a litter is eight weeks old (plus or minus four days if you absolutely can't grade them on their eight-week birthday). Supposedly they look the most like what they will look like as an adult. I have found that to be very true over the years. 

I recently had this proven to me with a pick-of-the-litter Golden bitch who was returned to me at 10 months of age because her first-time exhibitor decided "she would never finish owner-handled and she didn't look like any of the Goldens in his area." Indeed, she was returned at a particularly awkward age and reminded me of my first show dog where the breeder told me to put him in a closet and take him out again when he is three years old. Luckily, I didn't have to wait that long, because two months later the bitch was looking better and better, and now at 19 months of age she looks just like she did when I picked her out at eight weeks of age, and I am absolutely thrilled with her appearance.

The one thing that does seem to be impossible to assess at eight weeks of age (at least in my experience in Golden Retrievers) is tail carriage. As confirmed by Pat Hastings, even dogs with a low tail set can end up with a gay tail — an especially unattractive feature.

Julianne McCoy

South Carolina

I start evaluating my Pug puppies at four months. Sometimes I may have a puppy that has a slower development and will watch for another three months before determining if the puppy is conformation worthy, and at that point will make the decision to pet a puppy out.

Carol Horner

Bluffton, South Carolina

Actually, I give them a good look the day following the whelping. I’ve bred Irish Setters for 30 years, and have striven for a notable “look,” so my babies have been remarkably consistent, even from birth.

As weeks pass, there are times when pups reach small developmental stages: eyes and ears mature, etc. Then at about four to six weeks they are completely weaned, and I see independence, fearlessness and adventure-seeking.  

(Fellow breeders may come over to help with photos about six to seven weeks, and offer opinions.)

I’ve had many puppy parties around eight weeks, where local breeders and club members come over and we stack the munchkins, making notes on each one, never placing them in any order, because I have my choices in my mind.  

We look at movement, but I believe that structure will promote correct gait, unless a puppy is lazy. Even so, they usually outgrow laziness.  

The best way for a breeder to truly grade the litter is to observe them as “free range”

puppies, where we see the dominant ones, the most inquisitive ones, and those demanding extra attention. 

That’s usually the Bad Boy, and one I’ll keep!

My best advice to novice breeders is to have a couple of mentors willing to take the time to guide you, but only take advice from breeders whose line you admire, litter after litter!

As years pass, you’ll realize YOU are the best judge of your puppies!

Laura Coomes 

Ocala, Florida 

I like to grade the day they are born and seven weeks for a Great Dane. I don’t finish picking until second growth, and that is at 12 weeks. 

Wyoma Clouss

Meridian, Idaho

The short answer is we watch constantly, and quality has to be there from the beginning. Generally, we expect that what we see at eight weeks will be a decent predictor of the adult, assuming all the details are good. 

But Miniature Schnauzers have a two-inch window for size, DQ under 12 inches or over 14 inches. Practically speaking, I’m aiming for 13 to 14 inches. So we will measure for height at eight weeks, making our first formal decisions of quality and size. We measure any keepers again at four months, and evaluation may continue up to a year. I’ve never wanted to waste the time and effort of putting a dog in show coat if the quality wasn’t there!

We are so excited to be expecting our first litter in 15 years! It’s an outcross, so our fingers are crossed, too! 

Patti More

North Fort Myers, Florida

While one watches puppies from birth, the perfect age to determine your show-quality puppies for a Flat-Coated Retriever litter is at eight weeks on the dot! While a pup may be determined to be show quality later than this, your initial show-quality pups will remain show quality.