Choosing and Evaluating Show Puppies

Question:
 What do you look for in your breed when you are seeking a show potential puppy to buy, or to keep for yourself?
Attitude - which pup do you lean towards?
What conformation qualities do you seek out?
Do you choose your puppy from stacked photos, or from a natural stack? (Or combination)
At what age do you make your first, and final decisions?
What are things in your particular breed that you can, or cannot see/evaluate when the dog is a puppy?
What is the trait that MAKES your breed, and what weight do you give it when choosing a puppy to keep and show?
How 'predictable' is your breed? Can you choose a nice puppy, and be virtually 'certain' it will mature nicely? Or is it a complete educated guess?
Again, I will reply soon, but did not want to include my reply with the questions!

Answer:
 Head type, Length of loin, Tight feet, Shoulder angles, and tailset, as well as rear angle.....but i am a stickler for a head.
I like forward outgoing puppies, but i also want them to be in betweeners, not overly dominant nor submissive.
I prefer a natural stack at a young age and then like to see both as they progress.
First decision, well i watched harry from day one to week eight...i made my decision week eight.
As a puppy i think width of chest can be a hard thing to determine...not so much if they have it, but will they keep it. Also spring of rib, as with age it can change. I do see tight feet, width of muzzle and layback of muzzle as well as length. If it is to long as a puppy, it won't get much better as an adult IMO.
To me, our breed is moderately predictable...honestly it is more which lines are predictable or dependable for certain traits than the breed as a whole.
So far, when i have picked a puppy it has turned out the way we thought he/she would. Loki included...once i looked at his pictures with a learned eye, i saw what he is now, in those pictures. But there is no CERTAINTY in picking any puppy.
Great thread
Sarah

Answer:
 I am also really interested in this, when I start my own dog grooming or dog training business I would like to show (and breed) poodles and possibly show other dogs. I would probably only show my own dogs so I want to know what to look for in a puppy.

Answer:
 Above all else, I would recommend locating a good mentor, even years before you get 'into' a breed. This will give you time to watch pups mature, and learn as you go before you select your first show prospect.
But - for my questions...
What do you look for .....
I seek out overall type first. Good bone, square pup with a nice topline and lots of head without being cheeky. I want a square short wide muzzle with good chin.
Attitude.. Most of my own litters have been very similar in temperament from one pup to the next - but I love those pups who always seem to be standing out, the 'look at me' attitude.
What conformation qualities...
In boxers, heads. A dark eye, good pigment. For ME personally - toplines are a must, as well as nice feet.
Do you choose your puppy from stacked photos, or from a natural stack? (Or combination)
I choose the pup who can put him/herself together standing naturally - the puppy I dont have to put together on a grooming table. The one who looks good as soon as you put him/her down. I also want to watch the pups move, and see who covers ground easily, and looks effortless when it moves.
At what age do you make your first, and final decisions?
At birth I will make a mental note of length of back and rib, as well as first impressions. However, in boxers there is no way you can choose a show potential pup prior to a minimum of 8 weeks of age. Too many things change, and the pups go through alot of growth. I usually make first serious evals at 8 weeks, and finals at 10 weeks.
What are things in your particular breed that you can, or cannot see/evaluate when the dog is a puppy?
Heads in Boxers change alot. A LOT. Usually after a few litters you can begin to predict, but, you have to know the lines behind your dogs well. Even then, its still a gamble at times.
What is the trait that MAKES your breed, and what weight do you give it when choosing a puppy to keep and show?
Overall type in Boxers - with special attention on the head, and the square outline. I wont keep a poor head, or a long back. But, those are my personal pet peeves. Years ago, I kept a bitch with a lesser head than I prefer, and I always look back knowing I should have placed her sooner.
How 'predictable' is your breed?
Educated guess! With boxers, you can make fairly accurate predictions, but they still change alot. I personally have been fairly lucky and have had the last dogs I kept mature as I expected. (Ella, actually better!) I loved her from birth, but she was my exception, and I was prepared to NOT keep her if she wasnt the best.
I always tell people DO NOT GET ATTACHED to one particular pup in a litter! Stay open minded, and watch them mature before making ANY decisions on what pup you will keep. If you decide on a color, or sex too early, you will limit yourself, and possibly make a wrong decision. This happens to MANY people, and its important to try your hardest to prevent leaning towards a certain pup in your litter too early! (And dont eliminate a nice puppy too early either!)

Answer:
 Going to answer the question for the Beauceron on this one.
For showing? Dominant Males, they have the most attitude and are most attention grabbing in the ring... it's like when you see them you hear "I'm too Sexy" blareing in the background :) For a pet, an "inbetween female"
In a puppy? I look for a pup who can move well, and looks like they will have good overall type.
I like to see a movie... (remember, Haunter came from France, first time I saw him was the first time I met him) of th epuppy running, playing, interacting with littermates, being held in a stack being baited...
Depends... if the breeder or I is on the fence about which is the best pup for me I wait.
Double Dew Claws... MUST have, or I have no interest in even looking at that puppy.
Like I said it's the "Substance" thing in Beaucerons, otherwise for color, angulation, bite, etc. it's all pretty strightforeward.

Answer:
 I look for temperament above all else. The pup should be friendly, outgoing, and very social towards strangers -- It should not mind being picked up, held, or pet and examined in various places by a stranger. It should only be as afraid as sudden movements and noises as is normal -- nothing overly jumpy.
For additude, I lean towards the confident, driven pup. The fearless pup that is first to do everything.
For conformation, I look for a square puppy with nice movement and straight legs.
I make most of my decision according to lines and temperament, and just hope for the best as far as conformation. Almost any Belgian can be finished. If there are puppies equal in temperament, I will choose the best looking one. I am not opposed to waiting until the pup is older.
There isn't really anything a Belgian MUST have at such a young age. Belgians need upright ear, but most will not have upright ears at that age (my boy did! Means he's going to have nice, small ears).
Belgians are pretty predictable. They make several changes while growing up, but usually revert back to the way they were before. There is alot about my puppy we knew from day one that have proved true.

Answer:
 nice short hocks, rounded forface . well placed stop. well placed ears, dark almond eye. good upper arm. wonderful temperment. usualy look from around 3 weeks and then decide at 8.

Answer:
 Wow.. in Boxers usually the better dogs end up in the ring. Occasionally a pet slips through, but usually the owner gets the message that the dog wont win at larger shows. (Or even at some smaller ones!)
We have to be extremely choosy over what we keep to show, because there are SO many things in our breed that are 'must haves' topline, heads above all else.
8 weeks is when I usually start seriously looking, before that, its a moot point. (However, you CAN usually eliminate dogs from 'contention' before that age!)
Im enjoying this topic!

Answer:
 It's one thing I'm thankful for in a way, that way it's easier to choose a puppy based on temperament rather than looks. :) Of course, you may never get that Best in Show puppy you want, but you'll get a puppy to stand for the judge, and in this breed, just getting one to stand for a judge rather than bite them is what you want (very common in Belgians to dislike being touched, hence why temperament is very important to me)!
There aren't many DQs for a Belgian, and not many serious faults, and then you get so many different styles of Belgian (American, European, Australian etc) that opinions will differ from judge to judge, and since there isn't alot of breed competition, they are pretty easy to finish.
My dog's niece is Championship pointed, and she has a hook tail, big ears, a cowlick down her nose, round eyes, missing teeth, no coat, no bone, a very uneven topline, she's easty-westy, etc. She's atrocious lol. Yet she is definatly going to get her Championship. She'll just never win a BIS. ;)