The American Beagler Forum

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas about the best way to pick a pup out of a litter. I live in the City and can't keep all six of mine. So most of them go as pets. However, I would like to keep one. I always like the runt. The biggest pups always seem more setttled. I want the best hunter. With the easiest personality to deal with. Any ideas?

I like the one that is the boldest, first to try stuff.

Its a crap shoot know way to know how they will turn out. I just pick the one that catches my fancy. It may be looks or actions or both. I really like to keep 3 or 4 untel they start running then make my choice.
Roy

Spend alot of time with the litter and just watch them, everything that
they do keep notes. You will know wich one it will be but you have to wach
them alot.

There is no way to judge which pup is going to be best. Just pick a friendly, bold, well built pup. Shy dogs are a pain.

Its in the eyes boys!!!

Just a thought, Put the pups on a table, or something a little bit off the ground. Some pups will just fall off, too stupid, dont want them, others will stay way back from the edge, dont want them either, to skidish and backwards. The pup that walks around the edge tryin to find the best way down will probably be the smartest.. JMO.

Most of my hounds would have probably fallen off..

I have heard that you can test them by picking up the pup hold it in the palms of your hands belly up and if it does not squirm around then it is a dog that will trust you, but if it squirms around then it does not trust you thinking that you will let it fall. I don't know what that will exactly tell you about how the dog will hunt but maybe it tells how the dog will handle in the field.

If your not picky about color, size or looks just close your eyes and reach in the dog house and grab a pup. This is the one you need to keep because its all a crap shoot!

I tried the table thing and they all just set there, came back 30 minutes later and they had built a step stool to get down, only problem is I dont know which one did it?

Hey Swing , Its the one with his hammer hanging

My family has an old time proven standard for picking running dogs that is a little different.

Out of the pups that are not shy and have straight legs, pick the one with the biggest butt hole.

Folks laugh, but as I have said before, check running dogs (Beagles in this case) going down a road ahead of you and rank them in best to worse and then check and see if I'm not right!

In my experience if you watch them together outside your eye will always be drawn to the best one. Like someone said before, it will be bold outgoing and always causing a little bit of trouble ;-) I try to see which ones use themselves well and are not clumsy and never will I keep a shy pup.

Butthole size has never been a factor...LMAO!

Leah

there is at least 100 old tails on this subject but there is no way to tell what pup will be a world beater at 7 wks old. i've been ask that same question over and over. the advice i always give is. "YOU MUST FIRST PICK THE RIGHT LITTER OF PUPS AND THEN PICK THE PUP YOU LIKE BEST.... MALE, FEMALE, BOLD, NOT TO BOLD, COLOR, ECT. ECT. ECT. JUST GET THE ONE YOU WANT. BUT DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND FIRST PICK THE RIGHT LITTER OF PUPS AND YOUR CHANCES OF GETING A WORLD BEATER JUST INCREASED DRAMATICLY". Roger Ooten