Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject: When can you tell if a pup has any show potential?
OK, now I know Alfie has only been home a few days but I just wondered at what age can you tell if a pup has any show potential?
We got Alfie as a pet, but would possibly be interested in taking him to a few local shows (mainly for fun) if he is worth showing at all. His pedigree gives him a reasonable chance of being 'ok' although the breeder couldn't give much guidance as to the best of the litter to pick with showing in mind.
As I said, this is only an idea we are toying with and he may be absolutely nothing near show quality and that's fine - no harm done for asking though!
Pop the first few lines of his pedigree up and we'll have a look
Generally, breeders look from about 4 weeks onwards, although in some cases there is always one or two that stand our even from birth. Nothing is ever guaranteed though; there are so many 'hurdles' to overcome; height, teeth, bone, coat, feet, tail - they can all change between 8 weeks and 6 months.
You can really tell ebtween about 7 and 8 weeks. They go off for a few months from then, growing, going through horrible ugly stages and then tend to come back if you keep the substance and weight on them nicely, at about 6 months to come out - then when they shoot up again at 8/9 months they get a bit ugly again
But generally if the structure is right it will stay about right, just they go skinny, leggy, straight in the stifle, long in the body and so on for a while
Here is Bryson at the moment in a skinny, leggy growth stage - he is 17 weeks.....
He has the general outline you would want on the stand at this age - not perfect, and certainly not a perfect stand, but something along these lines.... do you see this in your pup?
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
Oh I'm glad you posted that picture- I am going through a phase of wondering if Ida is a bit of a porker or not...she's far more 'solid' than any other pup I've had and I spend far too much time looking at her from all angles wondering it I'm feeding her too much! I normally prefer my pups to be a little bit on the leaner side so as not to put too much pressure on their joints at this age, but seeing Bysom, I think Ida may be about right for her breeding!
Thanks again (please can we have weekly shots just to relieve my stress levels!!!?)
Just had another look at Bryson's photo- he looks ever so brown in it. Is it the light or has he still got that puppy-brown look about him or am I going a bit bonkers?!
Ida is very brown looking in certain light-maybe its just their undercoat. My black cat is a definate tabby underneath btw (piece of useless information their!) - you can see the tabby rings on his tail in the right light. I bet I'll get a real telling off now and a lecture in genetics(!) but...(I hardly dare ask ) are some blacks a bit more 'chocolcate' than others?
<<Winces ready for an ear-bashing!!>>
I think its mainly the light Becs (I think thats one of my piccies ), however, having said that - they do (Jake and Bryson) have little browny patches on them - Bryson on his head and bum and Jake just on his head ... I *think* its their undercoat still showing where their ful coat hasn't come through properly still...
Don't know about your chocolately blacks question!
Di, Bryson is gorgeous - I can't believe how much he has grown!!
I have tried taking a picture of Alfie standing up but I have to admit to struggling somewhat to get him to stand still long enough! Are there any "tricks of the trade" for getting them to stand how you want them to, or is it just practice?
Below are two pictures - one of him standing as best I could and one of him sitting as you can see his head better. To me his neck looks a lot shorter than Bryson's? Although this could be the picture (it is slightly side-on as well).
Any thoughts would be much appreciated - good or bad!
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), however, having said that - they do (Jake and Bryson) have little browny patches on them - Bryson on his head and bum and Jake just on his head 
... I *think* its their undercoat still showing where their ful coat hasn't come through properly still...
