I'm curious how breeders decide if a puppy has show potential. I know that it's impossible to know for sure if a puppy will be show quality, but what do you look for to help decide? Thanks, Golden.

Thanks for asking this...I've been wondering myself...looking forward to people's responses!

As a relative newcomer to conformation a few years ago, I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Hands on at a puppy evaluation and asking questions and feeling what the long time breeders are feeling is most helpful. Ideally and hopefully the structure of a puppy at 8 weeks +/- a few days will be what the dog comes back to as an adult. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. Most breeders know the optimal time to evaluate their lines. I've heard from friends that they like their pups to be over angulated as puppies. In addition to structure, attitude can also play a factor.

To learn more about structure, you should order the Blue Book available on the GRCA website which is illustrated by Marcia Schler.

The Pat Hastings Puppy Puzzle video is a fantastic resource. It is best to get hands on the puppies, but this several hour long video really breaks down a good puppy evaluation.

__________________

Laura, Jinx, Tilt and Rocky
UKC CH Wildfire's A Kind of Magic CGC
http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=474956
Rocky the old min pin who thinks he's a golden

Will your friend with the pregnant golden be doing litter evaluations? Might be a great opportunity to see a breeder (and whoever she brings in to assist) in action evaluating the pups.

I have no idea. I think they only do limited reg?

That's a good question. I bet after their show puppies get into the gangly stage they're like, OH NO WHAT DID I GET????

__________________

It sounds like their are a lot of good resources, but could anyone explain in simplistic terms what characteristics or traits the puppy needs to possess in order to be considered show quality? I know that it's not a simple evaluation by any means, but just a few things the breeder is looking at would be great...

I wish I had better baby puppy picture. It is hard to see her neck in the first shot due to the frumpy puppy coat and the collar. Also she is not in a solid stack but pretty close for a little one. Here a comparison of Jinx at 7 weeks and 5 days, 4 1/2 months and again at 12 months and 4 days. Hopefully, you can see what we mean by growing back into the same proportion. Even though Jinx really did grow at a fairly even rate, she is definitely shallower in the body and longer in the leg at 4.5 months. She kind of looked like a Giraffe baby.

Attached Images

     

__________________

Laura, Jinx, Tilt and Rocky
UKC CH Wildfire's A Kind of Magic CGC
http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=474956
Rocky the old min pin who thinks he's a golden

The breeder is looking at exactly the adult standard, but at 8 weeks old. *most* puppies at about 8 weeks are just what they will be as an adult. So they are looking at overall height/length ratio, forechest, front and rear assemblies including angles, topline, tail set, ear set, skull, and so on.
They also need a confident, outgoing personality.
It's an art, not a science. So many times you hear breeders comment that they kept the wrong puppy out of a litter as a show prospect.

__________________

Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"