I have a hard time evaluating my puppies for show...What I like in my show prospects end up too little LOL....when I purchase it's always one that is over a year old so I know then what they look like, act like and if they will be good in the ring...Like Cammie and Radar both were 18 months when I bought them.
Harvey is my first home bred champion and he was a good square dog, ear set wasn't what I liked but he had everything else and finished rather quickly.
Attitude is born in them. I always lead train when they are older and have found this to work for me. I don't put a lead on my puppies until they are almost 6 months old. I watch them play in the yard, walk, run, and stand. If I see something I like then I keep one and then I put a lead on them when I get ready to take them to show. I have found them to be easily trained and not afraid to walk because they are older and if they were born for the ring then it shows when I do put that lead on. Krissy showed so well but she ended up too small and now Molly is just a natural in the ring and I didn't put a lead on her till she was 6 months old and she acts like she owns the ring! But that's how I do things and it's worked. I start stacking them on the grooming table at 3 months. I totally believe in letting them be puppy's first and when I do find that spark and what I'm looking for that's when I start with the basics in training for the ring
Donna