What to look for at 4 weeks in a Puppy
 

Need advice from any of you who have picked your puppies at 4 weeks, or breeders who help people pick at 4 weeks.

When you have a litter of several Yorkies, how can you tell which will be square built, have good little legs etc?

I have to pick (I have 1st pick) but this is HARD..

ANY advice needed.

Hi, There is NO way way to pick a puppy at that age and tell anything about it. If you get first choice, I would tell them I wanted to wait until at least 12 weeks. Good Luck.

Angie

I went a picked out Cosmo at 4 weeks. He had short little legs and was the small one out of the bunch. Now he grew bigger then his brother by a few lbs, lol. He still has shorter legs then his brother and his ears stick up and Coso's dont. I made the right choice though, imo. But it was hard is there anyway you could visit at 6 weeks or more.

pups
 

At 4 weeks you can tell nothing..well, you can tell a standard color from a non-standard, you can tell the sex and if it is thriving, but nothing else IMO.
I would be more concerned with the reputation of the breeder right now..
Do you like the parents, are the pups well cared for and clean. Does the breeder have a vet reference? One yr health guarantee?

Why can't you wait until 8 weeks? Why the rush from the breeder? At 8 weeks the breeder can call each person in order and let them pick and take a deposit. I would be very leery of a breeder who wants deposits and everyone locked in so soon...peoples situations change, why force any one to take a pup or lose a deposit if something happens unexpectedly?
What if you pick a puppy who turns out to be shy or too hyper..how can you make a wise choice at the age when they have NO personality?

I cannot remember a 4 week old that wasn't short and square..I would pick temperment over conformation any day in a pet..I do not care how pretty a Yorkie is, if it has a bad temperment it is no fun to own..but it can be plain and full of faults, but have the personality to die for, a wonderful companion...lots for you to think about..best wishes

yes, what ^^ she said!
4 wks is too young to make a selection. wait until atleast and i do stress atleast 8-12 wks. they dont have their little personalities yet at 4 wks, still new borns in my eyes.

I would ask if you could wait and pick in a few more weeks.

I would wait till at least 8 weeks. 4 weeks is just too young and their bodies can still change.

Thank you! I'll check and see if I can wait. I haven't done this so young either!