Ok I am looking at getting this pup from a local breeder to show and do field trails and hunt tests with and was wondering what everyones opinions on her are. She is 12 weeks old in these pictures and didnt want to hold still for them. I also was wondering if her eyes look lighter will they get darker with age or are they the color they are going to be by now and do you think they are too light?

Thanks,
Jana

These are her younger not sure how old here.

Cute puppy! 

Puppies are normally born with blue eyes and they change.  From what I can tell in the pictures they look like they're at a normal phase of darkening for her age.  Depending on the light my little guys have gone from blue to a greenish shade, now the brown is showing up more and they are darkening.  Not sure if it's true but I was told to look at the dark rim around the iris, the wider the line the darker the eye will get. If it's thin or no line the eyes will be light. 

Thanks everyone the breeder thinks she is a good canidate for what I want. She also was evaulated by another breeder and found to be a great show canidate. The mom is a nice girl and in her only show appearance she went Best bred by, winners bitch and best opposite and has two legs towards her SH title. Dad is full of FC and some show champions. A half sister to mom (same granddam of this pup) is a CH and JH and placed 7th out of 25 dogs at the nationals a few years ago (made the cut). So I think she has the lines was just curious about the eyes mainly if they where going to be too light.

Bev I have been told her bite is good I will see her in person next weekend and make final descions but hoping that things work out and she will be coming home next weekend.

Thanks everyone,
Jana

Judging by her avatar she has already made a decision " src="/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/blue/emoticons/biggrin.gif" />.

If your able to take her out into a field. Doesnt have to be a hunting field but even a school field or somewhere with some long grass on the edges (you want 2 or 3 feet at the least) low traffic or none is even better.

As for the long grass I like to find a field where there are lots of patches or rows of it. So I can walk through it and see what puppy does when it is on one side and I am on the other. Also when walking through the long grass this give me a good idea of how bold a puppy is.

Now unhook the leash, keep your mouth shut and start walking. See what puppy does, if puppy is running around like a banshee investigating everything and not shying away you got a great trial and show prospect. If puppy cowers and looks like she is going to pee herself best find another litter.

Dont worry about pointing or anything, just walk, keep your mouth shut and watch.

I brought my guy home almost 4 years (wow really that long) ago late in the evening. The next morning bright and early he was in bird territory for big ole roosters. He didnt find any but this is what I ended up with on that day.

For an hour thats all I seen was the rear end of that dog. Thats what your looking for when you take yours out.

Jana - Has the breeder introduced her to guns? If not, you want to be careful when you take her hunting and introduce her correctly to guns. She will be almost 4 months old I am guessing. Since you have trained retrievers I am guessing you know this already and I am preaching to the choir.

I know you were disappointed not to get her this weekend and next week will be a long one, but when you do get her I am sure you guys will do great together.

Listening to the breeder is smart as they know their dogs better than anyone.