Bob,
ironically, the emotional bond IS important which is why we try to help folks make the right pick. We live with these guys for 8 weeks of intensive growth and learning. Us about them; they about the world. Nobody knows them better than we do.

In the old days, buyers would be allowed to actually pick their puppies and often that would result in a mismatch between what the family could handle and what the puppy needed. That may work out with Golden Retrievers but it can have some really negative consequences with Rotties.

So, we get to know the people as well as possible and match up the pups with the right homes. Yes, we let the buyers meet the puppies as often as possible and get to know them but hopefully that means they'll love them all as much as we do. The puppies with the most attitude and energy will go to homes that know how to channel it. The less experienced homes will get the more laid-back puppies. In my experience, you can always build up drives but it's hard to hold them back. Annie was -- according to her co-owner -- too laid back as a puppy. So we built up her drives. We must have over-done it 'cuz she sure does have them now!!! .

The really nice thing about this litter is that there is not a lot of difference between the more dominant ones and the less dominant ones. They are far more alike than different. But we are seeing a couple that are moving up on the attitude scale -- i.e. Ms Pink and Mr Green. For Obedience and Agility competition, that's the kind of attitude you want.

Wish you lived closer so you could visit these guys.

Jim