How we place our puppies

Our approach to evaluation, matching and long-term success

Why Puppy Placement Matters

One of the most common questions we hear is:
“Why do breeders pick the puppies?”
Often followed by: “I’ve always picked my own,” or “My puppy picked me.”

It’s easy to understand why. Many families make their choice based on markings, which puppy approached them first, or which one seemed calm during a short visit. But the reality is:

Markings change as puppies grow and have no connection to temperament or long-term fit.
The puppy who runs up to everyone is often confident and bold—traits that can be wonderful, but may require an experienced or very engaged home.
The “calm” puppy is often just tired after a big play session before you arrived.

A brief visit is only a snapshot. It can’t capture who a puppy really is.

As the breeder, I spend more than eight weeks living with, handling, training, and observing these puppies every single day. That daily interaction allows me to understand each puppy’s temperament, energy level, confidence, and learning style in a way that simply isn’t possible during a short meeting.

That’s why I make the final placement decisions. It’s not about taking choice away—it’s about matching each puppy to the home where they are most likely to succeed long-term.

Your preferences, goals, and lifestyle always matter. Whether you’re looking for a dedicated hunting partner, a performance prospect, or a stable family companion, your input helps guide the placement process.

Placement is never about denying choice—it’s about ensuring long-term success for both puppy and family.

And here’s how we do it.

Home types & their needs

At LakeHaus, every puppy is evaluated as an individual, but always within the context of the whole litter. Structure, temperament, drive, confidence, and adaptability all factor into placement decisions. While no two puppies are identical, most fall into one or more of the categories below.

These percentages are guidelines, not guarantees. Many puppies overlap categories, and the best placement is always the one that supports the puppy’s long-term success and quality of life.

Conformation

A true conformation prospect closely matches the German Shorthaired Pointer breed standard, with correct structure, movement, balance, and breed type. These puppies are confident, comfortable being handled, and naturally willing to engage with people and environments in a way that translates well to the show ring.

Equally important, show prospects must have the mental steadiness to handle travel, grooming, crowds, and the repetitive nature of training and competition. A beautiful dog without the temperament to enjoy that lifestyle is not a good candidate.

Typically, about 10–30% of a litter may be suited for conformation homes, depending on the pairing and the litter itself.

Hunting

Hunting prospects show strong natural bird drive, curiosity, and a desire to work independently while still maintaining cooperation with their handler. These puppies tend to be environmentally confident, resilient, and motivated by scent and movement.

Structurally, hunting prospects still need to meet the breed standard—soundness and durability matter just as much in the field as in the ring. Puppies that are overly sensitive, easily overwhelmed, or lack confidence are not ideal candidates for demanding hunting environments.

Typically, about 30–60% of a litter may be well suited for hunting homes, with variation based on breeding goals and individual development.

Performance

Performance prospects thrive on engagement and partnership. These puppies are eager learners, people-oriented, and often a bit more “Velcro,” enjoying close interaction and frequent feedback. They show enthusiasm for training and problem-solving, making them excellent candidates for sports such as obedience, rally, agility, scent work, tracking, or detection.

Like hunting and show prospects, performance dogs must still conform closely to the breed standard and possess the physical and mental stability needed for repetitive training and competition.

Typically, about 10–50% of a litter may be suited for performance homes, with significant overlap between hunting and performance potential.

companion

Companion puppies make exceptional family dogs. They conform to the breed standard but are not extreme in drive, intensity, or dominance. These puppies often show a natural “off switch,” allowing them to settle easily in the home while still enjoying training, exercise, and engagement.

Being a companion does not mean “lower quality” or “less capable.” Many companion puppies could succeed in other venues but are best matched to families seeking a balanced, adaptable, and enjoyable household companion.

Typically, 80–100% of a litter will be suitable for companion homes, as long as the home is prepared to meet the needs of an active, intelligent sporting breed.

How we Assess Puppies

How We Assess & Place Our Puppies

At LakeHaus, puppy placement is never random. Every puppy is evaluated through a combination of structured assessments and daily, hands-on observation to ensure they are matched with the home where they will truly thrive — not just as a puppy, but as an adult dog.

Structural Assessments

Beginning around 3½ weeks, puppies are gently introduced to stacking (standing square and still on a table). This allows us to begin evaluating structure in relation to the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America's and AKC's breed standard.

Puppies are stacked two to three times per week, allowing us to track development and consistency over time rather than relying on a single snapshot. Final structural evaluations take place around 8 weeks of age. At that time, we also invite input from other experienced breeders to gain additional perspective on each puppy’s structure and long-term potential.

Bird & Retrieve Drive Assessments

Bird and retrieve exposure begins early and progresses thoughtfully. Around 5 weeks, puppies are introduced to bird wings. By 6 weeks, they begin controlled exposure to live birds.

We closely observe each puppy’s response — confidence, curiosity, intensity, hesitation, cooperation, or possessiveness — all of which provide insight into natural bird drive and working style. Retrieve instinct is further evaluated using small paint rollers scented with bird odor, allowing us to see whether a puppy chases, returns, engages, or guards the item.

These early interactions help us understand not just if a puppy has drive, but how they engage with it.

Temperament Assessments

To gain a well-rounded picture of temperament, we utilize both the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (at approximately 7 weeks) and the Avidog Evaluation (at 8 weeks).

Together, these assessments help us better understand each puppy’s personality, confidence level, adaptability, and learning style. In some cases, the results may indicate that a puppy would benefit from staying longer for additional one-on-one training before transitioning to their new home.

Daily Observation & Family Input

While formal testing is valuable, it is only one piece of the puzzle. We spend countless hours every day raising, handling, training, and living alongside these puppies. This daily interaction gives us insight that no single test can replicate — how a puppy responds to change, recovers from stress, engages with people, and interacts with littermates.

At around 5 weeks, families complete a Wants / Goals / Desires Questionnaire, allowing us to align specific puppy traits with each family’s lifestyle, experience level, and long-term goals. Your input matters, and it plays an important role in guiding final placement decisions.

Final Placement Decisions

Once all evaluations are complete, we review our notes and determine the most appropriate home type for each puppy—conformation, hunting, performance, or companion. From there, placements are further refined based on individual family details, including household dynamics (children and other pets), lifestyle, experience level, color or sex preferences, and realistic hunting expectations (whether a dog will hunt a handful of days each season or be worked extensively).

Families are then contacted in waitlist order to discuss placement options.

First and foremost, we breed with the future of our program in mind. Pick of the Litter—both male and female—is always reserved for ourselves or, on occasion, placed with trusted, like-minded breeders who share our goals and standards. Puppies not retained for our program or placed with experienced conformation homes are then made available to carefully selected hunting, performance, and companion homes.

In cases where multiple puppies are equally well suited to a particular home, we are happy to offer the family a choice, following the order in which Holding Fees were received.

Our priority is never speed or convenience—it is fit. Placement decisions are made to set both the puppy and the family up for long-term success, confidence, and enjoyment. This is not about taking choice away; it is about using experience, observation, and intention to ensure each LakeHaus puppy goes where they will truly thrive.