I get that your intent is to have the dog forever. I get that there are no crystal balls. I get that the application only gives me one view. I get that you feel you should be able to choose your own puppy. I get it all. You know what else I get? The mistakes made in "forever" or "choosing" or life changing. I see those a lot and my goal is to not repeat the same mistakes. It's not a perfect science, but it's the best I have.
My expectations of you
I need you to do the preemptive work. I need you to research breeds. You should look at longevity, and shedding and size options. check into training and exercise needs, try setting aside that time mentally, does it happen naturally in your schedule, or will be dog be on your list of things to do? I need you to seriously look at house breaking and what that plan is. I'd love it if you thought out how long you should give your cat to adjust. It would be swell if you'd talk to trainers and call the vets for their fees.
How Big will the puppy get
If the pup is a mutt and under 4 months old, I cannot tell you. There is no math or science or paw size that can predict adult weight. At 4 months you can double the weight and be fairly accurate. Prior to that, there could be a Great Dane or a Chihuahua in the gene pool that comes into play. If weight is a factor, you need to either adopt an adult mutt or something more predictable than the mutts that I work with.
Once that's done
I'm going to take it from there. Puppies get placed based on what they need in a home. So, while I understand the "he chose me" theory, I don't buy it. The pup that chose you will likely choose the whole football team too. They are apt to be the dominant pup, the first to explore. It's not an emotional connection on the pups' behalf, I promise you.
I'd like you to try to understand that the way a dog or pup behaves here is not the same as they will at home. So what you'd see and be basing your choice on, would not be permanent. Similar to a child behaving for a teacher, a grandparent or a parent, all personality. What would remain are things like being an introvert or left handed. That's what temperament is
So if a pup is sound sensitive, sending that pup home to a place that repairs Harleys in the yard wouldn't be a good choice. If a dog is dominant, it's not a first time dog owners best option. If a dog is submissive and you want to take him to ball games and family barbeques, no one is going to be happy.
So if I can marry your application with a pup that naturally fits your home, no one loses a sofa!
Why should I wait 2 years between puppies
The mental health of your primary dogs needs it, that's why. Adopting two dogs too closely together creates a litany of bad behaviors. Two years allows your pup to mature, to be trained, to become stable. It avoids the dogs bonding too closely together and allows each to be an individual. It's what's best for the dogs, mine and yours.
Why opposite sex dogs
I often request this. When placing a dog or pup, I'm trying to look into a crystal ball, I have to think about then next 15+ years. Mostly opposite sex dogs do better in the average home. Same sex can become rivals.
Why did my application get turned down
If your application actually got turned down those reasons would have been discussed in an email. If you didn't receive this email, then I simply didn't get to your application in the cue. Pups are placed based on what they need in a home. Sometimes I go through as many as 75 applications trying to find that perfect fit, other times it's the first application. Pups are placed on things like noise, sight, training expectations, energy, dominance, off leash aptitude and a variety of other factors that are determined during their stay here, with me.