Okay - I was thinking if he were a Lab it might just be the breed. But yup, that does sound a bit more unusual for a Shepherd.

I wouldn't automatically pass on a singleton pup, but I would put an emphasis on their dog socializing.

Just go evaluate the pup at 8 weeks and see what it's temperament is like. If you like it, then whether it was from a litter of 1 or a litter of 10 shouldn't really matter to much. Maybe in a big litter it would have been a little more subdued from being a lower ranking pup, and now it's a little pushier/dominant because it never had siblings bossing it around. If you like who it is though, and you aren't looking at the dog for breeding, does it really matter why/how it became who it is?

I had a singleton, but I also have a number of dogs, and I had a litter of pups 2 weeks older at the time. Which was good, because Won's mom wasn't making enough milk for her, so Nexxus (mother of the older litter) fostered her for me. Because of the size and age difference I couldn't just put Won in with the other pups, but she did get lots of "play dates" with them. She is quite the fireball, with a LOT of attitude, which I do attribute in part to her being a singleton. I think it would have been tempered more if she'd had littermates.

If the breeder has any friends who have similar aged pups, I'd suggest "play dates" with the other litter if that breeder is comfortable with it, to help the pup learn proper dog social skills.

Hi Kadi,
Thank you for your suggestions. I cannot evaluate the pup personally as the breeder is in another part of the country. She is sending me videos and has arrange some play-dates with two different litters - one a bit older and one a few days younger. I hope to get some videos of those interactions.
Sandra