When to bring a puppy home

[Patch O' Pits]

I notice a lot of people are buying puppies and taking them home before they are 8 weeks old. WHY????????????????????

In some states it is even illegal to place pups under specific ages.

First off if your breeder is ok with doing that I consider them to be a BYB unless there are some special circumstances involved.

Raising puppies is not an easy thing especially for the inexperienced add to that a pup taken too young and you often get a very frustrated new owner.

Some breeders who let puppies go sooner than they should have weaned them too early. The antibodies and nutrition in the dam's milk are very improtant for growing puppies.

I'm constantly getting phone calls and e-mails on what to do when the young pups won't eat and what they should be fed. If the breeder didn't or can't give you that info you know you are dealing with a BYB

Puppies also need to learn manners such as bite inhibition from their littermates and dam. New owners who do not do a lot of training and socialization with a pup especially one taken too young often end up with a dog that has issues such as being too mouthy

Breeders should have them wormed and with their first set of shots before you take them too.

Sorry I'm venting a little.... I'm just so sick of BYBs

pleeeeeeease research before getting a new puppy whether it be a rescue, from a breeder or from a shelter. Make sure you know what you are getting into

[Sidewayz]

Well, I fall into that category of people who bring home pets too soon I guess. I brought Jake (lab) home when he was 6-1/2 weeks old. He is REALLY mouthy puppy. I let him play with my friends min-pin who's about his age, but he's QUICKLY outgrowing her. They play really well together, but he doesn't seem to understand that biting people hurts just as bad as biting other puppies. I'm working on it, but it's a battle.

[SmoothCollieluver]

I agree. We don't let them go untill 9 weeks or later depending on the pup. And it is a state law in IL. Usually ours are sold before then and usually before they are born really lol. At least some of them. The sables always go first. Although blues are becoming really popular.

[ClarkFarm]

I personally think pups should stay with Mom until they are more like 12 weeks old, 10 weeks minimum. I think that way the breeder would be able to match up a pup to a compatible owner much easier as well as the pup already having had basic training started.

I see this in goats as well. Many, many goat kids sold or auctioned when they are only 4 weeks old, 6 weeks if you're lucky! Not many of those that young are very healthy when separated. I lost both of the boys I mentioned before that I had purchased at a local livestock auction and guessed them to be between 3-4 weeks old.

[EnchantedGypsy]

Well, I fall into that category of people who bring home pets too soon I guess. I brought Jake (lab) home when he was 6-1/2 weeks old. He is REALLY mouthy puppy.

Bite inhibition is just one of the behaviors a puppy learns by staying with its mom and siblings until at least 8 weeks old. In my area most BYBs want to get rid of their pups before 8 weeks old since that's when pups should start their vaccinations and BYBs won't pay for them. To get around the law of not selling pups under 8 weeks old, BYBs here just lie about the age in their newspaper ads.

I was supposed to be getting a puppy next month, he'll be 10 weeks old then. However, some family medical issues came up & so I'm putting off adding a wee one to my furry family 'til next year:( A different breeder is planning a Spring 2007 litter, so I'm on her waiting list now....

[DiggityDogs]

I notice a lot of people are buying puppies and taking them home before they are 8 weeks old. WHY????????????????????
o

I ask myself the same thing every day. I see puppies on craigslist as young as THREE AND A HALF WEEKS!! Byb's saying- ''they'll be ready to go next week!''. I have asked a couple of people who got their pups that young, and the most common responses are 'the breeder said the pup was ready', or they couldn't wait any longer, he's just so cute at that age', and apparently there is this myth that they will bond with you better if you bring them home as early as you possibly can. Started by a BYB I'm sure. What a load of crap.

[Stark]

I guess this comes down to personal preference. I don't know of any current research (research, not opinion) that says a puppy will have difficulties if removed from the litter at 6 weeks. It is safe to say this may be tradition as opposed to evidenced based study. Many working trainers prefer to get their puppies at 6-7 weeks, I have done it both ways and prefer removing the puppy sooner than later. While keeping a pup to better learn their personality to match with a new owner would be nice I believe with most breeders it's more wishful thinking. After reading the threads on breeding and puppies very few breeders say they have the time to train and socialize a puppy properly. I read about owners having difficulties with biting but I honestly don't understand why this is an issue, the dog needs to be corrected for inappropriate behavior.
Research is probably the number one solution to the problem and question of removing puppies at select ages. Please if you intend to tell me I'm FOS please provide evidence based research.

[ClarkFarm]

I really think there is a big difference in puppies that are kept for working purposes versus those destined to be family pets for whatever reasons.

Here is a link that is really interesting to me that discusses inappropriate aggressiveness, which is related to the topic at hand. http://www.dogstuff.info/inapprop_aggress_responses_puppies_macdonald.html

[Patch O' Pits]

I really think there is a big difference in puppies that are kept for working purposes versus those destined to be family pets for whatever reasons.

I agree with that and also a big difference with the experience level in the homes with training and socializing usually.


After reading the threads on breeding and puppies very few breeders say they have the time to train and socialize a puppy properly.

Honestly, than those are irresponsble breeders who shouldn't be breeding. If they don't have the time to do it right they shouldn't do it at all. My last litter was 10 weeks when I allowed them to go to new homes . They had already begun all basic obedience commands , house breaking, crate training and new agility tunnels and had started easy contact training. That was all a lot of work on my part and I also have a full time job. Breeding is not a task to be takien lightly

I read about owners having difficulties with biting but I honestly don't understand why this is an issue, the dog needs to be corrected for inappropriate behavior.
Looks at all those posts than take into consideration which dogs were taken too young, which are in inexperienced homes and also which came from BYBs who did no training with the dogs what so ever and scientific research or not it becomes pretty apparent IMO. Can a pup be taken early and have no issues??? Absolutely, but the chances are better for a pup given more exposure to the dam and littermates or in a home with a ton of experience with young pups so why chance it. From my experience Pups benifit a great deal more being with their littermates and dam

[DiggityDogs]

there is also a concern about immunity. If a puppy is still occasionally nursing when it's taken from it's mother it is still getting antibodies from her. This often makes the first set of vaccines useless because those antibodies counteract that vaccine. Of course that wouldn't be the case if the new owner were to wait a couple of weeks to get the shots done, but most do it right away since most breeders require it. I'm curious to know what the stats are like on younger pups getting serious illnesses like parvo or distemper in puppyhood vs. those who were taken later.

And I agree too- the biggest difference is in the buyer's experience level, although I think there are certain social and behavioral needs that are difficult to replace when a pup is taken too young. I don't think it's a good idea for the average pet owner to take their pup home before 8 weeks.

[Stark]

Patch O pits,
I agree but again you are speaking of the minority (truly a minority) and not the majoity of breeders.


I believe the issue of illness is more environmental as opposed to time with the dam. I've never had a bitch allow her pups to nurse that far along. It's been a long time since I had a litter but if I remember correctly the pups didn't nurse past 6 weeks. I'm always careful where I take my pups until they're around 5 months old even with a strict vaccination schedule.

The bottom line is probably education, does anyone know of any efforts by the big registries to educate potential owners of these issues? Does anyone remember seeing any of the trainers or behaviorist on television discuss these issues, I don't? I do agree, it's probably not a good idea for the inexperienced to take a pup this young.