[LunarFlame]

I see lots of people posting about bringing their pups home at 8 weeks of age or earlier in some cases.

I just wanted to see what everyones' opinions are about this. Personally, I don't feel like pups should leave the litter earlier than 10 weeks if possible. Ijust feel there are so many less health and behavioural problems this way. Sure you miss a little bit of the "tiny puppy stage" but to me it has been totally worth it.

What about everyone else?

 

[BoxMeIn21]

I definitely think pups shouldn't leave their mom and littermates until at least 8 weeks. They learn such valuable lessons in those last few weeks. In fact it's illegal in some states to sell a puppy younger than that...

 

[Pai]

10-12 weeks is ideal, but most folks send them off at 8. Anytime sooner that that isn't right, imo.

 

[Laurelin]

Toy breeds specifically should stay until 10 weeks. Most reputable toy breeders hold on to their pups longer.

 

[Erick Aguilar]

I think it's o.k, i got my pup when he was 6 weeks, and the only problem i had that could be cause by leaving his litter early was nipping.

 

[Dogstar]

I strongly prefer to get my pups at 8 weeks, because that's two extra weeks within the socialization window for me to introduce them to EVERYTHING, and two extra weeks that I can use when puppies are still very clingy to really build in attention, recalls, and LLW. That said, my life is pretty much arranged around my dogs. For the average pet person who does NOT intend to do sports? 10 weeks is SO much preferable for housebreaking reasons (especially in toys.) I think 8 weeks IS fine for large-breeds, but 10 weeks can be a lot easier in many ways.

I think it's a case of there not being 'one right answer'.

 

[txcollies]

I've brought 'em home at 6 weeks, and I've brought 'em home at 8 weeks. I like 8 weeks better, it's easier on me. ;-)

They all turned out fine.

 

[tirluc]

for me, it's kinda hypocritical in a way.....i don't think that a pup should leave the mom/litter till at least 8 wks, and that would depend on the breed and individual pup (like mentioned above, smaller breeds, i think, should stay a little longer...and some pups just aren't ready to leave as soon as others in the litter)....however, i prefer to get my BC (and only the BC) pups at about 6 wks....the bond and partnership seems stronger between dog and person if they have those earlier wks, as well, but only if the person has the canine/puppy knowledge to get them thru what is critical during those last couple wks of litter time (does that make sense?)...this has, at least, been my experience and 2 other breeders that i have talked w/ have said/felt the same way.....(not saying it's 100%)

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

I don't think it's good for them to leave any earlier than 10-12 weeks, so I would not get a dog younger than that. My mutt was found without a mother at 5 weeks and she was so bad off health and behavioral wise. I know this isn't necessarily true of all dogs, but I'm not chancing it just because I want the dog earlier.

 

[Willowy]

I think, in general, you get a better puppy if you wait for 9-10 weeks. 12 weeks is a bit long to leave them with the litter (unless the breeder is doing an excellent job of socializing them). I got Willow when she was 6 1/2 weeks old. She potty-trained extremely quickly, but was terribly nippy for over a year. I'm sure she would have been better if she had stayed longer with the litter. Same goes for kittens, incidentally. 9-10 weeks is optimum.

 

[MrsJohnnyG]

8 weeks was for us the ideal... but we have large breeds, and we brought two littermates into our family, so they weren't ripped away from all their littermates at that age. Their bite inhibition is outstanding, and because we began socializing almost from day 1, they are amazingly well socialized and have been so easy to train it feels like cheating.

But, we were careful to evaluate (together with our breeder) which pups were the most mature and independent... there was a sweet little boy that I had initially liked but he was the runt of the litter and not nearly as developed and independent as our two boys, so taking him at 8 weeks would have been too early.

For average dogs, it's probably better to wait a bit longer as long as the breeder does an outstanding job of working with them on housetraining and socialization. I'd rather have an 8-week-old puppy than a 12-week-old who's used to peeing and pooping wherever he feels like it and who is traumatized when meeting strangers.

 

[rocker314]

I think the puppy and the mother dog should not be separated until it's 1 year old. Just to stay the puppy healthy.

 

[LunarFlame]

I think the puppy and the mother dog should not be separated until it's 1 year old. Just to stay the puppy healthy.

Hmm... do you have any reason to support this? I find this to be a very uncommon claim.. I'm interested in hearing more of your opinion.

 

[InkedMarie]

I think 8-10 weeks is best, longer for some breeds but also, alot of states, such as my own (NH) have laws. Here, dogs cant be transferred before 8 weeks of age. Personally, if I had a "breeder" offering me a pup before 8 weeks of age, I'd be running the other way. For me, that's a big ole red flag

 

[jbsmomto1]

Both Ruby and Quincy came to us a little older. Quincy was 6 months Roo was a week shy 3 months.
I think taking a pup away from mom to soon is really doing an injustice to the pup. Mom teaches so much more than any human can teach. Mom and pup need that extra time so pup can learn how to be a pup. I see to many people around here in a hurry to wean and sadly most assume that since baby has not nursed in 24 hrs and has nibbled on food, that it's weaned and then they get put into their waiting homes. Sadly most humans are not willing to wait and think the younger the better....Pups than get placed and start exhibiting some problems and soon pup ends up in a shelter...Not always of course but it happens here a lot. Nobody is ripping a human child out of their mother's arms at 12 months old....though I agree its different, I don't agree with ripping a pup away from it's mother either.

I also think that waiting til 12 months is a little extreme, by 12 months old they have bonded to their owner, have learned what the owner wants. To suddenly be taken away from that person and to be forced to start all over again isn't right either. Some dogs do well with it, others not so much. Quincy at 6 months old lived with the breeder, he had some issues, but I go tlucky with him, for the most part he was a wonderful puppy but teh transition from breeders home to ours at 6 months was tough. Ruby at 3 months is more confident, she is catching on to the rules quicker and is all around I think more content with her world.

Could be personality for sure in both my guys, could also be that Ruby had enough time with mom where Quincy had to much time and had to adjust again......

 

[BoxMeIn21]

I think the puppy and the mother dog should not be separated until it's 1 year old. Just to stay the puppy healthy.

That's an interesting point of view...why do you think that the pup would be healthier if it stayed with it's mother for a year?

 

[jbray01]

i got my pup at 12 weeks. i'm glad i got her then.

simply put:
there is no reason to take a 6 week old puppy from its mother, other than you want instant puppy gratification

however, there are several good reasons for a puppy to stay with its mother until its 8+weeks, which have already been stated (bite inhibition, socialization, etc.)

of course there will always be exceptions, but in most cases, there is no real benefit to taking a puppy away early, other than "yay, i have a cute tiny puppy!"

 

[rosborn]

I got 'NIKA' when she was 2 days shy of being 6 weeks ... and I agree, they should be at least 8-10 weeks before leaving the litter .... but the pup was doomed and if I didn't get her when i did ... she would have been in doggy heaven by now!!! And yes, she does have nipping problems but we are working them out .... she also seems to scared of a lot of things .... but, she is very smart and I could not ask for a better pup!!!

 

[tirluc]

i got our 1st 2 Borders at 6 1/2 wks.....neither one had any bite problems, they both house broke quickly, are/were extremely social w/ people and typical or better w/ other dogs for Borders, no fear issues that aren't normal for any puppy in a strange environment....other than the genetic issues w/ both (HD) they are/were very healthy all their lives....but the bond between them and us (my son w/ the male we had and me w/ Lacey) is far stronger than the bond between myself and Tir (gotten at 8 wks)or Saoirse (gotten at 9 mo), and the same is true for Titch (who i raised from newborn) and me.....

i'm not saying that puppies should leave b/4 8 wks...i wouldn't let any in my litter leave b/4 then....but, in my (and some others) case, where the teachings and such are met, i don't have a problem w/ it....a breeder that i have talked w/ for quite a few yrs now won't let her pups leave till 8-10 wks, either, but she was/is willing to allow me to take one (when i have the chance to get one thru her) younger if i so choose, as she knows the pup will turn out well adjusted....and it wasn't for "instant puppy gratification" that we got them that young....

but i do agree that the best age is around 10 wks (8 wks being the youngest)

 

[rosemaryninja]

I think 8 or 9 weeks is perfect for me. It's late enough for the fundamental skills to have been inculcated, but early enough for me to have an impact on early socialisation. 10-12 weeks is a little late, personally, although I'm aware it varies by breed.