[bdavis86]

I went over tonight after work to visit the lady with the pups and they are about 6.5 weeks now. They are getting so big! I have a question though. I was planning on getting it at 8 weeks, but it turns out that i'm busy that weekend and wouldnt be able to devote enough time for the pup. I can either get the pup this weekend or two weeks from this weekend, so basically 7 weeks or 9 weeks. I know its better to wait a little longer, but I'm kinda anxious and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get it at 7 than 8 or 9. They've already learned quite a bit from the mom and siblings and I just wonder if they would miss out on anything if I got her a little earlier. Any advice?

 

[doggiedad]

get the pup at 8 weeks or 9 weeks if you can.

 

[BlackGSD]

I would get her at 9 weeks. If you got her at 7 weeks, what would you do with her the weekend you are busy?

 

[bdavis86]

I know somebody that would watch it. I dont even know if 9 weeks would work because the breeder is already having people snatch puppies at 6 weeks. I guess I'd feel bad about leaving mine there for a few more weeks if the others are gone. Dont know if the breeder would want to watch her that long. I've read that 8-12 weeks is a crucial socializing stage for the puppy and if I got it at 9 weeks, it would miss a little of that, but I dont know if that would effect the development of the dog at all or if getting it too early would either.

 

[WiscTiger]

I have gotten two pups at 16 weeks old. As long as the breeder works with the pup and the pup has access to other dogs or pups the pup will be fine. Personally I would walk away from a breeder that wouldn't be willing to keep the pup for an extra week.

Val

 

[fourdogsrule]

I would wait until at least 9 weeks. If you have good breeder, then they should have no problem keeping the pup a little longer.
Make sure you post photos when you do get your baby. We can't get enough of the cute babies.

 

[Lauri & The Gang]

And I would walk away from a breeder that let pups go at 6 weeks. That is not a responsible breeder (unless the people were HIGHLY experienced dog people that were going to spend 24/7 with their new pups for 2 weeks straight).

 

[bdavis86]

I know the breeders well and it's not like they are irresponsible, they just offer to give the pups when people want them. If someone comes wanting one at 6 weeks then that's their own deal, for others that want to wait longer, they do that as well.

I also picked the one i want tonight, a cute all black female and I cant wait to have her!

 

[adamevie]

Waiting til 8 weeks or later is best; they need the socialization from their mom and the other pups prior to that. 7 weeks is too early.

 

[RebelGSD]

I my state the law requires that the pups stay with mom until 8 weeks old min. Giving them away at 6 weeks age would be breaking the law.

 

[StGeorgeK9]

6 weeks is really too young, in the interest of the pup, I would wait until 9 weeks. I understand that it is their "deal", but someone who understands what is expected in taking on a new puppy would know better than to take a pup that early, unless it was an emergency I would discourage allowing that to happen. I have to agree with Lauri on this one. There is still plenty of time for socializing, and the breeder should already be doing a lot of this so the pup should not be missing out on anything. Puppies are more work than babies I think....of course it has been a long time since I had a baby around here.......and only about 2 years since I had a puppy....

 

[chevysmom]

I'd definatly wait until 9 weeks if you cannot get her at 8 weeks. We got Chevy at 8 weeks and Shya just a couple days short of 8 weeks.

 

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted By: bdavis86I know somebody that would watch it. I dont even know if 9 weeks would work because the breeder is already having people snatch puppies at 6 weeks. I guess I'd feel bad about leaving mine there for a few more weeks if the others are gone. Dont know if the breeder would want to watch her that long. I've read that 8-12 weeks is a crucial socializing stage for the puppy and if I got it at 9 weeks, it would miss a little of that, but I dont know if that would effect the development of the dog at all or if getting it too early would either.

9 weeks would be better. However if the breeder is sending other pups home at 6 weeks (something I absolutely do NOT agree with and is a big red flag for me), getting your pup at 7 weeks might be fine.

Normally, it is best to leave the pup with the litter until at least 8 weeks as the time between 6 and 8 weeks old is when they learn the majority of their canine social skills. But if the other pups are going to be gone during that time and there won't be a litter left for her to stay with, that negates the benefit.

 

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted By: bdavis86I know the breeders well and it's not like they are irresponsible, they just offer to give the pups when people want them. If someone comes wanting one at 6 weeks then that's their own deal, for others that want to wait longer, they do that as well.

IMO, this IS irresponsible. This is a very critical time during canine social development and lessons missed during this age can have lasting detrimental effects on the dog's behavior and personality. Sending pups home whenever people want them is not taking into account what is best for the mental and social development of the puppy, and instead putting the convenience of themselves (breeder) and customers higher on the priority list than what is best for the pup. Not good.

 

[Shugmort]

Due to a planned vacation, I wasn't able to bring Falken home until 10 weeks. I could have brought him home sooner, and believe me I wanted to, but it didn't make sense to me to shuffle him around. Once I brought him home I wanted to get him into his new routine/schedule without having to have any major changes during his first few weeks home.

I would also say wait until 9 weeks, that way you don't have to leave him with someone during the weekend that you're going to be busy. Hopefully the breeder will put some effort into making sure the pup has socialization during the last couple weeks she's there.

Best of luck!

 

[scannergirl]

My pup was 10 weeks when I got her, and the entire litter was still there. I took the first puppy home.
If it's pretty well understood that puppies need that time between six and eight weeks with the litter and your breeder is letting them go when people want them even if it's at six weeks then the only conclusion I can come up with is the breeder either doesn't know or doesn't care. Either scenario would make me seriously reconsider purchasing a puppy from this breeder.
JMHO

 

[bdavis86]

Well since people are getting them young and i plan on letting mine stay there till about 9, would it be a big deal if there were no other puppies around to play with at that age? The parents interact with the pups a little, but mostly the pups wander and play with each other.

 

[tracyc]

I wouldn't buy a puppy from a breeder that was so casual about when they leave the litter--letting them go home with buyers at 6 weeks is so irresponsible that it would make me wonder what other corners were cut in the breeding.

The littler socialization that the puppy should be getting in that litter for another 4-6 weeks can never be made up for. It will almost certainly make your job as an owner much more difficult.


All that said---if you are set on this puppy, then leaving him there with no littermates benefits no one. If you think you can give the puppy a richer experience than the breeder for these missing weeks, you may as well bring him home.

 

[Liesje]

Originally Posted By: bdavis86Well since people are getting them young and i plan on letting mine stay there till about 9, would it be a big deal if there were no other puppies around to play with at that age? The parents interact with the pups a little, but mostly the pups wander and play with each other.

Yes, it would be a big deal. That's why it's pretty irresponsible to let people choose and make bad choices like taking a pup at 6 weeks. The breeder is supposed to be the experienced one that knows better. Pups learn socialization mostly from each other. That is why raising a singleton pup can be challenging even for a great breeder. I'm sure they do learn things from the parents but they learn many things, like bite inhibition, from each other.

 

[onyx'girl]

The breeder we got Onyx from let some of them go at 7 weeks, I feel that is why Onyx has some anxiety issues, fear aggression,etc... The second litter, breeder knew better and kept pups together til 8-9 weeks, and kept mom and dad around them. Onyx has never had a bite inhibition problem but lacks in some social manners.