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Age For Puppies To Go To New Home


karen15
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Had a scary conversation with my niece (10 yo) today. They have a new puppy, fair enough. She said it was six weeks old.

That's way too young for a puppy to be homed isn't it? I always thought 8 weeks minimum, 10 weeks was better. My puppy was born 26th May and I picked him up 1st August. He was the last to go home and a week or so later than the breeder said he could be collected, but it was when I started my three months puppy leave :D and breeder was happy to keep him that little bit longer for me.

I'm hoping my niece is wrong on the pups' age.....

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My babies leave home at 12.5 weeks of age, they do not get their first vaccinations until 7.5 weeks they get micro chipped and spinal xrays at the same time, then I get their second vaccination, by this time they have been taught manners by their Dam, and are well and truly set up for a happy life. :thumbsup:

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In Queensland you aren't supposed to microchip until a puppy is 8 weeks and you aren't to supply a puppy without a microchip. Maybe make a note to mention to them to chase up with their vet if the puppy has been chipped?

I believe the 6-8 week period is where a puppy learns how to interact with other Dogs from their mother. A good puppy pre-school should definitely be on the agenda if the pup was taken that early.

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As mentioned, registered breeders must under ANKC (and relevant state) regulations not place a puppy in their new home until a minimum of 8 weeks of age.

State government legislation varies, however most such as Vic and NSW state they must not go to their new homes before 8 weeks. From memory Qld is an odd one out in this respect and does not specify a particular age?

Many breeders will place pups later (noting 8 weeks is the minimum, but what is good for the pup can vary from breed to breed and also based on an individual pups needs).

Studies show that pups need that vital time up to 8 weeks of age with their littermates (more so than mum in the last couple of weeks) to help learn 'dog language' and that pups placed early can have a greater risk of aggression and fear related issues etc as adults.

Claims that a pup is 'old enough' at 6 weeks because it is 'weaned' is just cutting corners and not in the best interests of the pups or their new home.

Edited by espinay2
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My babies leave home at 12.5 weeks of age, they do not get their first vaccinations until 7.5 weeks they get micro chipped and spinal xrays at the same time, then I get their second vaccination, by this time they have been taught manners by their Dam, and are well and truly set up for a happy life. :thumbsup:

I'd come knocking on your door. :) Your call is closer to what I'd want (speaking only for myself) ...a couple or few extra weeks beyond the 8 mark for mum to do some post-grad work in socialising for manners as well as that valuable experience of further contact with the human family (& life).

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:) You would be welcome Mita, these are the protocols that I have followed for most of my life breeding dogs, since 1969, I always aim for well adjusted happy babies, I spend so much time on the floor :laugh: with them it is our time, playing with them and just loving them, I never have to advertise as I always have a waiting list, a lot by word of mouth and people coming back for their second or third puppy.

As far as the waiting list is concerned only people that I have been in constant contact with and I feel they reach my criteria are on there.

I also offer to look after the dogs when they have holidays or if for some reason they cannot keep the dog they must bring them back to me and I will find a suitable home, that has only happened once in all the years I have been breeding.

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The puppy is definitely not from a breeder. It's a border collie x cattle dog. I'm just surprised as my sister should know better. I'm hoping my niece has the age wrong, kids can do that....

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:) You would be welcome Mita, these are the protocols that I have followed for most of my life breeding dogs, since 1969, I always aim for well adjusted happy babies, I spend so much time on the floor :laugh: with them it is our time, playing with them and just loving them, I never have to advertise as I always have a waiting list, a lot by word of mouth and people coming back for their second or third puppy.

As far as the waiting list is concerned only people that I have been in constant contact with and I feel they reach my criteria are on there.

I also offer to look after the dogs when they have holidays or if for some reason they cannot keep the dog they must bring them back to me and I will find a suitable home, that has only happened once in all the years I have been breeding.

It doesn't surprise me there's long experience & other good calls (IMO) that go with your belief in the benefits of that extra time with mum etc. There's such rapid & rich neural development in those early weeks. And you're tapping into that.

I love all that you've described! Spot on. I totally agree about the value of word of mouth. Guess who'll be squirrelling away your details! :)

Edited by mita
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The puppy is definitely not from a breeder. It's a border collie x cattle dog. I'm just surprised as my sister should know better. I'm hoping my niece has the age wrong, kids can do that....

Ooooh I hope so! Of all breeds to get early, they've got a mix of two mouthy herding dogs, eek.

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They've had cattle dogs for decades, so the breed isn't such an issue.

They currently have 2 dogs - a cattle dog and Rottweiler. Is the puppy likely to learn from them what it would have learned if left with litter mates and mum? My first guess is no as puppy only has supervised interactions, obviously. But maybe its better than no dogs......

Not much I can do about it as they are a long way away from me.

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They've had cattle dogs for decades, so the breed isn't such an issue.

They currently have 2 dogs - a cattle dog and Rottweiler. Is the puppy likely to learn from them what it would have learned if left with litter mates and mum? My first guess is no as puppy only has supervised interactions, obviously. But maybe its better than no dogs......

Not much I can do about it as they are a long way away from me.

:) glad they have

a) experience , and b) other dogs .

pup will learn some manners , but not like being with litter/mum.

Mind you , when I was young, 6 weeks was always the time we got new pups ....

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Some people not recommended thou do wean at 6 weeks. LAzy people ? Not good for pups as they lose at least 2 weeks learning from mum. Sad

You think? My last litter, the bitch turned off the milk bar at exactly four weeks of age. There was no way she was letting them feed and it didn't matter that she clearly was sore and engorged...wasn't happening. So I took over. Pups still ended up being typical pups, happy and bouncy.....Although they do interact with supervision with the other adults.

Did you realise that for best results it's recommended that pups do not have their first innoculation until weaned from their mother?

What about all those pups that are hand raised and have no mother due to tragic situations?

I can tell you first hand, that they all turned out just fine and know how to be dogs.

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