Alibi Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 I have noticed some people saying they wouldnt take on a pup anymore than 12wks due to their past dogs ending up with behavioral problems due to missing out on certain socialisation at a crucial stage before they picked them up. I have also lots of breeds now being desexed before they go to their new owner which means they leave the breeder later than usual, as well as lots of toy breeds being kept longer by the breeder (12wks plus) due to their tiny and fragile size. So whats your ideal age of a puppy to take home and why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) 8 weeks so that they have had the crucial time with mum and litter mates but then they need to bond to me be trained exactly how I want them trained. Toilet training is so much easier at 8 weeks and it is easier to get them into a routine. I wouldn't buy a puppy that had already been desexed so that is never going to be an issue. Edited September 17, 2012 by dancinbcs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirawee Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) 8 to 10 weeks for me. Mainly because I don't want to wait longer :laugh: I have no plans to buy an desexed dog either though. ETA: I would consider an older puppy if it was from a breeder I knew and trusted :) Edited September 19, 2012 by mirawee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangwyn Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 7 weeks is ideal in terms of the puppy's development however this is not possible due to vaccination schedules and kennel control regs. Therefore, I prefer my pups as close as possible to 8 weeks. The period between 8 weeks and 16 weeks is critical in terms of imprinting behaviours. Everything is easier at that age and I find I'm not trying to fix someone else's mistakes (like poor toilet training). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 My puppies aren't vaccinated/chipped until 8 weeks so they are 10 weeks when they leave home. Not a fan of juvenile desexing so it wouldn't be an issue for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 I'd be wanting a pup around 7.5 - 8 weeks, 8-12 weeks is IMO the best time to interact with the pup and lay the foundations you want it to have for the rest of it's life. Pups experience their first fear period around 12-16 weeks and I wouldn't want to be taking on a pup in it's first fear period and trying to socialise it etc. Of course people can get pups and dogs at later ages and do very well with them, but if I set out to get a pup I'd be wanting it at 8 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minyvlz Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 8 to 10 weeks for me. Mainly because I don't want to wait longer :laugh: I have no plans to buy an undesexed dog either though. ETA: I would consider an older puppy if it was from a breeder I knew and trusted :) You buy only desexed pups? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyeopener Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 I think 8 to 10wks is ideal. Some pups need the confindence that an extra 2 wks can bring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Well socialised pups from Breeders that I respect and trust have arrived here at various ages and have all made the grade. My heart dog was 15 months. Bonding, training and behavioural issues have not been an issue with well reared pups :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Well socialised pups from Breeders that I respect and trust have arrived here at various ages and have all made the grade. My heart dog was 15 months. Bonding, training and behavioural issues have not been an issue with well reared pups :) Exactly as above. Some older pups & adults mongrels even settle & bond with no issues too. Training a dog the way you want it does not always mean you are fixing a mistake & training is possible at any age. I have found a 6 month old puppy will often get something quicker than an 8 week old, not quite as silly. Breed related too. I think bonding issues are often the owners problem not the dogs. Some people can only bond if they have the puppy. Some dogs have a more independent personality no matter what age you get them but most dogs respond to kindness, attention & the person who feeds them no matter what age. No ideal age for me. I have taken dogs from 8 weeks to 5 years with no problems however while I expect reasonable behaviour & obedience & to be in charge I don't expect the dog to be trained to jump through hoops. Personal choice really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 8 weeks for me but I've also had pups at 11 weeks without issue. What matter is that they get some decent socialisation in the early weeks. It matters less whether your or the pup's breeder does it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Well socialised pups from Breeders that I respect and trust have arrived here at various ages and have all made the grade. My heart dog was 15 months. Bonding, training and behavioural issues have not been an issue with well reared pups :) Exactly as above. Some older pups & adults mongrels even settle & bond with no issues too. Training a dog the way you want it does not always mean you are fixing a mistake & training is possible at any age. I have found a 6 month old puppy will often get something quicker than an 8 week old, not quite as silly. Breed related too. I think bonding issues are often the owners problem not the dogs. Some people can only bond if they have the puppy. Some dogs have a more independent personality no matter what age you get them but most dogs respond to kindness, attention & the person who feeds them no matter what age. No ideal age for me. I have taken dogs from 8 weeks to 5 years with no problems however while I expect reasonable behaviour & obedience & to be in charge I don't expect the dog to be trained to jump through hoops. Personal choice really. totally agree with both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Well socialised pups from Breeders that I respect and trust have arrived here at various ages and have all made the grade. My heart dog was 15 months. Bonding, training and behavioural issues have not been an issue with well reared pups :) Exactly as above. Some older pups & adults mongrels even settle & bond with no issues too. Training a dog the way you want it does not always mean you are fixing a mistake & training is possible at any age. I have found a 6 month old puppy will often get something quicker than an 8 week old, not quite as silly. Breed related too. I think bonding issues are often the owners problem not the dogs. Some people can only bond if they have the puppy. Some dogs have a more independent personality no matter what age you get them but most dogs respond to kindness, attention & the person who feeds them no matter what age. No ideal age for me. I have taken dogs from 8 weeks to 5 years with no problems however while I expect reasonable behaviour & obedience & to be in charge I don't expect the dog to be trained to jump through hoops. Personal choice really. Well said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Think it depends on what the breeder is doing with the pups. If they are doing lots of enrichment stuff then a bit later is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 There are a couple of reasons my puppies don't go to new homes until they are about 10 weeks. Firstly, Staffords for some reason are apparently more prone to parvo. Therefore, in order to maximise the natural immunity they get from their mother, I don't vaccinate until 8 weeks and then they have a full two weeks to develop their own immunity. Secondly, I would prefer to ensure that they are correctly socialised as fully as they can be during their early weeks. The Rule of Sevens is a given but in addition to that there are car rides, socialisation with people in weird places and with other dogs and cats and most importantly kids. It can sometimes be difficult for new puppy people to know whether or not they are doing the right thing whilst not putting their puppy at risk in certain situations so by doing as much as I possibly can with the puppies BEFORE they leave home, I am hopefully setting them up with the best chances for successful integration into new homes. I'm not perfect, but I do know what my puppies need and it is my job to provide it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odin-Genie Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I got my first puppy (Elkhound) at 8 weeks and the second (Golden Retriever) at 12 weeks. If I had to do it all over again, I would get my GR at 8 weeks. I felt that I missed out on some valuable bonding time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosmum Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I don't think you can state 1 age is best for all dogs/homes. A lot depends on the home,the purpose of the dog,the breed,conditions at the breeders etc. 8 weeks seems a good minimum age for most,but of the best dogs I have ever owned,most were brought home at 6 weeks and I would do it again gladly,provided I was sure of the lines and able to assess the pup for myself.I have found at that age,the pups can learn basic house rules,toileting etc very very quickly,often with never an accident and have been much more in tune with their handlers,very confident around people,in new situations and willing to listen.In all cases these dogs were still raised with other dogs so didn't miss out on that part of their education but I feel it was enhanced along with the dogs ability to "read" people and situations. Assesment is much more difficult at that age though the basic personality is there to see,it hasn't been tempered so much by litter mates and mum. In very large litters,where mum is no longer feeding pups or they are spending long periods kenneled,I feel earlier homing can be the better option provided the new owner is dog savey and able to give the pup plenty of attention and time. Not something I would advise for the average owner though,especialy these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirawee Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 (edited) oops, hit the wrong button and now can't figure out how to delete LOL. Ignore me ;) Edited September 19, 2012 by mirawee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirawee Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 8 to 10 weeks for me. Mainly because I don't want to wait longer :laugh: I have no plans to buy an undesexed dog either though. ETA: I would consider an older puppy if it was from a breeder I knew and trusted :) You buy only desexed pups? No I am sick and didn't proof read properly LOL. I show so no desexed dogs here until their main show or breeding career is over :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 As a breeder I cant let my puppies go until 8 weeks but I would prefer to get my puppies around 7 weeks. Its a breed thing too. In my opinion a Maremma going to work is better to go home at 6 weeks. Up until 6 weeks dogs are taught how to behave like dogs by their Mum and their litter mates and dont really need much human one on one but after that they need more human than dog companion ship to enable them to know how to behave as pets .With Maremma human is replaced with which ever animal they are working with so in my opinion they do better and much quicker and easier if they do that at 6 weeks rather than later. Here if they are going to work I replace litter and human with lots of sheep or chooks etc depending on how they will work and while they still get lots of human I dont want them still within the litter because its harder then to stop them chasing and playing with the animals they will work with as they get them confused with litter mates. If I have one going as a Pet I get to love it and snuggle it until it goes home too as I give it less time with its litter mates and more time with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now