Given that we have many discussions here about the "right" age for a pup to leave the breeders home. What are peoples views on flat coats ? The reason I ask, as I have been speaking to a couple or 3 breeders and one of things and there seems to be more things to think about the more I research.One of the many things I am weighing up is the age of prospective pup and my personal circumstances ie being off work for 6 weeks.

Well I could be totally wrong and only form my opinion, like most, on personal experience but I have found those pups that know the dog on dog body language and have at least some bite inhibition and knowledge of where to urinate are those who do not leave the nest until at least 8 weeks. Those I have had earlier are without such skills and the one I had a nearly 15 weeks has been the most difficult of all but I do suspect that he may have left the nest early as he was picked up for me by another breeder and then homed in their kennel so I do not know the details of this particular dog who may just have a difficult personality anyway, however he had no idea how to approach another dog although he is not aggressive just clueless.

I wouldnt consider having a pup before 8 weeks and these breeders are experienced so hope fully will guide me, interesting about the 15 weeks. I was thinking between 10 and 12, 10 being my ideal. Being a person of little knowledge and have never breed want to gain more knowledge.   

Thing is I do not know about the one I had late, it could be that he had a character fault as his brother went directly to his new home and was totally different. It could also be he was taken from the nest early and then placed in a kennel situation for a few weeks and thus had no one to learn from, by far the biggest problem is his inability to interact with other dogs and the need to be reassured the whole time. Given a choice I would take in a pup at the age of 8 weeks unless the breeder had the pup in the house and started socialisation activities.

It used to be said that dogs enter a fear stage somewhere between 10 and 12 weeks so it is best that they are settled in their new home by then and there is some reason to believe this - a dog that has met vacuum cleaners and domestic noise before the age of 10 weeks seems much more laid back where as those who have been in kennels are unnerved by noise and new experiences and this lasts a life time.

As to early removal that seems to cause all sorts of problems & I think they need the dam and siblings to learn how to deal with others of their kind and eventually with people.

We've always had pups from around 8 weeks, and with my one litter we let 2 pups go at 8 weeks and one at 4 months (we ran two girls on).  The one who left at 16 weeks settled in really well to her new home with no issues at all.  So I think probably environmental experience as well as age plays a role when older.

Certainly I wouldn't consider letting a pup go before 8 weeks, and if it wasn't emotionally ready, I would keep as long as needed.

>What are peoples views on flat coats ?

I wonder if it's necessarily breed specific or if it's down to size and type?  One routinely hears that gundogs, of similar size, can leave from 7.5 weeks.  Presumably it's quite helpful for the breeder, and owner, if collection times can be staggered to allow quality time for this exciting event (and last minute advice :) ) so this may be spread across several days or more.  I'd expect also that breeders may sometimes wish to organise things so that certain puppies can have a few extra days if necessary.

Thank you this is interesting all ready I am putting more questions on my list to ask and may slighty change my thoughts about age depending on answer. obviously for the point of my question I am sounding like it is all up to me I fully realise that most of the decisions will ultimately fall with the breeder but I am trying to prepare the ground so any pup I have has the best possible start. There are somethings I have done before with the best intentions that I wont do again feeling that in the end they wern't the best.

imo i think 8weeks is a very good age to let them go to their new homes.
xx

I tend to not like more than two pups to go on any one day,a nd many people prefer a wekend, may have a prefrencde or need to collect at a differnt time.

With my won pups I start to let pups go from the weekend after they are 7 weeks.

Of c`ourse pupies receive appropriate socuialisation for their age.  So pups staying longer such as this year the oen that went to Australia had already been going for walks etc before going off to a months Quarantine prior to arrivign in ehr home a very well adjusted little person ready to go to shows in Baby Puppy classes.  Others ahve stayed with me due to woenrs holiday commitments, and occasionally stayed longer because they were waiting on having a hoem t go to.

For me socialisation is key and to get that done you need to have the pups earlier. All of our pups have come here to their new home between 7-8 weeks. I'd personally be somewhat concerned if the breeder of any large breed dog(gundog's included) wanted to keep the pups until they were 10 weeks or older, unless they can come up with a valid reason.

I've not commented on the vaccination part yet, but that goes in hand, my last pup had his first vaccination, this did cause somewhat of an issue with my vets as they didn't have the same brand, which meant calling up other vets in the hope that they stocked this brand. If not then i'd of got my breeders vet to send one to mine or driven down to her vet for the 2nd vaccination.

Looks like I will be looking for the pup to be with me earlier than I have in the past they have usually been 12 weeks. Not that I have had any problems but I want to give the pup the best chance to be a well balanced happy little furbaby.
This will be the first time I have introduced a pup, well second I supose but Mia's cirumstance and arrival were completely different, into a multi dog house and  2 cats and I am keen to get it as right as possible.
I know I am starting plans early as I wont have a pup until next July but all advice is gratefully recieved

Vaccination Sue was my next question if you get a pup at 8 weeks is there any reason why you could not do the vaccinations yourself well not yourself but you know what I mean lol?

I'm with suejaw here.  Socialisation is key.  I think it's good for the departure of puppies to be spread over a week long period, so they don't all go on the same day.  For our litter next year, I plan to let them start leaving at 7 wks and the last to leave at 8 wks.  WEll, I might need to keep back some which are going abroad, but that's not optional.

Of course you do the jabs yourself if you collect the pup at 8wks!  1st jab at 8 wks, 2nd at 10 wks IMO.  Then out and about socialising.

yes rabid im doing the same 1 pups will go about 7weeks 3days and over 4 days pups leave for new homes, i only give 1st jab to pups that will be living within 20miles so they can go back to my vets if theres dont do same jab my vet does plus pups that owners have made sure their vets do the same jab,the thought of pup having to have extra jabs :( not nice xx

i only give 1st jab to pups that will be living within 20miles so they can go back to my vets if theres dont do same jab my vet
Do give that consideration.  I'm told by my Vet that mixing newly vaccinated pups (live virus shedding) with unvaccinated pups is not a good idea....... :)

I prefer to have my pups at 7 weeks, many do, and of course the GDBA likes them to go at 6.

I never want the breeder to vaccinate my pups as it means that they end up having three jabs!

I did not give my youngest dog (now 6) his first jab until he was 9 weeks old, two weeks after he arrived and two weeks after he had been on the ground (everywhere) and I have another dog at home.

Everyone has different views, there is no ONE right way.

i think im going to give the jabs a miss now! but if i have the same amount i have on my list them i can still do 1st jabs :) xx

We bought our 3 at 10 weeks and a few days, and I think Ellie might have been 11 weeks. Our first 2 boys had had both jabs, at 8 and 10 weeks, and Ellie hadn't had any. The pups I sold I let go at 10 weeks, that seems to be the most common time in my breed, and as our vet at that time did jabs at 7 and 9 weeks, that worked fine to just make sure they had no reaction to the jab.

> Looks like I will be looking for the pup to be with me earlier than I have in the past they have usually been 12 weeks. Not that I have had any problems but I want to give the pup the best chance to be a well balanced happy little furbaby.
>

and you can ensure this whatever the age if the breeder does the proper socialisation for the pups age.  So really it does back down to choice of concientious breeder.

At least now I have a longer list to ask  breeder I am being drawn towards. Hopefully she is happy with me seems so far