wondered if anyone can shed any light. I have a litter 3 weeks old. A breeder has offered me pick bitch from her litter and said I can take her when the pup is 4/5 weeks old there is only a day between the two litters. so the pup would join my pack so to speak.

I have never heard of this is it a good idea?

Many thanks

Depending on breed no pup should leave it's mother before 7 weeks regardless of whether you already have dogs, and as for mixing litters from different homes this is never a good idea as the bugs yours are immune to may not be those the other litter has resistance to and vice versa.

I have allowed the two last pups from an older litter play with the younger litter by 3 weeks with supervision, but of course their Mums live together, and they were only ever separated by one room, and the younger ones were 5 - 6 weeks old.

I think this is a terrible idea. The 'other' puppy needs to stay with her own mother till she's 8 weeks old. I don't believe it's as simple as putting her in with your pups and expecting your bitch to accept the situation.

Dawn R.

I wouldn't bring in a pup from another just in case of infection, you just never know if one or the other litter pick up a virus etc. and it could spread through all of them definitely not a chance I would take.

Also what if mum of your litter doesn't accept the pup?

I would keep pup with it's own mother for reasons stated. A breeder acquaintance of mine took in a pup whose mother had passed, the pup was 4 weeks, apart from potential reactions from the dam, the litter realised immediately it did not belong and they all pulled it's ears and picked on it, they continued to do this for quite a while, eventually things settled thankfully for the pup, but I don't think it is a good idea to take a pup from it's siblings and put it with complete strangers, the litter all get to know each other by scent and sight and they are already starting to test each other re: pecking orders they are not silly and don't notice that a stranger has appeared also some breeds may be less tolerant than others of an interloper.

Sounds like a great idea, but in reality I don't think it is.

I wouldn't accept this arrangement either for reasons already stated as well as how can a pup be evaluated "pick of the litter" at  such a young age.

Is this breeder expecting a pup from your litter at the same age in return? I would wait till at least 8 weeks before accepting or rehoming pups to be sure their dams have had the opportunity to do any teaching of manners etc.

A friend of mine took a pup of 8 wks when she had a litter of around 5 wks - her whole litter died died of parvo brought in by the new puppy who survived. For that reason I'd never bring in an unvaccinated dog of any description.

When we had a litter of 6 week old puppies one time, we got a call through the grapevine that another breeder in our breed had lost his bitch during a section and was looking for a foster mum.  As our pups were all but weaned, I said I would give it a try as the pups were failing fast.
Our bitch took to the pups straight away and as soon as they started feeding, she gave everyone in the room a warning growl to say they were her pups now! lol. but... completely different story if she could see her own litter.  She would growl at the 'new' puppies as if she just seemed to realise they were not hers?  She fed those puppies right up till they were 4 weeks old and they did thrive, but she didn't treat them the same as her babies.  She still wanted to sleep/play/be around her own pups but she would obligingly feed the'interlopers' with little interaction past feeding/cleaning.
Once the new pups were at 4 weeks they were completely weaned and the older litter and the rest of my pack taught them the dog rules, not my bitch, she was not interested in them in the least.
Funny as she was the absolute best mum and adored her own lot.
I wouldn't take this pup to your home till your pups are all away.

Agree with reason already mentioned but also I would be questioning any breeder who is ok with a pup going at this age even if it is into another litter. Also pick of bitches at 4 - 5 weeks not sure what breed but although in my litters I would have an idea which was staying at this age I wouldn't definately have decided one was best.

I had  GSD once who fostered another litter in an emergency when hers were 4 weeks old. She took to them right away and would feed her own pups on a visit to them morning and evening and spent most of her time with the new litter (They were newborn, Mum died) She was a supermum a one in a lifetime Mum and did a briliant job. She never differentuated between them and would happily go from one room to the other to check on them all!
But she was special, you may find your Mum will not play and anyway if the pups Mum is still doing a good job then the pups need to stay with her. In my opinion do not do it, It is not an emergency and would be a silly move.
Aileen