Im half way through the registration process to becoming an Assured Breeder (final part of jigsaw will be when I register my litter of pups which arent born yet). However they dont send you all the final paperwork until that has been done.  Is there anything in the official documents that state that pups cannot go to their new homes until they are 8 weeks old. Ive had a query about someone wanting to collect a (medium gundog breed) pup for a specific reason (not a birthday) at just over 7 weeks.  Ive read everything I can find and cant find anything directly relating to this as a 'rule', just want to check my position really.

Thank you.

when i was a accedited breeder i let mine go the weekend after they where 7weeks old, didnt think it had changed.

Official Kennel Club guidelines say "around 8 weeks". I would say 7 weeks isn't around 8 weeks myself, 7 weeks and 5 days might be! However my bitch was bought from a Kennel club assured breeder and we collected her at 6 weeks and 0 days!

wow 6weeks thats way to young to leave litter mates imo

Its 8 wks if you are a licensed breeder in my local authority (have to have a license if more than 2 bitches here)

No, there's no homing age specified for Assured Breeders. In the past the KC website has advised that between 7 and 8 weeks of age is ideal for homing puppies, but there are no firm rules.

though my bitch setted the easiest of any pup I have ever bought, happy as larry. Though that might be the Golden Retriever temperament!

We too have a had a Golden retriever pup at 6 weeks, he was the only one in the litter and I had 2 older Goldens. He was fine and ready to leave.

My litter of a medium gundog breed would not have been ready to go at that age and IMO were not ready until 8 weeks, but more than ready by 9!

Thank you for your replies, I just didnt know if there was any 'rule' for Assured Breeders before I answered the query.  Ive decided on not letting them go until 8 weeks, just so I can make sure that they are totally independent in feeding and that they are as mature as they can be before going, especially as the family concerned are first time dog owners. In my experience with guide dog pups who have arrived at 6 weeks, they just dont seem as ready to be on their own without mum and siblings, they have hardly finished the weaning process and havent started to 'pull away' from the litter to become their own personality quite so much.  There is also considerably less bite inhibition at this age with this breed as well. Its just confirmed my thinking really, I should trust myself a bit more!

It's very breed dependent, in my breed by 7 weeks they are really starting to become demanding on an individual basis. 

I find the weekend after 7 weeks works fine especially as I rarely have pups going at the same time and homing usually happens over about two weeks. (if all pups homed, longer otherwise)