Have question from the new owner of one of our pups...they want to pick up on a Sunday, pups will be 8 weeks on that Tuesday... They have a bit of a journey, 3 + hours.    One of the new owners works shifts would be off, SUN-MON-TUES with new puppy that is why they would like to pick up a "bit early".    This is our first litter here, we are holding pups until 8 weeks 4 days + ,   what's the breeding community comment on this type of request.    Many Thanks

I let my pups go at the weekend there at 7 weeks 5 days and 7 weeks 6 days, again if suited the families and me and the pups and their mum were ready.  Do what feels right for you.

I wouldn't hesitate at all. If your username is a clue I have the same breed as you ;) I let mine leave at 7 weeks for 14 litters until I joined the Assured Breeder scheme where they insist on you keeping them until 8 weeks. The book,of the bitch actually advises 7 weeks is better then 8 and and from my own observations mine are very ready to leave at 7 weeks, totally confident and settle very well. In fact the puppies I keep on for people if they cannot collect for a weeks or two I always feel they are missing valuable bonding/ adjusting time.

I would have no problem at all with this. Mine are ready at 6 weeks, let alone 7 or 8 LOL I use the nearest weekend to 8 weeks to let them go. Could be the one before or the one after. Common sense should prevail always.

no backlash when they took their new pup to vet for check?   Guess that is part of my worry.   Believe pups will be ready they are thriving now 5 weeks , Mum is doing ok with the weaning process Believe she'll be totally ready in another week or so.

No. In fact as most pups are taken for first jab at 8 weeks it gives pup time to settle before the stress of vaccinating.

I usually start to let my pups go the weekend after 7 weeks, means that they are normally all gone over about two weeks..

This litter were born on the weekend and one was going to a couple who are both Vets and the following weekend was Bank Holiday and they live in the worst blackspot, so I let them have her at 7 weeks, but they and his mother are very experienced dog people with showing and breeding.

Our breed Clubs code of ethics states not to be homes before 7 weeks, certainly my breed are more than ready to fly the nest by then, but I am not ready to see them go LOL

Actually many sources state that 49 days (7 weeks) mentally is the ideal age to change hoems as by 8 weeks pups enter a fear stage.

Yes name gives a clue, thanks loads.  We were AKC members several years ago, same with the 8 week mark, I wasn't having much of an issue with this but just wanted to get a feel for here in the UK.   Thank you so much, I agree about the bonding time, we are keeping 2 that will be just about 10 weeks, sure we'll be handing over housebroken pups, but good families that are well prepared just had their holidays booked also.  I very much appreciate your time in replying.   P

Thank you AGAIN, for your time in replying.   We are new to breeding in the UK just trying to get a feel for the community.

Thank you

> Actually many sources state that 49 days (7 weeks) mentally is the ideal age to change hoems as by 8 weeks pups enter a fear stage.

Barbara - that is exactly what my own vet says.  I've explained to him that my breed club says 12 weeks.  I often feel that they seem to be past the fear stage when mine go.  They are coming to their names when they go, but of course most of them have been to the seaside by then, and met a whole load of different people.

I do try to get them used to pretty much everything that I can but my vet reckons 49days and won't budge from his belief.

I think the vets don't get the toy breed infantilisation that means that toy pups are less advanced physically, anf I suspect mentally.

I let mine leave at 7 weeks for 14 litters until I joined the Assured Breeder scheme where they insist on you keeping them until 8 weeks.

No they don't. They just insist on having it in writing from your vet if you let them go before 8 weeks, that the pups are fine to go. And as you have to have them vet checked anyway, no problem.

Thank you

Just for interest's sake:  Here where I live (Switzerland), our breed club (FCI-affiliated) stipulates in its breeding regulations that we are not allowed to let our puppies go before they have completed 10 weeks.  A breeder can even get an addtional unannounced visit from the club authorities one day before the 10 weeks are up - just to be sure nobody is cheating - , a "pleasure" for which the breeder is charged CHF 120.00 (about 88.00 GBP) every time they come.  There is no leeway for people needing to pick up their puppy a day early for any reason whatsoever.  I tried to fight for a little understanding, but got told to shut up.  I would love to give my pups at 8 weeks.  They need to be treated individually, and mine have to remain in a bunch for two weeks longer.

Is that all breeds Nimue, or just your breed or toy breeds which I know many breed clubs in the UK have codes that say  older than 8 weeks often 10 or even 12 weeks with the real tinies.

Can't imagine having to hang onto a whole large breed litter past 10 weeks.

ABS def allows earlier than 8 weeks- one of mine from an AB came at 6 weeks...

I picked up another of mine the weekend she was 7 weeks (turned 8 mid/end of the following week) due to ferry time table - not an issue at all - if I waited til the following weekend it was only a 12hr boat as an option whereas coming a bit early was a 4hr trip

>Is that all breeds Nimue, or just your breed or toy breeds which I know many breed clubs in the UK have codes that say  older than 8 weeks often 10 or even 12 weeks with the real tinies. Can't imagine having to hang onto a whole large breed litter past 10 weeks.

The breeding regulations of the Swiss chapter of the FCI in Bern, which rules all the breed clubs - even though these have a certain degree of autonomy in some areas - stipulate that puppies must be retained by the breeder at least until the end of 9 weeks.  Our club decided to make that 10 weeks.  I hate it.  The last two weeks are really hell.  Simply because there is always an element of frustration present.  I cannot provide my pups with what they really need, which is individual attention and learning experiences such as they would have as a family puppy.  It's all very well that they still (supposedly) "learn all manner of terribly important things from Mum and their siblings", but my experience causes me to question that.  Also:  it is said that there is a period of fear between the ages of 8 weeks and 12 weeks, and that puppies should be given to their new homes either at 8 weeks or else not until 12 weeks.
However, I would not be in favor of giving a puppy away before the age of 8 weeks.

I would say around 8 weeks is fine, mine are ready to go from 7 weeks and I fit around the new parents wishes to an extent, I did have a shock once when one family turned up with their camper van, I thought no more of it until my 48 hour follow up call when I learnt they were on holiday in Devon. It turned out to be wonderful and went everywhere with them no problems at all.

I can't imagine having GSD puppies until they are 10 weeks old, by then I would have no shred of sanity left

If the situation fits, go for it.  BUT they should be aware that being with the puppy for a few days, isn't an answer.   Few months perhaps!    I'd let mine go at that age, days around 8 weeks, but only if the litter was doing well, perhaps if it was a big litter where puppies often did better once out into a one on one situation, and I knew the people and had done for some time before the time to let the puppy go.    Otherwise none of mine left until 10 weeks (and yes, there was a degree of 'insanity' involved).    Again it's up to you, depending on the circumstances there.

Wow interesting to know.  Believe these people who want the pick up 2 days before the 8 weeks are well organised with their timing of someone being home for their new addition.  Going with my instincts with them.   We have 10 pups so the work will continue !

Here in the UK there is a general rule of thumb that puppies should NOT leave their Mum until they are 8 weeks old.  Personally, I like to keep my puppies until they are 10 weeks or even 12 weeks old because I believe they benefit from the socialisation they get from Mum.  I know most are keen to let them go by 8 weeks and I will if there is a good reason for them to go that early, but wherever possible I hold on to them for at least 10 weeks

It's very breed dependent, and also litter dependent.

Hi with my breed i let them  start leaving at 7weeks as socialising is a must and if leaving at 8 weeks the window is even smaller as vets advise after jabs to stay in for a week