My query has two sides. Our in-laws are getting a 6 week old puppy on 1st December (to be called Holly) & we are due to go up for Christmas with our Battersea rescue (Jabba, between 7 and 9 years old).
My first question is a concern about the inoculations. Will it be safe for HOlly and Jabba to be together over Christmas as Holly will still be on its course of initial injections.
My second question is what is the best way to introduce them? I figured in the garden, but who should be on the lead (if any), our dog or their puppy? Jabba is good with other dogs, but she ALWAYS has to be the boss. She is very greedy too, so food rewards work well. Will this help?

Hi

Providing your Jabba is fully innoculated then the pup should be OK. The risk is when they are out - you have no idea what dogs have been around or if they have been vaccinated.

As for introducing them - the garden is as good a place as any - but you'll need to remember that it will be the pup's territory and not Jabba's. You don't say what breed either of the dogs in question are. It will be too early for the in-laws to socialize the pup much with other dogs and so difficult to see how they are likely to react. Putting one on a lead can cause problems - but I think I'd be inclined to put Jabba on a lead so that you can have control, "just in case". If she is a big dog and the pup very small, it wouldn;t take much to frighten the pup and that can take ages to put right. Have lots of treats and gove her lots of praise. Try not to get involved unless you really have to - let them get to know each other. Most dogs get on OK.

Do let us know how it goes.

Pam n the two mad mutts

Thanks Pammy

Jabba was fully inoculated when she came from Battersea in the summer. She is due for flea treatment again & worming I suppose. So there should be no problem there. The puppy if from a KC breeder, so her pups should be all up to spec.

Jabba is a GSD / Lab cross & the new puppy is a black Lab, so we are hoping Jabba will feel some instinctive distant bond (long shot but we've gotta have hope!!). She is quite big (24" tall) & of course the pup will still be quite teeny. I am thinking the lead is the best way forward for Jabba. The complicating factor is Jabba hates cats, squirrels, terriers - basically anything small and furry, yet she loves our friend's 18 month old spaniel (just that bit bigger, you see).

We shall know the outcome soon enough. Thanks for you help.

I have to just add, now that I have finally registered, I really love the site, I have learnt so much through reading the message boards. Thanks to everyone who has contributed.

You're welcome - hope all goes well. You'll be able to get a feel for how the new pup is settling in and take it from there. But please do remember your dog is big to the pup who will still be quite small - but being a lab - very sturdy. Chances are the pup will have forgotten how big her mum was, but you never know.

Pam

Welcome to the forum Jabba :-) Leigh

Excuse me for jumping in here with large feet, but what sort of breeder allows a puppy to leave home at SIX WEEKS! This is far to early, if a licenced breeder they should not leave before 8 weeks, and any responsible breeder would not allow a puppy to leave before 7 weeks at the very earlyist! I would tread very carefully if I were the people buying this puppy, that they are not buying from a puppy farmer, and that the puppy has been reared carefully and is not harbouring illness, worms, or whatever. Just because they mention the word KC it is not any indication at all that they are responsible people, or that the puppy will actually have this magical piece of paper! By Xmas this baby will just be about the age a responsible breeder would be happy to let it go-although not at Xmas itself!-so I would imagine the pup will possibly still be seeking to go under any dog it meets, so watch yours as some dogs don't take to kindly to this!
Just a few thoughts

Jusjokin, I think that you will find that it is *common practice* to let puppies go at six weeks.I know quite a few *reputable* breeders who let pup's go at this age. I personally, think that it is to early.Puppies change dramatically between 6 - 7 weeks. And having had a puppy at 6 weeks against my better judgement, never again !! :-) Leigh

Well Leigh, if it is *common practice* to let puppies go at 6 weeks then I'm just glad that I am not one of them! Nor anyone else I know in different breeds who would not contemplate letting a puppy so young go.

It's very dependent upon the experience of the people buying the puppy, I believe. In some cases, it is preferrable to take a puppy at six weeks and provide the individual stimulation. Kai came to live with us at six weeks, but then I've had GSPs for thirty some years too. His mother had weaned them at three weeks and wanted nothing to do with the tiny teeth and feet. I have Kai's half-sister and a border collie bitch also, both of whom are absolutely wonderful with him. Plus I'm home all day and can provide the necessary stimulation and security that a young puppy needs.

He's now eleven weeks old and absolutely fearless and completely housebroken.

Having said all that, I would say that, as a breeder, I would not let a six-week or even an eight-week old puppy go to people at Christmas time that I did not know extremely well and knew to be very experienced with puppies. Any litters that I ever had at Christmas (and I always tried to never breed during that timeframe) stayed with me until after the New Year when things were less hectic -- unless I trusted the people explicitly.

My JR x PBGV came to me at 6 weeks due to some tragic circumstances, he arrived at 8pm with about 30mins advance warning. . I already had a 13 yo collie and a dog hating GSD. I bought him into the house and kept him next to me while the GSD had a good sniff round. We had no problems whatsoever, by the next day they were playing together, and they really are the best of friends now, even sharing bones, beds and food bowls.

My puppies start to go to their new homes at 7 to 8 weeks, as most people want to collect weekends, they could be anything from just over 7 weeks to just under 8. I wouldn't dream of letting them go at 6 weeks, also our breed clubs code of ethics states 7 weeks as a minimum age. this gives you the chance to have them wormed at least twice, and for them to have been properly weaned, though my bitches will still give a comfort feed every now and then until pups are about 10 to 12 weeks!

Hi, I agree I would never let a 6 week puppy go either, unless it was maybe a hand reared one to a very experienced home - but that doesn't happen very often. I would also hold puppies til after Christmas and New Year unless they were childless, staying at home 24/7 and having no parties. Puppies of this age sleep almost all the time except for bursts of activity after each meal.

One other point is to consider not taking the older dog outside the garden for walks until the puppy has finished its jabs - it may bring "something" back that it is protected against but the puppy isn't.

Sorry to have started a big to do about getting a puppy at 6 weeks. I am of course worried about this now, but can anyone explain clearly why it is such a bad thing. I have read in some recent dog behavourial books that 6 weeks is OK. Of course our in-laws are keen to do the best for Holly so we want to get it right, but if the breeder says it OK, why are other breeders here saying it is a bad thing. We had our previous puppy at 9 weeks (but that was 15 years ago), and people told us that was too late!!!

Please help, v v v confused now. Jabba

I've seen this too recently, but quite how you socialise a 6 week old pup is a bit of a mystery to me.
My pup was not supposed to leave his mum till he was 8 weeks but she was needed to foster his two younger half brothers whose mum had died as she was still producing milk although he was weaned.
As far as the older dogs and innoculations goes, I live in the coutry and we get foxes and hedgehogs in the garden which also carry the risks of disease. I was told by my vet that any risk from the older innoculated dogs was minimal.

Organisations like the Guide Dogs for the Blind always send their puppies out at 6 weeks because they wish their dogs to become more human orientated than dog orientated as they are to spend their lives working with a human rather than playing with other dogs. However puppies learn so much between 6 weeks and 8 weeks and are so much better learning how to be dogs with their mother and their brothers and sisters than just being in human company. Doing this you are much more likely to get a well adjusted dog who can relate both to other dogs and to humans.

Incidentally I start taking puppies out (in my arms) before 6 weeks, and take them to visit a friend who has a German Shepherd as well as two Griffons, at 5 or 6 weeks old. I also don't stop taking my other dogs out whilst the puppies are young. It may be a risk, but as far as I'm concerned a calculated risk and I believe they gain so much from this socialisation that I feel it is worth while.

It always used to be fairly common practice for puppies (especially from the medium sized breeds) to go to their new homes at six weeks, it is much more modern thinking for them to stay until at least 8 weeks. My own breed code of ethics says 10 weeks. It also used to be common practice for some breeds to start breeding at about 12 months old whereas now most (including me) would say that this is far too young, or for bitches to have puppies at two successive seasons and then to rest for 18 months or so, whereas now we say at least a year between litters. Thinking seems to change all the time

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

The GDB has a near 100% success rate with 2000 puppies a year producing dogs that work well with humans without having problems with the dogs they meet I find it difficult to imagine that keeping the pups with mother till 8 weeks will make them "MORE likely to get a well adjusted dog who can relate to both other dogs and to humans" As I say I prefer to hang on till 8 weeks but I dont think Jabba should worry too much I think they can do just as well at 6 weeks in a knowledgable home.

Isabel

That is interesting. I take my pups across to my friend who has a Puppy adoring Golden Retriever, and take them a few doors up to my Dobermann owning friend, who has a dog who, loves my pups (but has not been too keen on his new Puppy Dobe housemate, must think puppies should have Fur coats :) ). They get told off a bit by the Veteran girls, and it teaches them a lot. Also from 2 weeks of age they mix with the rest of their canine family whose attitudes to them vary.

I help out a a pet dog training class, and most of the problems we comea across are caused by lack of socialisation with other dogs!!! That extra week or two help them learn how to behave acceptabley round other dogs. The Guide dogs are wanted to bond almost exclusively with people, they are not meant to be distracted into being dogs, I have met a number who are not at all comfortable with theri own kind. I am partially sighted and have blind friends. They also are neutered very young, before puberty, to control their dogginess!

>>....and have blind friends. They also are neutered very young, before puberty, to control their dogginess!

Your poor friends !! ROTFLOL ;-)

Leigh

I bettter not tell them they have been neiteredto stop their canine instincts, :D~

I have never let a puppy go before 8 weeks but that is mostly for my own selfish reasons! However the Guide for the Blind puppies are placed with their walkers at 6 weeks and they are hugely successful in terms of socialisation with people and dogs so if you feel your breeder is placing the pup with you because they are confident you are able rearers rather than for their own convenience I would not worry.

Isabel

Having had recent experience of a puppy (came to us at 8 weeks, saw her at 24 hours old), to be honest my biggest worry would be whether the pup would eat decorations or get hold of cooked turkey bones etc - pups are so mixchievous and one has to constantlykeep an eye on them, as you know i am sure!

Our girl (now nearly 7 months) was basically into everything, you have never seen such a tidy living room as we had the day after we brought her home!

I feel 6 weeks is OK if you are expereinced, if not just get lots of help form here if you need it and read loads!!! The GDBA puppy walkers have lots of help and back up, after all. I am sure it will be fine as long as you and inlaws are happy with the breeder and so on, and she has done relevant rests on parent dogs etc etc etc.......and make sure the pup does get lots of positive socialisation with other dogs of all shapes and sizes when vaccinated. Take pup out in arms before the vaccination course is completed. And....have fun :)

Phew..thankgoodness I'm not alone in thinking 6 weeks is to young! In regard to the guide dog puppy walkers-they are very experienced people, well used to young pups with good backup. What does suprise me is that they don't have to conform to the breeding of dogs act for licenced breeders, or is that because they are not actually selling the puppies?
Regarding this 6 week old Lab. I guess if all the advice regarding its parents given from here to people who wish to breed their dogs,has been applied by its breeder, then all will hopefully be well. (Hip scored parents, eye tested, done well in show or field etc) Then, with a lifetime backup for the puppy, good socialisation before leaving, and really precise written instructions on handling such a young puppy, then perhaps letting it go so soon is not cost-cutting on the litter.
I agree with the person who states puppies need to learn how to interact with others by learning from the litter and their Mum. She may not stay with them constantly, but her input is so important.I don't agree with animal behaviourists about the 'right' time to leave because they cannot make their own minds up regarding this, and regulary change their opinions!

Your not alone. I agree with you :-)

I don't disagree with you. I just feel that there are no hard and fast rules. Heck, as I've stated I wouldn't let an eight week old puppy go to a home over Christmas unless I was satisfied that the puppy would not be lost up in the holiday hoopla. Every case has to be looked at individually and I just don't think that a general condemnation of breeders who let their puppies go to specific homes earlier than eight weeks is necessary.

Hi. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree then!! :)
As I said, providing all the health checks have been carried out on the breeding dogs, as always recommended here, and its not just a case of saving 1-2 weeks extra food, heat etc then OK. But I still don't agree that a pup should leave the nest untill 7 weeks. If 6 weeks were to be taken as the norm, how long before 5 weeks and 6 days are allowed, if the weekend falls before the leaving date?
As I said, don't want to 'fight' over this, we are both entitled to our opinions :)