Hi, could anyone tell how old puppies should be when they leave there mum???

Generally sometime after 7 weeks for Medium breeds. Often toy breeds are kept longer, say 12 weeks, and some of the big breeds also often don't start to go until 8 weeks plus.

It is illegal to sell a puppy until the age of 8 weeks unless to a pet shop license holder at 6 weeks

Have you proof of that, Mayhem? I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to discover if there is a minimum legal age that private breeders (unlicenced) can sell a puppy. A licenced breeder can only sell a puppy to the general public at 8 weeks+, or to a licenced pet shop before that. But I can find no reference to unlicenced breeders.

I have since been told its 6 weeks then another 3 weeks before the dog can go out.

Six weeks seem's much too young. Eight weeks is nearer the mark, also a pup can't go out until after it's second jabs, so it depends at waht age they're given. If I remember correctly, we picked Libby up at 8 weeks, and she was almost 12 weeks old before it was safe to take her out. We did do lead training in the house and in our garden and that helped...a bit:)

liberty:)

I had to wait till he was 8weeks to get mine and he had his jabs at 8weeks and then 12weeks. This was the same for all the people at my training class too.

To my knowledge there is no age limit when a young puppy can be sold by an unlicensed breeder. My first puppy was only 5 weeks old when I brought him home but that was many years ago and I do feel that it is not the most desirable age to take a puppy from it's dam. I must admit though that in those far off days we did things differently.

Regards, John

"It is illegal to sell a puppy until the age of 8 weeks unless to a pet shop license holder at 6 weeks"

So the law says it is acceptable for a 6 week old puppy to be sold into a shop enviroment but not into a family one, where it is more likely to receive proper care, attention and love :rolleyes:

Mayhem, I would also ask for clarification, because I have read the ruling and it is open for debate whether this 'law' applies to unlicenced breeders?