hello guys just wondered what you would do in this situation.

Puppy is 5.5 weeks old.
Has been weaned, on occasion still succles mum ( i know, i know, it isn't fully weaned) this is what the bitches owners are doing.
he does eat and drink from a bowl.
Mum is declining to feed pups at all now - is very distressed.
Pups were also having welpi. the smaller pups still do.
Bailey is the largest pup, and doesn't have welpi.
The bitches owner has said bailey is ready to go as the bitch won't feed them as of yesterday.

it is all a tad messy i think. :(
Vets opinion is that it is young. but if mother isn't feeding them then it should be okay.

The thing is its only been 1 day that the bitch hasn't given them a feed at all.

when the bitch enters the room they follow her round still trying to attach so obviously she still has milk.

ALARM BELLS are ringing in my head. :(  :(   :(

what would you reccomend ??????

Run the other way

Anyone who will let puppies go at 5.5 weeks, for that reason, cannot be trusted to have done all the correct rearing of them.

Sounds to me as if all they are interested in is getting the cash, not the welfare of the pups.

To be honest you would probably do better for the pup than they are, but it is quite a commitment to take on, and the puppy will have learnt very little from its mother by this age

Hello,

I am not getting at you. Please don't take this personally. But what else did you expect taking into account how the bitch was mated in the park without your consent as the owner of the dog

Now you are faced with two possibilities.

1. Walk away (or run) as Lady Dazzle put it.
2.If you decide you will still have the pup,then take him now.

Again as L.Dazzle says you may well do better than the owners of the bitch are doing. 5.5 weeks is really to young to leave his mom.

Sorry you are suck in the middle of all this, with no easy descision either way. Karen

I would never let any of my pup's go at this age,there far to young to leave mum,even if she is'nt feeding them ,mum still need's to learn them manner's etc..
it seem's to me these people are fed up with the pup's ca'nt wait to get rid of them and are just loking forward to the cash!
can't beleive people like this,my pup's don't leave till there 10 week's fully innoculated and microchipped,i definetly look for a different puppy if i where you!
good luck

Its not just a case of being able to feed himself but a puppy needs to be with its parents and siblings for socialisation reasons...the kind of socialisation only comes from its siblings and mother
Archer

<<<it seem's to me these people are fed up with the pup's ca'nt wait to get rid of them and are just loking forward to the cash!>>>

Yep, just in time for Xmas <rolling eyes>
These pups still have a lot to learn from each other even if the b!tch has had enough. If these people cared remotely about the pups they're producing, they'd see that they were at least fully weaned & socialised before sending them on their way <taking off rose tinted glasses>

Am I correct in thinking you are looking to buy this puppy? If so, can you not just suggest they keep him another week - if your heart is set on him? Personally, I wouldn't let pups go before 7.5 to 8 weeks on a litter raised in the home...BUT, I got Willis at 6 weeks as he was raised in a stable and I haven't looked back. In a large breed, I would want the pup as early as possible - a nicer natured dog you would struggle to find... :)

My point is that if the owners are not socialising the pup properly, then you would be better to have him early - but no earlier than 6 weeks. If you are happy he is getting what he needs, ask them to hang on - if they won't, then you know what to do ;)

We collected our pup at 6 weeks old and haven't looked back, but it varies with different breeds, the breed we chose matures very early and needs to be placed with it's future family early to avoid problems later.  He was of course fully weaned and from the moment he left his breeder (one of the top breeders in the country) he has been content, confident and very settled.  The breed must be taken into consideration, as must the character of the individual puppy.

Good luck with your decision

Hayley :)

I agree with all that has been said. If your heart is still set on having this pup why not suggesting they take deposits for the pup and keep them till they are 7-8 weeks old, buy a colored collar and paint the nails to ensure the pup you picked. Just a thought since it sounds like they are only after the money, this way they guarentee a home for the pup and also they get to stay with mom 2-3 more weeks.

I never let my pups go before 71/2 weeks and if it was around x-mas not until the new year. They are a lot of work but I just loved having them patter around :)

Good luck in what you decide :)

UPDATE............

went to see bailey last night again. (i go at least twice a week).

Bitches owner tried to assure me he was ready.

Absolutley no way is he....  he is still hankering after mum wanting to feed, and she is putting welpi into the afternoon feed.

i told her i was dissatisfied and not willing to take him at such an early age. I decided on a date and told her it would be then that i fetched him. She agreed. he will be seven weeks 3 days old by then.

i will be going to see him at least three times a week from now on, to check progress, will keep you updated..

What about the other pups? is the breeder "making" them go early too?

Karen

although this was an unplanned mating. i am aware that i share the pups welfare equally.

i adviced her that she should keep all pups till at least seven weeks, and keep the bitch from feeding even the odd time, and also to slowly cut out the welpi.

They have their jabs on the 10th. they will be seven weeks exactly.

hopefully she will follow my advice - recieved from the vet.

But i do think that she may let the stronger ones go earlier, as some of the owners-to-be want to take the pups to be innoculated themselves.