Hi everyone

Today my pups were out in the garden playing and I just popped in the shed to get their food and was gone for just a second when I heard one of the pups screaming. I ran back in the garden to find one limping on three legs. I picked her up and (still screaming) and took her inside. One of her toes started to swell up and she could not walk on it so I rushed her to the vets. After an X-ray showed that she had detatched the ligiments on her toe I was told to keep her quite for Four weeks but to take her back in two weeks to see how it is healing, as she is meant to be going to her new home then.

The thing is I have to keep her away from the rest of the litter and she is not liking this at all and is literally climbing the wall trying to get out of the window and has already found an escape in the form of the cat flap, I have a cage for her (its one of the biggest) and put her in it while I went and fed and cleaned the others but she screamed the whole time and panicked so much she messed herself (she had only gone five minutes before being put in there) and even screams when I'm in the room. Now in my opinion she still needs to be with the litter but obviously can't, what I really would like to know is, have any of you had to take a puppy away from the litter at six weeks and if so was there any long term effects on the dog, any advice would be gratefully welcome.

Thankyou, Kerry

Can you put the crate in with the litter so that the pup is with her brothers & sisters but can't be hurt by them?  Time for major re-organisation.:)

Already thought of this but she just scrabs at the bars trying to get out and screams. She seems to have settled a bit now and I gave her a t-shirt that I had been wearing and this seems to have quitened her down, i think tonight will be sleepless!!!

I hate to say this and will probably get shouted down but years ago ALL puppies went to their new homes at 6 weeks.  I have had at least a dozen dogs who were perfectly nice dogs to both people and other animals.  If it cant be helped there is very little you can do.  Perhaps you could sit with her on your lap and let her see mum and the others.

Well I think she has decided that being indoors and getting one on one attention is better than being with the litter and after all the screaming and climbing the wall she settled with my t-shirt last night. We left her in the kitchen and not a peep all night and just one little poo. As I write this she is laying her with her front paws crossed watching Tom and Jerry on the telly :D

Thankyou for both for your advice. At least she will be well started on her house training when the new owner comes to collect her. :)

The puppy we donated to Hearing Dogs left us at 6 weeks & 2 days to go to his socialisation family, and he's never looked back! He's now fully qualified, as I posted elsewhere. :-) Glad she's settling down now.