Hi All

I posted earlier in the week about picking up my new westie puppy Robbie today, the breeder phoned me last night to say they had only had their vaccinations last night and she wasn't happy for them to go today, she said pups getted stressed enough moving to their news home let alone 1 day after they have had their vaccinations, she wants to keep them until next Saturday now so she knows they are absolutely fine after their jabs, i can understand this but am just a bit disappointed as i was looking forward to getting Robbie today!!
He will be nearly 10 weeks old when i get him and i just hope that being that bit older he will adapt okay to my older westie, somebody i was speaking to said the younger the pup the better as they settle in quicker to your routine, i know he won't be old but usually pups go to their new homes at 8 weeks.
I will let you all know how we get on next week

Helen

Makes perfect sense to me. :) When you breed pedigree cats you must have them fully vaccinated when they are sold and you must keep them for a week after the second vaccination. The better option for you though would have been to have the pup unvaccinated -chances are your vet uses a different vaccine and will want to start from scratch anyway and discount the one he's had.

I too would prefer to home a puppy sooner, maybe at just over 7 weeks, without any vaccination.  Unless there are extenuating circumstances, 1st jabs are a waste of time.

Last night seems a little late to let you know if you had made arrangements to collect today? :(  I agree with her reason but surely the breeder knew when she had booked them on for their trip to the Vet?

I was a bit put out because i had taken today off of work and also the early part of next week aswell so that i could go and collect him, my Mum told me when i got in last night and i phoned the breeder this morning to speak to her about it, i would rather have collected him today and then got him vaccinated myself early part of next week but she said that she always has the 1st jab done before they leave and wasn't happy for him to go before.
I can understand her wanting to keep him for another few days to make sure he is okay but on taking days off to collect him this has really mucked me up!!
Will he settle in just a easy being nearly 10 weeks old than if he were younger?

Helen

i personaly if i was the breeder wouldnt have got the 1st vac done as alot of vets like to do both thereself as they dont like to use diffrent vacs liquid and of course alot of vets dont give vacs cards for just having the 1st done i think its a waste of time and your puppy would have settled alot better at 7 or 8 weeks old i think its to old to be selling a puppy at 10 weeks of age unless there is a problem with it

A much biggger breed but in my breed many of us still keep pups to 12 weeks and only let them go fully vaccinated. In my experience of placing and bringing in pups at this age, they settle extrememly well. In fact I'd say they settle more quickly and confidently than the 7 - 8 week sheltie pups I've brought in (only limited experience of this as I don't breed shelties and have only bought in 4 over a period of 25 years.) This of course assumes that the 12 week pups are gettting loads of socialisation in the breeder's home.

This of course assumes that the 12 week pups are gettting loads of socialisation in the breeder's home.

How do you deal with the socialisation OUTSIDE the home that's needed between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks, for an entire large breed litter?
http://www.dogbehaviour.com/articles/dogs/puppysocialisation.htm

My first puppy stayed at the breeders until she was 12 weeks as I was moving house.  She lived in an outside kennel entirely on her own from 8 weeks apart from sight of other dogs across the yard and whatever attention the breeder gave her at meal times etc which I suspect wasn't much, however, she was the most laid back, easy going, confident dog I have owned to date.  I think I believe rather more in nature as opposed to nuture when it comes to good temperament although I suspect good socialisation can go quite a way to redeeming a less genetically assured temperament.

I think that is actually very true Isabel. I have even heard "working" people (i.e. those into the tougher dog sports) that say they will not socialise at all as if the dog can't cope with things it's temperament is not good enough for them. However it's got to be the safest bet to always socialise -especially for a pet that won't be discarded if it isn't good enough!

In a limited way, by taking groups of puppies for car rides and so on. The sort of lead walking socialisation that the owner will later undertake is not possible for a big litter and it can't be helped by the fact that we live in a quiet rural situation.

I can only reiterate that I've never placed or bought a pup that had the slightest difficulty coping with 'outdoor' socialisation starting properly at 12 - 13 weeks. The converse is that the puppies have extra time with their dam and siblings which I feel is very valuable to them. They also benefit from experienced rearing for longer. As a result of my own experiences I don't buy the very rigid 'socialisation window' stuff that is often quoted. That said, this may be breed related, as mine is a very laid back confident breed anyway.

I also had the same problem as my breeder wanted them to have their first injection before letting them go! I got Rory at 9 weeks and it wasnt a problem, he has turned out very well socialised and laid back, and everyone, human and fellow dog loves him. An advantage of slightly older is the bladder will be a bit more mature and toilet training might be quicker and easier therefore!

I'm envious that you are getting a 2nd westie.

I prefer to get my dog vaccinated at my own vets, and have always taken a new one to the vet for a check over and to arrange vaccination within a couple of days.
I don't understand how she couldn't she have told you in advance about this instead of arranging this weekend and then changing things ? She should know that people not only look forward to the day very much, but also make certain arrangements - in your case, days off work :(

Still, hope you can change your days off and will enjoy your new puppy when you get it :)

Hi All

I have calmed down today i think i was just very disppointed yesterday that i could not collect little Robbie after getting everything organised, i can understand the breeder wanting to keep him a few days after his jab to make sure he is fine with no bad reactions, i have contacted work and arranged for next Saturday off they were fine about it which was good. I am just counting down the days now until i get him next Saturday.
Will keep you all posted with how things go.

Helen

I'm a bit surprised that the breeder didn't make it clear that the pups would have their first vaccinatiom before going to their new people. I can quite understand why she'd want to check for after-effects and thus keep the pup back for a few days but I'd expect to have known that when discussing the conditions of sale and collection. What a good job that your employers have been reasonable!

Personally I'd rather have my pups earlier and unvaccinated so that I can get them out and about socialising and also not have to deal with the possibility of my vet deciding to repeat the first vaccination.

Bit short notice, but I understand they can have reactions to the jabs, so perhaps just as well. Cavaliers and smaller toys often go at 10 weeks or later, so I'm sure he'll settle in fine. If you live in North London I'm always on the look out for Westies etc for grooming! :-D