I have seen lots of posts on this site regarding new pups coming to their new homes at seven weeks old, I have had litters in the past and would not even consider the pups going to their new homes until at least 8 weeks old. I dont feel that they are developed enough both physically or mentally to cope with all the stress and changes that they are about to experience. My question is, what are your thoughts on this?

7-8 weeks is thought to be optimal time for socialisation, it is thought that they enter a 'fear' stage at 8 weeks.

I have always got my puppies at 7 weeks, and have a litter currently that will be going to their new homes between 7 and 8 weeks. Guide dogs leave their Mums at 6 weeks, which gives them the maximum time possible to socialise with humans before reaching 12-14 weeks. I personally wouldn't want to let a pup go at 6 weeks, as I'd prefer to keep them longer than that.

I do think it depends on the size and maturity of each pup, and I suppose, the breed.

I have always been under the impression that some breeds can differ
My particular breed should never be allowed to go before 8 weeks as the social skills the pup will learn from mum and litter mates, is extremely important
to my knowledge the ages of 5 - 7 are very importnant for this
Having said that im no expert

My breed shouldnt really be homed before 12 weeks!

What breed do you own then.?

Chihuahuas.

Yes, the tiny toys are usually too fragile to leave before 12 weeks. I have a friend who breeds toy poodles, and at 10 weeks they're still smaller than a newborn dalmatian!

The bigger breeds are much more robust and independently-minded by 8 weeks and badly need to be away from the litter and getting some one-to-one attention.

Guide dogs are wanted to imprint more on humans, and their canine social skills are not paramount, but the dog destined for a companion needs to be thoroughly grounded in dog.  So many of the problems people have with their canines is because this has not been done properly.

There are lots of previous threads on this.  It seems to very much depend on breed.  My breeds code of ethics says not less than 7 weeks, and in practise most people start to let them go at a few days before 8 weeks if this suits ans owner better for collection.

I have never had issues at any age after this because as a responsible breeder any pup still with me will be receiving appropriate socialisation and experiences for it's age, so could in theory be homed smoothly at any time after this.

I have often found it depends on the experience the new owner has.  Breeders have been happy to let me have a pup early, but tend to hold onto the pups going to pet homes for a bit longer.

Yep I would tend to agree, especially homes with existing sociable canines.

There was me thinking they thought I was responsible, it was probably my sociable canines that they approved of. <g>

Must admit when you get potential owners who are already successful dog owners with well adjusted canines it makes you more confident that they will do OK with no major issues with a young pup, as long as it hasn't been a long break between pups. 

Sadly I have had experienced owners run into problems and unable to cope as they had forgotten in 15 years how much work a pups was, and that they were no longer as young and energetic as they once were.

At 7 weeks, my pups will be fully independent from their mother (who will have little or nothing to do with them then) and be raring to go. I've had them go at 7,8, 9, 10 and 14 weeks, but definitely just over 7 works out the best and is what I prefer -sometimes of course as people usually come from really far away it has to be worked around suitable days (and I also don't like all pups to go in one day -prefer two at a time), so doesn't always work, but 7 ½ weeks is the optimum time for me.

So around 7 weeks is the general consensus? Because someone is getting questioned on another thread about picking their pup up at 7 weeks(Large breed).....

Is there a huge difference in letting a pup go at 7 weeks instead of 8? Do they learn that much in one week?

It is more like 10 days as most people are saying between 7 and 8 weeks.  A lot of development happens every week at that age.  My pups will have gained another 2 pounds in weight.  Emotionally those days can make a difference, as they can physically.

Some breeds mature and are doing things sooner than others.  In my breed they really need to be individuals by 8 weeks, they are off doing more and more on their own, and I know in others emotionally pups still need the litter.

I find my Mums put their policeman hats on from 6 to 8 weeks where as at 5 to 6 weeks they seem to almost abandon them to facilitate final weaning, just checking on them as briefly as they can get away with.

The large breed mentioned in the other thread definitely would benefit from longer socialisation and discipline from Mum, and the breeders of that breed I know would not home a pup before 8 weeks.  I think some of the larrge breeds and conversely some of the tiny ones are not ready to leave as early.

Because someone is getting questioned on another thread about picking their pup up at 7 weeks(Large breed).....

If the other thread is the boxer from what I have read it appears it was or may have been picked up a couple of days before 7 weeks. Unless the owner can confirm otherwise.  Picking up a puppy at 7 weeks is probably fine IF both the buyer is experienced and had done their home work and the breeder has given suitable guidance to the person for them to manage.

I have had both big breeds and small breeds and I personally think 7 weeks on the dot is too young but I think 7 weeks and a couple of days makes a huge difference.  I think these additional couple of days give good benefit to the puppy through interation with littermates and the dam. 

I personally don't let any go until at least 7 weeks and 5 days. Never before.

Edited to ad it isn't just what the learn actually day by day but mental maturity and being confidently used to the household and people. This is all done so much better with the breeder I think.

i think im the person thats being talked about.yes i have a boxer,but i certainly didnt pick him up before 7 wk.i might not be experienced but i did my homework and was not comfortable to take him til my breeder talked to her vet and i spoke to mine to ensure both were fine with this,which they were with close monitoring from my vet.my pup was 7wk 2 day.in my opinion,altho i have had teethin problems (which im sure is normal for a 1st timer - after all we all have to start somewhere) i in no way doubt whether i got him at the right age.as soon as we picked him up,in the car he slept nearly the whole way,and at the house he has been a real explorer,not whined once,and only barked on the occasion that my other half is on the floor n chasin him playin.he has been a star and settled in so quick,he is part of the family already.he already knows where to poo (has had couple accidents obviously) and he sleeps in his bed,which is next to mine all night,and doeas not go to the toilet in my room at all in the night.a couple of times hes gone on the landing ,but partly my fault for not taking him down straight away.my friend has just got a white boxer,8 wks old n when he got home apparently he was walkin round really shivering,she was up in the night with him twice i think hes ok now tho.but i really think that was the age difference.i know only a few days,but i do think it makes all the difference.he is just the perfect boy!

Hi there

I dont think its the age difference, more likely the breeder the puppy came from and the temperament of the puppy.  Yours is probably more confident than the other one.  Its all down to how confident the puppy feels.  I collected my last puppy at 7 weeks and have to say that I thought it was too young.  I had her with her sister for the first week which probably helped but they developed health problems because they had been vaccinated at just 6 weeks and, as mine was small for her age, she suffered because of it.  Every puppy is different and every owner is different.  Some just take to puppy ownership like a duck to water - others dont.  That's where the experience of the breeder comes into it.  They will know instinctively who can cope with a very young puppy ie before 8 weeks.

I thought it was a KC requirement that puppies do not leave the mother until 8 weeks.  Am I wrong?  Also with the AC breeder scheme I thought the puppies must go at 8 weeks - not before!!!

Kind regards
Annie

8 weeks only applies to commercial breeders who have a breeders license, they cannot sell a pup to the public under 8 weeks, but they can sell them to a Pet shop!!!