This is only my second litter. I have always sent puppies to new owners at 8 weeks. (and purchased at 8 weeks) According to "The Book of the Bitch" it says this age is too late and they should go at 7 weeks? I have only got 1 pup collection booked and this is at 8 weeks exactly. Isn't 7 weeks too young? I have a lady who wants to collect a little earlier, but not sure. What do you guys do? Thanks.

As a buyer rather then breeder, I have in the past taken a dog home at 8 weeks, in my case Goldies. I'm currently getting a pup in the summer and have been told that 7 weeks is the right time for them to go by the breeder. Also read the same in Gwen Baileys The Perfect Pup. I know it's later for very small breeds like Chi's, not sure when their optimum time is

My Malinois go at 7 ½ weeks although in reality it can vary a lot as to when people can come, most have travelled really far so need to make it a weekend, but 7 ½ is the earliest I will let them go. My Papillons go from 12-14 weeks approximately.

This is a medium breed. Been weaned off Mum for a week now. (6 weeks old today) So 7 and half maybe Ok for some then? I have 1 staying 'till 8.5 weeks. Years ago Mother in Law picked up a Jack Russel at 5 weeks. She was so tiny! I would never let mine go so young. Though the same dog is still going strong 14 years on! (outlived the Mother in Law!!)

Along with breed I think it can also depend on the individual puppy, I let one of my big boys go at just past 7, 1/2 weeks as he really no longer needed any nourishment from Mum and he was a confident pup and he was going to the most local home. I was happy to be keeping both my smallest boy and my most quiet boy for a little longer and they left at 10 weeks and had more of Mum's attention and lots of interaction from my other dogs and family etc in the last few weeks.

Ditto Marianne with her larger breed, but mien rarely all go together so in reality leave usually between 7 1/2 to 10 weeks, sometimes later.

It is a breeders responsibility to ensure that age appropriate socialisation has been carried out so that a change of home at any age will make no real difference.

>I know it's later for very small breeds like Chi's, not sure when their optimum time is

Our breed club says 12 weeks.

7 weeks for my medium sized Gundog breed

Along with breed I think it can also depend on the individual puppy Think it also depends on the breeder, if they do the job properly and introduce the pup to a variety of experiences and noise and take them out if they keep them over 8 weeks then the age they leave to go to a new home is not that important.

I agree with Nova it does depend on the puppy and how they have gone on through whelping/rearing. I only release my puppies to new homes on or after 8 weeks but as other have said, 7 weeks for a well developed socialised puppy would not be a problem but then again I also offer a lifetime of aftercare as the breeder so if there were problems you will be there regardless.

7 weeks for my Spanish Water Dogs and 12 weeks for the Pomeranian's, but it has been many years since we last had a Pomeranian litter!

I would also recommend 8 weeks & only consider any earlier(only by a few days) to someone who really knows what they are doing.