Just been reading up on the best time to bring a puppy home. I always thought it was frowned upon before 8 weeks , but it was suggested to me by the breeder that the 7 week mark is better, before the fear sets in.
We will be introducing the puppy to our 10 year old collie cross who is quite maternal so I have no concerns about the puppy not being with a mentor.
However the puppy is 7 weeks old on a Tuesday and I am concerned that if we pick her up on the Sunday she won't be quite 7 weeks. It has to be the weekend because we are 4.5 hours drive away.
What do you think?
Is 6 weeks and 5 days too young?

I am always fully prepared to keep the puppies I breed until it is convenient for their new owners to collect them. I rarely let mine go much before 8 weeks & this is dependent on when the weekend falls, as this is when most want to pick them up.
I wouldn't let a puppy of mine go at 6 weeks & 5 days & you are right to show concern & I would question why a breeder would want you collect before you want....some may say what difference will an extra 7 days make but in my opinion quite a lot. A day or 2 is different to 9 or 10!!
I have to say I would rather keep a puppy for longer than be in a rush & in fact if I was not going to keep for longer, I would question should I be breeding at all??!!

I gather this can be breed dependant & I believe that responsible toy puppy breeders rarely homed before 10 or 12 weeks...

Thanks- the breeder is quite happy to keep her until at least 8 weeks. She just mentioned that previous litters had gone around 7 weeks and done well so thought that she would mention it.

> I gather this can be breed dependant & I believe that responsible toy puppy breeders rarely homed before 10 or 12 weeks...

Very true Lexy.  In fact my breed club does not allow pups to be homed before 12 weeks.

I have a breed where the so-called 'fear' period isn't quite as important as whether the litter is actually ready to go home at a certain time.   We kept most of our puppies back to 10 weeks, only letting them go sooner if we knew the people and they were experienced, or perhaps if it was a big litter, ready for the outside world still, where puppies would benefit from more one-on-one attention.  And then never before 8 weeks of age.   Bassets are sensitive people and generally did better being allowed to play as a unit for as long as possible.   There was a point where quite frankly I'd had enough of clean up endless poohs and trying to find a good supply of newspaper for pee!!   And this is also why our litters were planned for the better weather so part of the daytime, on a fine day, could be spent outside!!

I'd be guided by what your breeder feels is right for their puppies but personally I'd leave it at least another week rather than bring a puppy away from all it knows at short of 7 weeks.   I'd have to be more wary about a breeder who wants their puppies out sooner rather than later!!

Assuming it's not a toybreed (my toys leave at 12 weeks), I would not let a pup of mine go until AFTER 7 weeks. Definitely not before. I typically let them go between 7 weeks and 2 days up until 8 or 9 weeks, depending on what suits the buyer. I prefer just over 7 but below 8. As a KC assured breeder, I am not allowed to let any pup go to a new home before 8 weeks unless I have it in writing from my vet that he considers the pups ready -which I always do get.

My breed at 7 weeks suddenly teally become individuals,  all doing their one thing much mote,  rather than all acting pretty much as a unit.

So I would agree this is the stage they really need a lot more one to one.

I allow pups to start leaving the weekend after they are 7 weeks old.

In practice assuming they all have homes, they will leave in ones or twos,  and are home by 9 weeks.

Occasionally a puppy or two syays longer due to holifays,  export timing,  or suitable home not yet sorted.

Pups will of course  receive the ahe appropriate socialisation,  which gets mote and more time consuming,  so fortunately most pups have gone before this becomes too onerous,  which it would be with a full litter.

I thought it was illegal to sell puppies under 8 weeks now?