I have my first litter of Parson Russell Terriers that are 9 weeks old in a few days. With expert advice from a breeder friend, everything has gone smoothly. But, she has told me that the mum should not be present when the pups are collected by their new owners. Is this right? I thought it might be better if she saw them go and do would not be searching for them.

Different people do things differently here.  I let mum meet the new owners of course, but when the pups go, I do put her away so she doesn't see them actually being taken and leaving. 

TBH by the time they are that age, I think she is glad to see the back of them anyway and she's never really cared.  But I do know other great breeders who believe it's important for their bitch to see them go. 

So - no one answer, but you know the mum, think about what might be best for her.

Although all our prospective new owners saw mum when the puppies started to leave for their new lives, I don't remember them being there - they were off with the rest of our small pack!   Part of weaning for me, included mum being off the litter for some weeks, and happy to be so.  I needed to make sure the puppies were able to survive without their mums being there.   We rarely let our puppies go before 10 weeks, and certainly not before 8 weeks - depending on how well the litter was doing, if it was a big litter meaning puppies get to a point when a one on one home was better, for of course, whether the new owners were known to me, and experienced.

Seeing their puppies go off to their new homes wasn't an issue, for their mothers.   It was, like losses, just the circle of life.

Thank you both. That's really helpful. I will keep mum away when they leave as I agree that she'll probably be glad to see the back of them, or at last not really be bothered. They were weaned by 6 and a half weeks so she doesn't really do anything but play with them now.

I do exactly the same as onetwothreefour.  I think it's the best way really.

Must admit with mine they have usually given up the responsibility by then, certainly my last litter mum had left grandma to do all the playing with and disciplining etc, so I didn't worry too much, and she wasn't bothered about the reducing numbers!