Hi:

The breeder I'm getting a puppy from, sells her puppies at 10 weeks of age so that she can see which puppies
are show, and which puppies are pet quality. I've read that 7 weeks is the best age to get a new puppy.
Will I have behavoir, bonding, toileting problems with a puppy attained at such a late date?

Thanks for your help. By the way, I don't know how to answer people or how to add to a topic being discussed.
Can anyone help?

Thanks, Butter

Butter, if you look in the top right-hand corner of each posting, you will see the word 'Reply'. If you click on it, you will be given another box in which you can write your reply. Don't forget to click 'post' :-)

'Edit' will allow you to make any changes to your message, once you have posted it.

Leigh

i have had all my puppie from 7 t0 8 weeks old,and when i had my litter i let them go at 7 to 8 weeks old,for the resson that you have stated,if you get the book prefect puppy by gwen baily,it will help you about socialisation,the guide dogs for the blind let their pups go to their new homes at 6 weeks,i went on a intervet semiar in 2000,it was all about socialistion,they say the best timing for puppies to go to new homes from age 6/8 weeks,beacuse to socialise pup will have less behaviour problem later,from the age of 3 week pup will approach anything or anybody willingly and without fear,by the time they reach about 12 weeks anything new will be approached with caution and trepidation,fear set in around 8 weeks, but the list gos on,but pup need to be continally socialiesd and exposed to different environments up to the age of one year if they are to stay sociable.

If the breeder takes the care to socialise the pups properly there should be no problem. check that they will have been exposed to the sight and sound of traffic, been for rides in the car, seen all kinds of people etc. If I was getting a Puppy from someone I trusted could do all these things with all the pups in the litter, then it doesn't matter what age you got him, as he should be well adjusted.

I think this advice is often given due to the fact that many people that 'produce' puppies will not have made such an effort, but then they would also be unlikely to want to keep them that long, as they would want to bank the money as quickly as possible!

Unfortunately it is sometimes the case that some breeders will not do enough socialisation, but you still have time before the sensitive phase, and if the pups at 10 weeks are lively fearless and friendly, I wouldn't worry. My first two dogs were this age when I got them, one due to me moving house, and the other had just not been sold yet! The first belonged to a breed that needs a lot of socialisation, as they are suspicious and wary of strangers, and the other was my current breed. The first was no more difficult to socialise to things than I would expect for her breed, the latter no bother at all.

I would question the breeder as to her socialisation plan for the pups!!

I exported a Puppy to Australia, where on arival it would have to do a months quarantine. It went at 14 1/2 weeks, which meant it was 19 weeks when it came out of quarantine. it came out on Easter Monday, and the following saturday won Best Baby Puppy in show.

BUT from 6 weeks old I had carried her around in a Holdall, to School on errands, visiting friends (the dog owning ones dogs were vaccinated), going on Bus and car rides etc! she was also pretty well housetrained! It was extremely hard letting her go. the owners have found her veryt self assured, and I put this down to the socialisation she received.

On the other hand when the new owners of another Puppy did not socialise their Pup well with other dogs, in a Country home, this Pup didn't like large gatherings of people and dogs, but loved Horse Shows, as she lived with Pony owners and Exhibitors!

Hi Butter couldn't see a problem with getting a 10 week old pup, you can bond with any age of dog, my rescue dog was a year old and we have bonded it is the work you put in. House training wouldn't be a problem either it is just hard work at any age.

At least you would get to see the temp of the dog sometimes at 7 weeks it is hard as they sleep a lot.

luv
Jane

Hi Butter

with my two boys - one was 8 weeks and the other 11 weeks - there have been no problems bonding - in fact housetraining the older pup was easier and we got settled nights much more quickly. I think it also depends on what kind of background they have come. ie my first was kenneled - the second a home - and the home pup settled in much easier and is more laid back than the kenneled dog who still doesn;t like hoovers etc.

A 10 week old pup will be just fine. Provided you can put the effort in to start with - that's where you'll reap the rewards.

good luck - hth

Pam n two mad but gorgeous boys

He'll love you to bits. Enjoy. Jackie H

Thanks everyone for the advice. The breeder lives 30 minutes away, so maybe we could visit the pup for the last 2 or 3 weeks to get the pup used to us.

Butter

Hi Butter, I agree that as long as the puppy lives in the house with the breeder, or spends most of the day in the house that there should not be too much of a problem. I would suggest that you ask if he/she could have his first jab at 8 weeks if possible, so that you will only have to wait another fortnight after bringing it home, to start taking it out and about for socialisation. The more you can visit the better, but a 10 week puppy will bond with you fine, dont worry.

I brought my first bitch at 16 weeks from what I later realised was a puppy farmer. She had lived outside and had very little socialisation. The bond between us however could not have been stronger and we were very close companions thoughout her life.

Christine

As someone who normally takes on other people's rejects I would say it's never too late to bond if you give a dog plenty of love, understanding & kindness. Ingrid

There should be no problem with bonding at all at this age. The breed that I have need to go to their new homes at 7 to 8 weeks, only because they bond too much to their breeders and then do not seem interested in other people except the one's that they live with.

Oh by the way, mine are in the house all day, every day and have people coming to see them, unfortunately it's just a breed trait and sometimes no matter what the new owners do in later life they will still be wary of other people, no matter how much you socialise them. I believe they are having problems with the breed in America because of this.

gollie great with my customer that come to the house,beacuse she the only to get the attendtion,on problem who she gos with,yet,

i agree with most that its not a problem ,ive bought dogs in at older ages and we get on great, they follow me all over, the point brainless makes about as long as the breeder has spent time on the pups and got them used to all sorts. also that theyve been handled in a confident manner, theres people i would buy a dog off at any age and know it will be sociable and well adjusted and others who's dogs i wouldnt touch,
i cant see there going to be a problem with you visiting them so that they get used to you,if its a happy well adjusted household go for it,

One of my bitches was 15 weeks when i got her home, and she had lived on a farm and not seen anything of the outside world, strange dogs etc, but she turned out really well and we had the best bond ever. I socialised her like mad when i got her, and she was brilliant with other dogs and fine with people.

Good luck with yours,as others have already said, just check a few things with the breeder for your peace of mind.

lindsay

I as a breeder keep my pups till i have had a good look at there attributes.The problem is when you have done research into your breed
studied pedigrees found the right stud etc.Why would you let them go till you have seen the results? The main thing is that they are socialized
well,and there vaccs are started. Its not good when you buy a pup around 11 weeks and then have to keep it in another 3weeks or so
Also heelers need eye tests sometimes i may not have a clear result at
7 weeks but test agin at about 10 weeks. There are a lot of considerations.

Basically if Pups are reared and socialised properly then the age they are aquired, 10 weeks or 10 years, lol, makes no difference! You only need to get them quickly if they are like the litter bred by Westie Lovers friends, who are being kept in the shed at the bottom of the Garden, and their breeders haven't a clue!

This is the reason all the home work by the potential Puppy Buyer is vital, as then the Buyer can assess how the Pups are being bgrought up based on what they know their needs will be. T6his is another reason that I recommend people meet the breeder before any pups are born if possible. they can then see how the adults are cared for, go for a walk with them to ascertain their temperament in the outside world, meeting other people and animals, how they cope with traffic. this will not only show the genetic temeperament, but how that particular breeder has socialised their own dogs.

If you are buying from acutely nervous parents, then no amount of socialising will turn the Puppy into a Bold one, though it will improve it's ability to cope.