Age for bringing your puppy home

[Judi W]

We have had many discussion here on the forum about purchasing puppies from pet shops and why this should not be done regardless of how sorry one might feel for the pup. To recap, by giving money to pet shops who market poorly bred and cared for pups, you support the practice giving those breeders monetary incentive to continue breeding.

The very same applies to taking puppies from breeders at less than 7 weeks of age. Whether lies or truth (I suspect total lies) about why the pup needs to leave its litter before the optimum age, (oh, we're hearing them all - mother is no longer caring for them, too many pups, even mother died) you are giving money to someone who is too lazy to care for the lives they brought into this world. The mothers quite naturally usually quit supplying all the nutrition when the babies get a set of sharp teeth and that is when the breeder takes over feeding and cleaning up. That is the breeders job and responsibility. The fact that the dam is no longer doing all the work does not mean the puppies are ready to leave home. They are not! Puppies removed from their litters prior to 7 weeks of age end up with behavioral disorders and the lessons they need to learn within their litter cannot be fully substituted in a new human family. What is worse is that these puppies are taken home by the novice who has little understanding of readiness periods. Giving money to such lazy and irresponsible people gives them even more incentive for repeating breedings = money for no work! Such breeders not only cheat their puppy buyers, but the pups behaviorally, there is no way that they are doing careful selection of breeding partners and health considerations as they demonstrate a total lack of concern for even the basic puppy care of feeding and cleaning up.

Do not purchase a puppy from any breeder who is willing, let alone anxious, to release a pup prior to 7 weeks of age. Period. No exceptions.

[poohbearsmom]

This is an EXCELLENT "BUYER BEWARE" post, Judi.

There are so many unsuspecting puppy seekers out there that don't know any better when they open up the Sunday Classifieds and see the words "Rottweiler puppies, AKC bloodlines" *reword that a thousand different ways it still reads: "Inexperienced (Lazy, unethical, uneducated...) breeder".

Not only do pups released too early suffer from inadequate developmental care, they are likely the product of unknown health in the lines, and this often times is a recipe for disaster all the way around.

Many people let their heartstrings play loud and nagging tunes when they hear a breeder say "the mother died", "she's done taking care of them", etc.... What Judi speaks of is the truth. The REAL work of the breeder begins around 3-5 weeks of age (when the teeth emerge), and the pups start eating food. This is when the poop starts piling up, puppies need to be cleaned, taken outside, and require more and more individual attention from the breeder. This work only becomes more work as the pups get bigger and produce more of a mess, make more noise, and require more attention. Through either ignorance or laziness, (ignorance is also laziness, because the information on proper puppy rearing is so available to anyone and everyone these days) these breeders spit out pups and when the going gets tough, they get the pups going out the door.

Each and every pup that's taken from a situation like this makes it easier for these people to spit out more pups with inadequate care during very important developmental stages.

Problems that can arise because of early release of pups? Dog/dog aggression, lack of bite inhibition, temperamental issues, etc...

People, do yourselves a favor, and take your time when looking for a new canine companion. Responsible dog ownership is a lot of work in itself; why set yourself up for years of frustration, when taking your time to do things right could lead to years of joy with a trustworthy companion?

Research the breed, research puppy rearing, research trainers in your area, research research research. Learn the difference between a 'breeder' and an 'responsible breeder'. A responsible breeder will be there for you, the puppy buyer, for the LIFE of the puppy. They will be there to answer your questions, and help you through the rough patches. They will be there to share your joy and your sorrows. They will be there to rear the puppies properly that they place in this world.

[frontierrots]

Agree! Sticky please

I know many such "breeders" who at the moment the mom dog stops doing ALL the work the pups are "ready to go". Here in NH we have a State law that the pup MUST be at least 8 weeks old. But many states have no such law. Just because there is no law does not make it right

The reason pups need to stay with mom and littermates until at least 8 weeks old is so that they can learn to be dogs, learn dog language skills, learn the basics of bite inhibition and many other very important things we humans just cannot teach or give them
I keep mypups til 10 weeks old but I also do individual work with them, socialize them, crate train, leash train etc. IF the breeder is not doing all that then they need to place the pups at 8 weeks old but NOT ANY SOONER!!

Raising a litter is a boat load of work and puppy poop and hair pulling but that's part of being a breeder

[toshida]

i bought my pup the day she turned six weeks old......the 'breeder posted her ad in the paper that day'. I since joined rott.net after that and would not purchase another puppy at such a young age again.

[debbiej]

Also this should be information given to anyone who posts that they are considering breeding!!!

[HerculesMomma]

This was one of the many valuable lessons I've learned since being at rott.net!

[MartyB]

i got bo at 8 weeks 2days old... what is most optimum age? i realize this is a vague ?? but what is rule of thumb here, 8 weeks?

[MontanaRott]

Wonderful post Judi! And I too think it BEGS to be a sticky. We got our first Pug over 13 years ago, and found out later she was no more then 4 weeks when we picked her up, never having seen a litter of Pugs, we believed the "breeder" who said she was 9 weeks. She had more problems then you could shake a stick at, totally socially inept with other dogs. We loved her dearly to her dying day, and just were very careful in the situations we put her in, knowing her short comings.The THOUGHT of going thru THAT with a Rottweiler, chills me to the bone!

[Judi W]

Well, I would say it depends upon the dedication of the breeder. Starting around 7 weeks of age they need to stop being part of a dog pack (the litter) and learn to bond and work with what will be their human group. If a breeder has the time and dedication to see that each pup has daily individual one-on-one time away from the littermates and little education sessions and learning to sleep alone (another thread going right now) and eat from its own bowl, and so forth, then staying with the breeder for longer periods of time works out just fine.

What I find most disturbing is the large number of people here recently who are taking puppies at too young an age when the pup needs to learn its dog social skills, bite inhibition, the give and take of play and many other things best taught within their litter group. Humans can try their best, but they cannot and should not attempt to become substitute dogs. These puppies are being cheated out of important developmental skills by their breeders and by the buyers who are enabling those lazy so-called breeders and rewarding them with money to boot.

[WendiS]

I Could not agree more. Our first Rott/x was an adorable freebe in front of Safeway 6weeks old. That was more than 14 yrs ago. Since then we've learned alot. A WHOLE LOT. He was fearfull, agressive with anyone outside the family and oddly enough the best family dog we ever had. (please don't assume that's an endorsement, it's only a bizzare coincidence) but he was so lacking in many of the things that make for a well rounded, socially acceptable animal. I caution anyone I talk to about the importance of leaving pups with their mothers and litter mates for a minium of 7 weeks. It seems like more and more average pet enthusiasts are begining to understand this. That to me seems important because these are the people who, without understanding it, are the ones rewarding these ignorant, or greedy or poor and careless breeders

[RotLover25]

is 7 weeks still early ? or should I just wait the extra week until week 8. I'm just have no patience and want to bring my puppy home

[Judi W]

7 weeks is just fine. It is at that age that the PAT tests are run and it is the beginning of a readiness period.

[bigdogweilerx2]

Were getting are pup at 8 weeks and got to see them when they are 5 weeks old.2 1/2 weeks to go!Can't waite! And can't waite to become a member here too!!

[GuySusanDurnil]

I have to agree with the 7 weeks age rule. Our Maynard was born Feb. 14 and he was released to us on April 2 - just shy of 7 weeks old. I still think he needed another week with his mother. He tried to nurse off our older spayed female the first couple of days, which freaked JellyBean out. He's since recovered nicely and he's becoming a great dog.

Please do not post links to photo albums

Maynard is the 4 month-old Rottie, JellyBean is 17 mos. old Humane Society mutt.

[Shanna071171]

Hi,
Unfortunately, I did bring him my pup home at 4 weeks. I had to either take him home or the pup stay outside in the heat and mosquitos. Fortunately, I have a 4 yr old female rottie as well to teach him the ropes.