What Age to Pick Up Puppy from Breeder?

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Paddys Mom;6448469]
My dog’s trainer told us that 8-10 weeks is a period of heightened insecurity and does not recommend changing their home at that time.

Bruno came home at almost 12 weeks and knew sit/crate training and was well socialized with puppies and adult dogs. The breeder’s early work was incredibly helpful for us![/QUOTE]

One of the first fear periods is around 8 weeks, but that will happen if the puppy is still at home or not.
That one of those periods happens doesn’t mean we can’t bring new things to the puppy at that time, as the first studies of Pfaffenberg assumed.
Later those assumptions were challenged.

[Burbank]

we got Remy at 10 weeks, and he was able to sleep through the night without an accident

he did still have accidents during the day but was fine at night

felt bad that on his first night in his new home we had a nasty thunderstorm but he slept right through it in the crate next to our bed without even a wimper

[lizathenag]

Guide Pups

we raised three guide puppies. We picked them up at 8 weeks. not three at once!

[LavenderFarm]

I brought BeBop (a Chi) home at 6 weeks. The timeframe definitely depends on each person’s situation. I have other dogs … and cats … in the house. His first birthday was in June and he’s continuing to be a wonderful companion and I’m so enjoying him. (I’ll not bore you with more pictures as I’ve posted plenty in the past. He’s at my feet now just waiting for me to go to bed so he can be undercover dog.)

With two of the Dobes I’ve had, I brought them home at about 8 weeks. The bonding time is so critical, and I want them to bond with me. Those were the best of my Dobes.

Really depends on your personal situation and the time you have to spend with them in the critical early weeks.

[Marshfield]

We send our puppies home at 10 weeks and they seem to adjust so much more readily than when we sent them home at 8 weeks. We do start crate training and house training.

[DoubleClick]

[QUOTE=Bluey;6448412]
I would not consider those a small breed, for that to be relevant.[/QUOTE]

My breed is about 15-20 pounds when full grown, around the same size as a cocker. Our pups, which are of a similar size, do better when sent home later than 8 weeks. I think 8 weeks is too young for most puppies.

[Nezzy]

10-12 weeks is ideal. they really do benefit from staying with the littermates longer.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Nezzy;6449589]
10-12 weeks is ideal. they really do benefit from staying with the littermates longer.[/QUOTE]

In what way? Not saying it’s untrue, but in what way to the puppies benefit from staying with their littermates?

[Bluey]

OP, as you can see, any time between 8 and 12 seems to be fine.
Some like 8 better, others later, but those weeks seem to be, any of them, ok.

We have had puppies come at 6 weeks, a bit of an accident, to 4+ months, a puppy miller no-sale puppy surrender to animal control and all were good dogs, although most studies do indicate 8 to 12 weeks to be ideal.

Just get your puppy when you and the breeder decide is best for all of you.:yes:

[lucky_dog_farm]

I have always let my puppies go at 8 weeks and highly recommend going t get your pup then. Yes, they may have their brothers and sisters to play with but they need to get out of the shelling box and learn there is a great bog world out there. The first four months of a puppy’s life are crucial for socialization so I want them out and about seeing everything! That’s not to say bringing your puppy to a dog park the week you pick it up is a good idea but you can certainly bring it into the bank or post office or anywhere it can see all kinds of people. Then a bit later on start taking him/her to meet other dogs.

Pups are super easy to housebreak and crate train and I for one like to get on that road as soon as possible. The first night might be a bit hectic but after that they get into a routine quickly. Not to say that many breeders do a fabulous job of teaching puppies lots and lots of things. I had to pick up my newest ACD pup from the breeder when he was 8 weeks because all the males were fighting and hurting each other. :(. He now has learned to temper that and gets along with with all other dogs.

Plus I just LOVE puppy breath!! Good luck with your new pup whenever you decide to pick him/ her up.

[Nezzy]

[QUOTE=S1969;6449671]
In what way? Not saying it’s untrue, but in what way to the puppies benefit from staying with their littermates?[/QUOTE]

they are more independent, more confident, can deal with other dogs because they are learning from littlermates how to behave with each other.

[Bluey]

Looks like spam.
Reported.

[Snowflake]

Well, I’ve decided to pick up little man on Friday and he’ll be just over 9 weeks then which seems to be perfectly acceptable based on the bulk of answers. I need help with a name though! I’m going to bump up an older thread and if anyone can give some ideas, I’d appreciate it!

[wendy]

I think you get the best chance of having a confident, secure, normal dog if they get to stay with their litter until age 12 weeks, but only if the breeder is actively socializing the pups to the world. If they are just hanging out in a kennel or a backyard then they are best taken at 8 weeks so the new owner can expose them to the world. If taken from the litter before 8 weeks they rarely develop normally, and the cut-off age for proper socialization is age 16 weeks, so if they do nothing but hang in the kennel until age 12 weeks, that only leaves you 4 weeks which isn’t enough time to expose the pup to all of the aspects of the world the pup needs to grow up well-adjusted.

[Snowflake]

@wendy;6452411

I think you get the best chance of having a confident, secure, normal dog if they get to stay with their litter until age 12 weeks, but only if the breeder is actively socializing the pups to the world. If they are just hanging out in a kennel or a backyard then they are best taken at 8 weeks so the new owner can expose them to the world. If taken from the litter before 8 weeks they rarely develop normally, and the cut-off age for proper socialization is age 16 weeks, so if they do nothing but hang in the kennel until age 12 weeks, that only leaves you 4 weeks which isn’t enough time to expose the pup to all of the aspects of the world the pup needs to grow up well-adjusted.

Not necessarily. My last puppy, Watson, was picked up from the breeder at just over 11 weeks and he is anything but confident. Even though he’s been well socialized he is fearful around strangers. He loves other dogs but he also went to doggie daycare to learn how to properly play with all different types of dogs. But, this breeder also had a kennel type set up and he wasn’t handled regularly. He also spent the first few months that I had him in and out of the hospital, so I’m sure that has something to do with it.

This pup is my “do over.” My chance to show myself that I can own a puppy and not have it lose an eye and get deadly viruses. I do think that there is solid wisdom in picking up the pup early so to make sure he gets the proper handling and doesn’t develop hard to break kennel dog habits.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I will probably get flamed, but I think we put a bit too much into the whole handling aspect.

Teaching puppy classes, etc. I’ve seen dogs that had the best circumstances and were still terribly fearful, and I’ve seen rescues that had zero correct handling and were very confident, laid back dogs. While I think proper handling is important, I think A LOT of it comes down to the genetics of the parents. My friend is training a dog that spent the first year of his life in a kennel and he is awesome (of course it took him a couple days to figure out stairs). I’ve had a dog that was kenneled for the first year of her life and same thing. One of the best dogs I’ve ever owned.

Same thing with people. I’ve seen the best parents have the most screwed up kids and terrible parents have great kids/adults.

OF COURSE you want to do everything you can to increase your odds, but some things cannot be overcome with proper handling because the dog is just inherently fearful, etc.