What Age Should A Pup Be?

[lynseyloo]

I have to say, I am not a beeder and dont pretend to know anything about breeding, but I do know I wouldn't take a puppy from it's mum under 8 weeks of age.

Michelle your story was so touching, I never realised Otis    struggled in his first few weeks, well done to you,    and you are right, it is NOT about money and to say it is is insulting I agree.

edited to add..

I was looking for a puppy for a while, and that led on to Christmas, however, I did not expect to take home a puppy around Christmas time, as it would not be suitable for our environment.  However little did I know that just a short while after Christmas there was an advert for a cocker needing a new home, and she turned out to be one of the loves of my life...currently sprawled on my bed   however she wasn't a tiny pup, she was 5.5 months old    

[Cob-Web]

Hi Michele

Thanks for your reply, I can understand you feeling a little put out by the suggestion that you sit in a room like Ebernezer Scrooge countin' your loot    

Sadly, there are more 'dodgy' breeders than reputable ones, and as has been discussed on here before, these not-so-reputable breeders do tend to put money before the well-being of their puppies - in some of these cases,  could it be that young puppies may do better in their new homes than staying in 'less than ideal' circumstances?

We didn't bring Molo home until he was 10 weeks - and having read "The Perfect Puppy", I was really worried about the time he had 'missed' in socialisation. Once he came home, I realised that he had benefited greatly from two extra weeks with his breeder, and 9 other adult cockers (although he had developed a tendancy to 'hide' under the sofa to eat any treats   ), but he was far better ajusted to domestic life than I would have expected him to be two weeks earlier. I can therefore fully understand the Club guidelines.

Your story about Otis was so touching; more people need to know that this is the level of responsibility taken on when you choose for a bitch to have puppies - it makes me so mad when people do it without really thinking. There is certainly no money in rearing puppies - and a great deal of time, effort and emotion is expended.

[Gilly]

Knowing the story of what happened last time when Otis was born really brings it home to you the HUGE responsibility of breeding.
As someone going into breeding for the first time, people who know me know that it has taken me a year of planning, and I can guarantee that before I even know if she is pregnant I will have spent over £500!! including my petrol money for my 10 hour round trip to see the stud dog  
I don't think breeding is for the faint hearted, not when it's done properly anyway    

[Luvly]

 

[Kim]

Well my b/t came in season recently, my intention was to mate her, as the two puppies that I kept from her litter I had to part with when I was unwell. Which meant they would'nt have gone out & been socialised etc, as I was'nt physically capable. It had taken me two years & 3 different stud dogs & 2 lost stud fees to get her in whelp !
But when I worked it out, her pups would have been ready to go to their new homes Christmas week    So she didn't get mated    

[lizzy]

Michelle,

If all cocker pup's came from a breeder like yourself the world would be a better place!

 

[Colin]

Michele and Kim's stories are testament to the fact there are good and responsible breeders out there and show how wrong it is to "clump" all breeders together with generalistations.

The Cocker Club obviously know the breed better than anyone else so presumably have based the 8 weeks of age thing on years of experience of the breed. As someone earlier said Gwen Bailey recommends 6 weeks for homing. The Book of The Bitch ( often referred to as the breeder's bible on here) says 7 weeks is best, so as to get the puppy in the home before the fear imprint stage kicks in at 8 weeks...... although the same authors in The Doglopaedia give 6 to 8 weeks as a general guideline. I realise that puppy farms and rescue centres require a quick turnover (for differing reasons, obviously) so the 6 week figure is likely to appeal to them. Could it be that different breeds develop at differing rates in the earlier weeks and so would require homing at different ages ? That would explain the Cocker Club giving a different age to the catch all age recommended by other respected sources. Or am I just guessing here ?

[Louis]

Hi everyone
i just wanted to say that i think it is a mistake to judge all breeders as being in it just for the money, and also it is a mistake to say that puppies shouldn't be sent to their new homes near christmas.  This should be judged on the individuals circumstances.  Myself and my husband brought Louis home at the end of November last year, and the breeder wouldn't let us have him until he was 11 weeks.  She actually kept him until he was 12 weeks as i spoke to her and explained that at this time I would be at home and have time off from work, so she kept him the extra week.
Myself and carl proved ourselves to the breeder by answering losts of questions and from this she was happy for us to take him home when we did.  I think it is very improtantant for both parties to be vetted for the sake of the puppy.
I think that most reputable breeders are very dedicated to their dogs and must have a real love for what they do as from what i gather it is very hard work!

Gemma & Louis

[Magic Star]

Michelle,

If all cocker pup's came from a breeder like yourself the world would be a better place!

Wholly agreed

There are more bad than good though, so I think thats why people tend to have the views that all breeders are in it for the money, to be honest I must admit, that my views about breeders and the showing world where much the same, which is an awful thing to admit to ::  But now, after being on this board and actually getting to know the breeders and showers on here, I can say hand on heart, that they think the world of their dogs and have the dogs welfare as their top priority regardless of money.   I really do admire you all for the hard work and obvious love that you put into this lovely breed, I apologise to have judged you in this way, I realise now how wrong I was and I am glad to know you all  

[cassy's mum]

Hi, Just like to say I got Meg (springer) from a well known breeder in kent. He breeds and trains his spaniels for working dogs. Meg is a fantastic working dog, Tilly our other spaniel was from part time working parents so she is more like a pet than a working dog. Cassy is from a working family but I'd rather have her for a pet  than a working dog.
All the breeders I have come across have been fantastic, helpful and truthful.
It just shows how the same breed of dogs can differ so much in personality and stamminer and by  looking at the parent/s you can get some idea how the puppy will turn out.  

[Shirley]

I know someone who bought a 6 week old pup recently and when they went to collect it the breeder tried to convince them to take a second pup at the same time - "Aaaahhh - doesn't he look lonely" was the line!!!    

Judging by the number of ads for pups (of all breeds) in the free ads papers and on the internet it's obvious that there are many breeders who are out to make as much money as possible but my experiences of breeders have both been very positive   .  Morgan's litter was born by c-section (not cheap) and his breeder kept me updated every week with photos and e-mails on how the pups (all 7 of them) were getting on and also answering any question I had (there were many   ).  I flew down to Glasgow and got the train to Dundee.  He drove 45 minutes to the station to collect me and take me to his house.  I spent the day there with the pups - went with them for their final vets check-up and met another family who came for their pup.  His wife cooked a lovely meal and I stayed the night in their house before he drove me 2 1/2 hours to Glasgow airport the following morning and waited with me while I checked in and boarded the plane not to mention me getting a bit tearful and panicking about having to put Morgan in the hold of the plane   .  He did not have to do any of this but I'd only had e-mail and telephone contact previous to this and I'm sure he wanted to make doubly sure that his pup was going to a good home.  I still stay in touch and send photos, etc and also ask the odd question or two     He's been fantastic!

Cooper's breeder arrived home at 2am on a Saturday morning (after getting a bus from Crufts) and got up a few hours later to drive 2 hours to meet us just so that we could reach home with Cooper the same day rather than get a hotel with a new pup.

There are some bad stories but also lots of good ones too     If it's coming up to Christmas - you've been looking for a pup for a while - lots of people have to wait longer than they'd like for a pup, so what's the hardship in waiting that little while longer?  Chances are, the majority of people selling pups round Christmas won't be the type you should be buying a pup from anyway .

[speedyjaney]

Our breeder encouaged us to collect our pup at 7 weeks so we were first to take her away. She was one of six and the breeder was keeping one to 'run on' for herself incase she was good enough to show.
Ive no idea how well she does in the show world...and I am unsure whether she logs onto here..so won't name her here.
Our pup was riddled with worms, had bad ear mites and was being fed on chicken wings bigger than her when we collected her. In 24 hours she hardly ate anything and when we went to the vet for jabs the next day they wouldnt do her as she was quite poorly. We immediately moved her to a complete puppy food (on the vets advice) and she was wormed and treated for the ear mites. ( I was shocked at the amount of worms that she passed later that day.....she was so small!   ) she quickly made a recovery and within a week shad started to look bigger healthier and more like the 8 week cocker we expected.
She was reared in a kennel and was in a crate with an adult dog (not a cocker btw) when we got there. It became apparent that she hadnt been that well socialised in her 7 weeks with the breeder but we managed to overcome that. She is now a great pet...at 13 months she is a joy to own, albeit a bit accident prone and a bit liable to need the vet more than I would have hoped.
Our breeder insisted on being paid cash....she had another litter at the same time from another cocker and also kept and bred another breed.
I think she is one who would have been counting the pennies....13 pups being sold within 3 weeks of each other...at £500 each !! You do the maths   Oh btw she owned the stud dog too so no charges there to cover.
Jessie is now a big healthy cocker (15inches and 13kg or so) so not damaged by the poor start she had, we dont think.
Anyway enough moaning...i love our cocker and wouldn't change her for the world!  
Jane