You take a pup home on the day he/she turns 8 weeks don't you?

[Amus1]

I think 8 weeks is good for the pup spending time with mum and litter mates, but don't think 2 or 3 days either way would hurt the pup. I think it totally depends on the pup itself - some I have seen are less confident and outgoing than others so they'd probs be best waiting.
Our pup will be 8 weeks and 2 days when I collect him. (3days time! )

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

We got Tia at 7 weeks and 6 days and Jake at 7 weeks and 4 days.

I don't think a few days matters too much, there is a theory that 7 weeks is better than 8 weeks.

There are also alternative schools of thought, that believe it's better for pups to be with their mother & siblings for far longer  - up to 12weeks in fact 

The longer the better, is best I feel 

I've no direct experience of a younger pup. I got Charlie at 13.5 weeks an he has been an angel. He's polite, hasn't chewed, basically he's done nothing naughty .

[minimoo]

We got Tia at 7 weeks and 6 days and Jake at 7 weeks and 4 days.

I don't think a few days matters too much, there is a theory that 7 weeks is better than 8 weeks.

There are also alternative schools of thought, that believe it's better for pups to be with their mother & siblings for far longer  - up to 12weeks in fact 

The longer the better, is best I feel 

I've no direct experience of a younger pup. I got Charlie at 13.5 weeks an he has been an angel. He's polite, hasn't chewed, basically he's done nothing naughty .

I got Milo at 14 weeks old and hes a little  , he was quite quiet when we went to see him but that was not the real him , good job we love him anyway  , if i was to have a young pup i would get one at 9 weeks old as i think the mum herself has usually had enough of her pups by then

[HelenS]

We got Cupar at 9 weeks. His breeder doesnt let pups go until they are 9 weeks old.

[cockers mum]

Their can be two sides to this, if the breeder wants a show pup out of the litter they tend to rehome later as they want to make sure they are getting the best pup. As stated before the age to get a puppy used to be 6 weeks  Most people rehome at 8 weeks or as near as possible to that date, most mums loose interest in their pups quite early after weaning, just checking they are okay so rehoming earlier will make no difference to the bitch. Personally I think the younger the better, you can get them vaccinated, out and sociallied that much earlier, which I consider much more important than a few extra days with mum . Over the years we have had 2 cross breed pups at 5 week, which was really too young, but they both turned out fine.

[SophieBlueRoanLover]

We've got all our pups (going back 30 years) at 8 weeks (apart from my recent one, who we picked up at 9 weeks, and that was only because we had plans that precluded picking him up at 9 weeks and also because another of the pups was being picked up then). I've never heard of getting them as early as 6 weeks. I can't imagine that 7.5 weeks makes much difference from 8 weeks on the dot. I've read something by a guy who thinks 7 weeks is the optimal for socialisation, but I thought it was illegal to sell them before 8 weeks in the UK (or maybe a KC rule?).

[cockers mum]

I am 62  talking a long time  ago   

[Jane S]

most mums loose interest in their pups quite early after weaning, just checking they are okay so rehoming earlier will make no difference to the bitch. Personally I think the younger the better, you can get them vaccinated, out and sociallied that much earlier, which I consider much more important than a few extra days with mum .

It's not the contact with mum as much as continued interaction with litter mates which is thought by many to be important. Having said that our experience has been different to yours - our mums love to play (and teach through play) with their pups long after weaning & we've found that really helps pups learn canine body language, bite inhibition etc etc. We have nearly 10 week old pups now and their Mum still plays with them a lot - didn't realise this was unusual

Opinions will always vary re optimum time for homing pups but 8+ weeks seems about right for a Cocker, especially if coming from a breeder rearing in an environment where pups get plenty of socialisation and contact with mum/littermates/other resident dogs (as opposed to some kennels where litters once weaned are kept in a kennel away from mum and any other dogs)

[cockers mum]

The pups we have kept mum has doted on, but when we had a litter of 9 I think every body was glad to see them go.When I said loosing interest,Imeant not worring If away from the litter for a while while down our ponies field (second litter), and not wanting to be with them 247, our bitch gemma used to let just 2 pups out of the pen and play with them, and they turned out to be the two we kept. How she got them out we are not sure, but where theirs a will, theirs a way. (cannot put any icons on don't know how) but it would be tittering!.