Ideal age for collecting a puppy

[Ben's mum]

I am just wondering what current thoughts are about the best age to pick up a puppy? We had Ben at 7 1/2 weeks, but that was 15 years ago and i know after that the KC said 8 weeks is the minimum age breeders should let puppies go, but to be honest i think Ben's breeder wanted rid of the puppies asap!!

 I remember reading lots about how important the time between 8 and 12 weeks is for socialisation and if you miss out on that you could end up with a more fearful dog. Recently I have read now they are saying 8 to 16 weeks ?? I have even seen some breeders saying they won't let pups go before 12 weeks as it gives them more time with mum and to mature.  So I am confused    

Still struggling to get OH to agree to another pup, but it will be a year since we lost Ben in a week or so, and I want another dog before Harry gets too old, he has just turned 9. I saw a lovely golden 10 week girl and OH actually was interested but i was reluctant because i was worried we would be missing out on the best socialisation time and after living with Harrys fears I really want to try to avoid that next time if possible.

I would be grateful for your thoughts, sorry for long post, but if we do get another pup, this time I intend to do it right and I know ideas change over time   

[bizzylizzy]

Humphrey was 9 weeks. The breeder wouldn‘t let them go until a minimum of 8 but by 9 she said by watching them, it was definately time they left the litter.
I think there are different trains of thought, I probably mentioned before that a gun dog trainer advised me to not let Humphrey have any contact with other dogs for the first few weeks. He considered the 8 weeks was ample time to have socialized with Mum and siblings and now it was time to concentrate on me and build a relationship. i followed his advice and it worked for us however Humphrey is a pretty laid back dog anyway, so I don‘t know if it made any real difference. We did try to expose him to as many different situations as we could in the first few weeks, which maybe helped but its hard to say whether its nature or nuture....

[David Morgan]

Mason was 9 weeks, as the breeder wanted him to spend a little more time with Mum. He was socializing at the breeders, they have four dogs, and we were visiting at the weekends. He turned out beautifully.

If your other dog is nine,I suggest you get a puppy as soon as possible.

[Mudmagnets]

I think too it may make a difference where they are kept at the breeders, if mum and pups are kept in kennels away from family and all that goes on maybe, rather than in a home where people come and go, washing machines, hoovers, tellies and people(adults and children) are a normal part of the day, that might make a difference to how they react to these things once in a home environment.

[Barry H]

I've always understood that the accepted wisdom is 8 weeks.  Picked up Jack at 7 1/2 weeks as it fell on a Saturday and couldn't wait till the following weekend!  Absolutely no problems.  He settled in just fine, apart from initially missing family.  The 6 pups had their own purpose built gated off 'quiet' area in the house and were all well socialised with siblings, breeders other dogs and kids, visitors etc.

[BonnieScot]

Hello. There's a protocol called 'Puppy Culture' that would say leave them until 12 weeks to allow for fear periods and maturing a little, but you're right, sometimes the set up at the breeders doesn't allow for that. I got Bon at just shy of 8 weeks and she's been amazing, but if I have pups with her, I'll be investigating the 'Puppy Culture' thing more. Of course, it also depends on who the pups are going to- I guess an experienced owner will be fine with the littl'uns. Anything that we can do yo improve their start is a plus, but each situation will be different.

[Gypsysmum]

Guide Dogs are the biggest puppy breeders and rearers in the world. They wean their litters from the mother at 6 weeks and move the whole litter to an assessment centre. The puppies spend a week there and then go their new homes at seven weeks. This gives them a week to settle in before their vaccination is given and they then start at puppy classes in a clean environment.

I had my last two puppies at seven weeks and they were absolutely fine. Perhaps a shy pup might need more time before being homed but most will cope really well.

The Kennel Club have to cover so many bases that they worry about people not socialising their puppies once they get them home. As long as you carry your puppy out and about and invite vaccinated, friendly dogs over then seven or eight weeks will be fine. Any longer and you are shortening the time before the fear period sets in.

[Leo0106]

We got Leo at 12 weeks, because the breeder didn't want to let them go over the Christmas period (good on the breeder in my eyes) however, I don't personally feel it made any benefit to Leo in terms of socialization etc. In fact I would probably aim to do it earlier if I bought another puppy.

[Penelope]

We have always picked our puppies up at or around 8 weeks - some a couple of days early, some a couple of days late.
Suki was the exception because she was a rescue pup.  She had been dumped at 2 weeks with her mum at a rescue centre and so from 2 - 10 weeks all she had known was the kennel and run.  She was totally unsocialised and absolutely terrified of everything.  She had no idea what a house was, let alone grass and washing machines, doors and vacuum cleaners.  Everything scared her.

It took a lot longer to socialise her because she was so scared, but we managed it.  She was always highly strung but that was partly due to her breed (she was a saluki cross)

I think having only had Maximus 4 weeks now (is it really that long already???) that 8 weeks was right in his case.  It took a few days for him to settle and turn into a cockerdile (!!!) but now he is doing brilliantly.  In fact, at puppy class last night I used him as the demo dog to show what can be done with a 12 week old puppy!  He was really, really good.   He is learning new things every day.  Sleeps through the night and is clean and dry.  House training is a work in progress but as long as I keep a really close eye on him, he does give signals and does most of his business in the garden now.   He is a happy, lively, inquisitive pup who loves nothing more than being with us and the other dogs.

Good luck and really hope you get a new puppy soon so we can compare notes <3 

[Digger]

Hi Ben's mum

..As you know I am no expert on cockers but I do happen to know that in our case with Inca, although the breeder kept hold of the pups til they were 8 weeks, they were actually taken from the mum at 6 weeks, so watch that. They could still see her and she was able to lie next to the run they were in, when they were outside the kennel but she wasn't in with them. Neither were they in the house with the humans. Apparently this is not a major concern, but I can't help but wonder if this lack of guidance between 6 and 8 weeks contributed to the biting problem we ( yes, are still) experiencing. 9 months old now. So I think there are many variables, but personally I would not get one that hadn't been WITH mum for 8 weeks, and I would be more choosy about the specific environment they were in.  I collected Inca at nearly 9 weeks old then cancelled my life until she was 16 weeks and took her everywhere with me and more. Then scaled it down a bit. She is a fabulously well socialised pup who adores all people and all dogs equally.
 She just still thinks it's really funny to attack me when I'm watching telly.
When will it end.
 

[pinkmarshmallow]

Hi. 
We got Benji at 15 weeks old and Snoopy at 10 weeks old.  Both of them were fine, and it wouldn't bother me getting an older one again.  Of course, the practical side is the vaccinations and waiting to take the younger one out but other than that,  patience and trying to keep your sanity are the key things!