11wks - how much of a problem?

[Al Downie]

Thanks again for all the replies. Although I'm pretty sad about missing those few weeks, on balance I feel I have to take a chance and go for it, rather than welch on an arrangement because of anxiety about something that *might* never be a problem. If it doesn't work out, I'll have him stuffed and use him as a paperweight. That was a joke.

[miche]

I can see that there's no way you would not be able to get your pup now you are probably already to attached and excited, but just to help the situation it might be best to tell the breeder your thoughts - they might be willing to help you out a bit.

Mikey is a working cocker from a working breeder and was kept outside the breeder let her own children handle the pups and socialised him the best she could in the time he was with her.  She also bred labs and had a 12 week old pup from a litter left and was very concerned about his socialisation so was doing all that a new owner would do to socialise him.  She was very firm when telling me I must socialise my new pup.  Probably your breeder feels the same and will do all they can for you.

My mum got a golden ret.  She wanted to put off getting him because of a house move and wanted to get him at 11 weeks.  The breeder said she must take him at 8 or 9 weeks or she would risk finding him another home.

[Cob-Web]

I'm sure the breeders are less concerned about socialisation than 'pet' breeders, but that's only natural given their breeding interests

If the breeders are selling puppies to pet homes then they should be doing all they can to prepare them for that environment.

I hate to be negative but personally I would walk away from the situation as you've described it - I'd be unhappy about homing an 11 week old pup that has never lived indoors or had much human interaction, it just seems too risky to me. I'm sure others would disagree but that's my opinion, for what it's worth.

I'm afraid I agree with Colin - I brought Molo home at 10 weeks (due to a prior family comittment I was unable to bring him home sooner).

He lived in the breeders home with her other dogs - cos he was the last pup he curled up in front of the TV each night with the family, so they were a bit upset when he came home with me 

Despite this, there were things he did miss out on, and which I had to put a lot of effort into to ensure he was not disadvantaged; he was a nightmare in the car at first, as he had only been on one trip with the breeder (to the vets for his first vaccination). I planned a comprehensive socialisation schedule that involved the whole family; normal life kind of got put on hold for the first 4 or 5 weeks, as we travelled on buses, trains, visited farms, the beach, invited visitors round and went to fun fayres and village shows 

Interestingly, although he is a very laid back (show) cocker there are still things that make him jumpy (such as bath bubbles  ); which is all the more noticable because he is so chilled the rest of the time  If your pup is from a litter whose sire and dame are selected for working, then he is far more likely to be more alert and sensitive to his environment than my dopey Molo; which means that the lack of early socialisation is likely to be more of an issue 

I understand that you have your heart set on this pup - but when you consider the fact that they the litter have been selected to be workers, and socialised with that in mind by the breeder, then the expectations you have of this particular pup to settle in a pet home after very limited early socialisation may be too much

[ali]

you've been getting some great advice from everyone. if it were me i would really try to make sure the pup receives more socialisation than it sounds like it is receiving at present. if your breeder is not prepared to put in some extra time for a few weeks with the pup to ensure that it has the best possible start in life then i would seriously question their integrity.

[miche]

I'm sure the breeders are less concerned about socialisation than 'pet' breeders, but that's only natural given their breeding interests

If the breeders are selling puppies to pet homes then they should be doing all they can to prepare them for that environment.

I hate to be negative but personally I would walk away from the situation as you've described it - I'd be unhappy about homing an 11 week old pup that has never lived indoors or had much human interaction, it just seems too risky to me. I'm sure others would disagree but that's my opinion, for what it's worth.

Interestingly, although he is a very laid back (show) cocker there are still things that make him jumpy (such as bath bubbles  );

Oh Molo, Bath Bubbles!!  , lucky you don't come across many of them on your walks

[Penel]

I have 3 dogs that I've had from pups - two brought up in home environments (a cocker and a setter), and one in kennels (Hattie working cocker) - and I also have two lurchers that were rescued as adults.
Obviously I had control over the socialising of the pups - but none over the socialising of the lurchers, as they were both at least 9 months old when we got them.  It is highly likely that one of the lurchers was brought up on a gypsy site, and the other may well have been in a shed most of her young life.  All 5 of them are pretty damn sociable - especially with people.  You can socialise a dog at any age - its just more ideal to do it when they are young pups that's all.