12 weeks old puppy instead of 8?

[lollie]

I may have the opportunity to purchase a 12 week old cocker instead of an 8 week old, in November when we would be looking to get one.

Are there any benefits or drawbacks for getting an older puppy. I know it is only 4 weeks, but everything I have read says to train your puppy from day 1 of getting them home, meaning I will miss out on 4 weeks of training. Does this make a difference?

xx

[SophieBlueRoanLover]

A lot depends on what the breeder is doing during those four weeks. If a 12 week-old pup shows up house-trained, able to be left alone, sleeping through the night, etc.. then it'd be great (although you miss out on them being utterly tiny!). If the breeder's not doing anything to help that along then it might be more difficult for you. If it has already been trained a bit (house/crate-trained) then getting one at 12 weeks would be a lot easier! I wouldn't recommend it if the puppy wasn't kept in the house as it might have a harder time adjusting.

The other thing to bear in mind is socialisation - the period up to 13 weeks is crucial in terms of them being exposed to all sorts of things - dogs, people, noise, etc.. - so if you have the pup at an earlier age then you're responsible for dictating this and know that it's being done!

I would want to know exactly what the breeder had planned for that time before committing...
They are very very cute when they're babies and they grow extremely quickly.

[lollie]

She is keeping a few pups back to pick one to show. She said she will of decided by 12 weeks. It fits in perfectly with my dates off work, also, I have heard nothing but positive things about the breeder.

She said the initial training is socialisation based with people, children, dogs, travelling in a car etc,  but no obedience. I am pretty sure they will live indoors.

Like you said, they don't stay puppies for long, and I will miss that initial tiny cuteness they have around 8-10 weeks. But is that enough reason for me to not get a pup that I know has come from good lines with brilliant tempraments?

It's so hard

[SophieBlueRoanLover]

Like you said, they don't stay puppies for long, and I will miss that initial tiny cuteness they have around 8-10 weeks. But is that enough reason for me to not get a pup that I know has come from good lines with brilliant tempraments?

It's so hard

A very hard decision! The obedience training is not the issue - that's easy with enough treats! It's the toilet and crate training and the socialisation which is key, and it sounds as if she'll do that. So I guess the decision comes down to whether you're prepared to give up the cute tiny puppy stage (and all the hard work that goes with it). They are very cute when they're tiny, but they can also be very hard work - so it's a bit of a toss-up. My mum saw my 16-week old today and said "this would be a lovely age to get one" - once you've got over the initial hard baby bit. Good luck!

[Jonnydog]

I picked up Penny at 10 weeks. She had been reared in the house so was used to noise etc, but was in no way toilet trained. That said, she picked it up reasonably quickly. I had to work hard on the socialisation, travelling in the car, meeting outside things etc because the window of time was smaller. I doubt if you'd have much problem, in fact in many ways it might be easier, so long as the pup has not been in a kennel all the time.

[Jane57]

I think 12 weeks is absolutely fine, Go for it. I am sure that Riley benefitted from the extra week with his mum as we didnt pick him up till just over 9 weeks, he was a dream to train. Too much emphasis is put on certain stuff. I  know someone from here who got her pup even later than 12 weeks and he has been a brilliant , loving and so well behaved dog.
Years ago we got our springer at 11 weeks and all was fine. Twelve weeks is hardly old to purchase a pup.

[minimoo]

one of mine was 6 months old and the other was 14 weeks old and they are perfectly fine , milo 14 weeks was very easy to house train , though that could just be that he got it naturally , go for it its still a baby 

[Ruby Tuesday]

I'd say if you are happy with this breeder and this fits well with your plans, go for it. Socialisation is critical in those 4 weeks but the pup sounds like it would be in good hands there. Obedience is less urgent, they will soon pick that up.
Good luck!

[Sara750S]

We got Toby at 12 weeks old and I wondered about "missing out" but what you dont know you dont miss and he was a cute, fat pup when he came !

[Holly2009]

One of our pups is off to his new home at 12 weeks (off for 2nd vaccinations at 10am today)  so he will be going to his new home fully vaccinated, toilet trained, gives paw & sits, use to his collar & lead and benefited spending a little more time with his mum & siblings. He's best friends with our children the cat & everything that goes on in the home, he's had car rides and visited family, hes use to being left and regularly uses a crate. He has been treated the exact same as our own pups.

I'd ask the breeder what she will be doing with them between the 8-12 weeks with regards to toilet training etc (some breeders will keep them out in a kennel/ shed etc) and if you could visit during those weeks would be great to get an idea of how things are going. Teaching sit & paw takes a couple of minutes a day, but it does depend in how many dogs they have etc.

The 8-10 weeks cuteness doesn't change a lot...at 12 weeks they are just as cute and gorgeous, a little bigger but you've got more to cuddle  I would go for it, if your happy with the breeder ask for lots of photos so you don't miss out and see if you can visit a couple of times x

[lollie]

Another benefit is that it will have all it's vaccinations, and it will be related to a couple of dogs on col. At the end of it all I might not be able to have a pup off her, but it's probably too good of an opportunity to miss.

Xx

[twiceover2]

I would say go for it  .  The same breeder kept Pippa til 10 weeks as we had a prebooked holiday.  Pippa was already well socialised when she came to live with us.  She had been around children, other visitors, cats and dogs and had travelled in the car.  Her toilet training was well underway.  She was a very easy puppy - no chewing problems, settled in the car calmly on the way home and very confident.  Fingers crossed the breeder has a puppy available for you.

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I got Charlie at 13.5 weeks old, if I had the opportunity would I buy a pup of the same age again...most certainly. Charlie didn't chew, he's always been well behaved. As Twiceover2 has said at that age as well the toilet training is underway as well which is great.

[KellyT]

Millie came to us at 12 weeks, her breeder had kept back her and a little orange boy to choose one to bring on for showing. She was an absolute gorgeous girl, quite well behaved, not a total cockerdile  with some obedience training. She was pretty much house trained, although we did put paper down for a few days.

The best bit, was being able to take her out straight away and not have to wait for vaccinations etc. Socially she was perfect and had been 'intriduced' to the vacuum cleaner, washing machine, postman  , cats, children and big farm machinery.

Jennie was 8 weeks... she didn't take too long to house train and was very quick at picking up obedience - but she had Millie to copy

Hazel was 20 weeks - She hadn't been house trained, socialised nor have any obedience training, she was and still is a cockerdile  ... she didn't know her name (although we changed it she didn't really know her original name either  ).  She probably took 2 months to house train, and I still don't fully trust her    well, I trust her to be left, but when we are in she isn't vocal about being let out, so I worried that if I miss her 'signals' she may pee on the floor.  She's been incredibly bright with everything else obedience wise, but can still be quite fearful of strangers and strange / new things.   She'd been kept back to show / breed from by the breeder, however due to health issues (both breeder and Hazel) this never happened, and not much was done with her.

All of my 3 came from the same breeder ... so as you can see it really matters as to what is going to happen in those first few weeks.

Perhaps you could visit regularly as already suggested, or ask your breeder if she would have the time to do specific things with the pup so you know some things are being covered?   I would think though that if the breeder wanted to bring one on the show, that they would be keyed up on ensuring that things like socialisation and some obedience work was done, as things things are key for showing anyway.

[piph]

Ozzy came to us at 11 weeks old, no house training, no vaccinations, but he had been quite well socialised with several other dogs and children etc.  He hasn't been any more difficult or easy than any other puppy we have had, just different as every individual puupy is.  He's rarely poohed inside the house, wee's were a bit of a problem for a while, but he's getting the message now (16 weeks).  He settled really well into his puppy playpen where we keep his bed, and, (fingers crossed!) we have been able to leave him alone for an hour or so (he was without any litter mates for a week before we had him so he got used to it, I think).  I don't think at that age the socialisation is too much of an issue, he had his first jab at 12 weeks and his second at 15 weeks and went to a couple of puppy parties after his first jab.  He loves everyone, and all other dogs.  I'd go for it!