[UnderDog]

As above, what is the minimum age you would buy/adopt and bring home a puppy?

We recently had some people reserve a rescue pup we have, at the time they reserved him he was only 8 weeks old so obviously too young for them to take home. We had many people ask about this particular dog, and also except two homes were turned down due to use being sure these people were the ones we wanted to have the pup. We took said pup over to see the first home when we went to do the home check, they were approved there and then and as we were leaving I picked up the pup, clipped on his leash and told them we would see them in a few weeks times to drop the pup off. The women blew a right hissy and said that she thought the dog would be staying as they were approved for the home check and that the pup was more then ready and they would look after it etc, I politely told her the pup was way too young to go into a single dog house hold and would be staying with us and our dogs until he was at the very least 11 weeks old, usually 12 weeks. They then told us not to bother bringing him back, because they want a young pup because as they put it a young pup is easier to bond with (and we all know that's rubbish!). So I phoned up the other people who came to visit all of the dogs and they decided on adult male terrier instead. So this pup was without any possible homes, we phoned a few of the other people who asked about him, but all had found a dog elsewhere. I'm not complaining about having this pup, in fact secretly I'm quite glad I possibly get a little longer with him, I just thought it was awful that they didn't want him because I wouldn't let them have him before a suitable age.

Mini-rant over, lol. But I would be interested to hear others views on minimum age a dog should go into a new home.

[Lara's mom]

Twelve weeks from a breeder. However, if the puppy was in a shelter with no mom, I'd want to get the little thing out of there a.s.a.p.

[Yogi]

From a breeder stand point the idea behind not letting the pups leave before 11 to 12 weeks is based on the dam and litter mates. The essential bite inhibition training and general socialization between a pup and its mother and litter mates is essential to properly socializing. Humans cannot teach this type of socializing even though they feel they can.
I do not let mine go til they are 11 to 13 weeks dependent on the dams interaction or lack of so to speak. She tells me when it is time and all of mine over the years have been very good at this.
The socializing that humans are required to do is more inline with human socializing, getting the pup adjusted to meeting new people which at 8 weeks or 12 weeks is no different.
In the case of this pup, if it has no dam and litter mates, I would have no problems being it is 8 weeks to letting it go to its new home. But again, if the dam and litter mates are there, 11 to 12 weeks and let the dam do her job.
Mine are well rounded less people socializing when they leave. I emphasize to new owners to take the dog to meet people regularly as well as new dogs once they have had their final boosters. I can provide a healthy happy and well rounded puppy willing to learn at 12 weeks, and much is attributed to the dams discipline and the interaction with its litter mates which is where the main credit lies for my pups. Mine are not prone to using your hand as a chew toy and actually find it offensive if you attempt to put your hands in their mouth. Instead, have been taught by the dam to not bite..
But again, as appears this pup has no dam to teach this at the current age I can see no reason why it should not go to a good home if you feel they can deal with the lack of puppy skill teachings that the dam was not permitted to imprint on the pup.

[lil mutt]

9-12 weeks is the advisable and 8 weeks is the minimum age.

[UnderDog]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Twelve weeks from a breeder. However, if the puppy was in a shelter with no mom, I'd want to get the little thing out of there a.s.a.p.

The pup isn't in a shelter, he lives with me, my OH and various breeds of dogs both male and female. They have no other dogs, so I feel it important that this pup gets all the socialization and learning from other dogs that he can. Granted, we have outdoor kennels and a play pen for if some dogs choose to sleep/stay outside (as a lot do), but the pup is never locked in the kennels so him being here is as good as their home would have been except we have dogs for him to socialize with and learn from.

Originally Posted by Yogi

From a breeder stand point the idea behind not letting the pups leave before 11 to 12 weeks is based on the dam and litter mates. The essential bite inhibition training and general socialization between a pup and its mother and litter mates is essential to properly socializing. Humans cannot teach this type of socializing even though they feel they can.
I do not let mine go til they are 11 to 13 weeks dependent on the dams interaction or lack of so to speak. She tells me when it is time and all of mine over the years have been very good at this.
The socializing that humans are required to do is more inline with human socializing, getting the pup adjusted to meeting new people which at 8 weeks or 12 weeks is no different.
In the case of this pup, if it has no dam and litter mates, I would have no problems being it is 8 weeks to letting it go to its new home. But again, if the dam and litter mates are there, 11 to 12 weeks and let the dam do her job.
Mine are well rounded less people socializing when they leave. I emphasize to new owners to take the dog to meet people regularly as well as new dogs once they have had their final boosters. I can provide a healthy happy and well rounded puppy willing to learn at 12 weeks, and much is attributed to the dams discipline and the interaction with its litter mates which is where the main credit lies for my pups. Mine are not prone to using your hand as a chew toy and actually find it offensive if you attempt to put your hands in their mouth. Instead, have been taught by the dam to not bite..
But again, as appears this pup has no dam to teach this at the current age I can see no reason why it should not go to a good home if you feel they can deal with the lack of puppy skill teachings that the dam was not permitted to imprint on the pup.

Very interesting post! Thank you!

The pup was abandoned by our outdoor kennels when he was 3 weeks old, thus he has no mum or litter mates, however he has plenty of dogs here that are teaching him all about bite inhibition, what's not acceptable, pack ranking etc, which I feel is important for a dog of his age. He is also getting more human socialization here then I feel he would at that home, as he comes everywhere with us. He had all the vaccines he needs by 7 weeks old, so he comes out with us to friends houses, feed stores, pet shops etc, where as at that home he would have just had their family, visiting friends and people they met out on walks (not many mind, they live in the country so they would only have been walking him throughout the woods, not in the public). If they had another dog, I wouldn't have had an issue leaving him there but as he was going to be alone it concerned both of us.

[Lara's mom]

I agree completely that if the pup has the benefit of other dogs around to do some of the teaching that mom isn't there to do, you were quite right to not let the puppy go.

My Lara stayed with both of her parents until she was 4 months old. We bonded just fine. This bonding issue comes from ignorance. A puppy does so much better when he/she is given sufficient time to learn "all the appropriate dog things."

Lara was the only pup in the litter who was not "show quality." She has too much black to qualify. I honestly think she got the best of the deal because she stayed with her parents the longest. The others all went to their homes earlier. In the end, I was the lucky one because I got my Lara!!!

[cigwyllt]

This has been a really interesting read. Here in the UK it is common for people to let their puppies go at 6 weeks and some breeders are deeply offended if you ask them to keep the pup longer. Fortunately there is a move towards an extended time with the litter but it is very rare.

I was very interested in the last comment about bonding - I took on a puppy who had been with his mother and father for four months. He was one of two pups, the other was homed early on. He had received no training or socialisation and always gave the impression of being quite timid but we bonded from the moment I brought him home. On the other hand I have a terrier that I bought at 6 weeks (I didn't know any better at the time) and she has no relationship with me at all. I don't know why people think that it is easier to bond with a young pup than an older one. My experience has been the complete opposite.

[Lara's mom]

I've been a foster mom for a great many years. The issue of bonding is not a complicated one. I have never had an issues with "failure to bond." Some obviously take longer than others. A lot depends on the circumstances that the foster child lived under before he or she came to me. With kindness, gentleness, understanding and patience, they will all bond, although some will obviously take longer than others. In the end, love and kindness always finds a way.

[bikecactus]

I think 8 weeks is old enough. A puppy can be separated from the mother at that age. However of course it depends on the breeder and the puppy itself. I got my puppies at 12 weeks and 10 weeks old respectively. Someone tried to give me a 4 week old puppy and I flat out refused. I heard someone else took it and guess what happened? It died.

[pinsnpugs]

I think it depends on the situation.
An abandoned puppy, shelter puppy, etc. I would adopt earlier.
From a breeder, 12 weeks. Larger breeds I would consider earlier than toy breeds.

I have taken a puppy at 8 weeks, but I am experienced as well. To a novice pet owner, 12 weeks is ideal.