Getting a puppy at 6 weeks old.....ugh
In a recent discussion with a co-worker who is waiting to get a boxer puppy she told me they would be picking up the puppy early...I asked how early...6weeks she replied. At that point I had to stop myself from yelling, "ARE YOU CRAZY" I calmly collected myself, bit my tongue and replied, " wow, really why?" Apparently, her husband who is a teacher will be off for about two weeks for Christmas so they thought it would be more convenient to bring the dog home then. The breeder is apparently ok with this, which I personally happen to question. At any rate, I presented her with the following reasons that I didn't think that was the best plan: - it takes away from an important period of socialization for that puppy - potty training may be difficult in those early weeks as they don't have the muscle control yet to hold it for long periods of time - There immune systems are not quite strong enough yet and they could still be susceptible to some of the particularly nasty viruses - Every breeder I know has a standard policy that NO puppy leaves their home before 9 weeks and more likely not before 12 weeks for the safety of that puppy I was trying to rack my brain for more but was stopped short when she needed to run and get her phone. So I ended the conversation by saying, when I have litters of puppies in the future(a LONG time from now) even though they are a lot of work they won't be leaving my house until they are between 9 and 12weeks old, period based on what I have learned about puppy development so far. I'm sure this won't sway her one bit but geez. Maybe it's not the end of the world to anyone else. I guess what I have the problem with is that they are first time puppy owners, they have a 5 year old son and I keep picturing this puppy becoming a nipping nightmare who becomes increasingly difficult to train because it didn't have enough time with it's mother and siblings to learn boundaries. So if I am wrong please let me know. I'm all ears. But also please let me know if I am right or mis-informed about something I have said. It still won't change my own personal policy; but may help me understand the perspective of others. 
Thanks |
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| 8 weeks is the bare minimum to me. Our code of ethics states 8 weeks as do most other breed club's codes of ethics. I prefer 12 weeks myself. And my vet (I've been with him since 1985 & he is a breeder vet) has always said "the longer they are with the mother & litter, the less of a chewer they will be". By this I mean "damage chewing" not your regular "chewing on a nylabone" chewing. Personally, I wouldn't sell to anyone who insisted on a time frame for their convenience. That right there would tell me how much they are ready to go out of their way for the dog for the rest of it's life.
Marilyn |
| In some states, it's illegal to even let a pup go that young. |
| I think you are wasting your breath.
My experience is that most people, once having made a decision are unlikely to change it. Many breeders around here do push pups out at 6 weeks. My own experience, 13 years ago, was dealing with a breeder who told me when I picked Tasker out at 3 weeks that she ALWAYS kept pups for 9 weeks. We established a pick up date and I went home expecting to pick him up in January, well after the chaos of the Christmas holiday was over. Christmas eve day we received a frantic phone call from the breeder. ALL THE PUPPIES HAD TO BE PICKED UP THAT DAY. She was having company for Christmas and could not deal with the litter another minute . I should have run fast theother way but not really knowing much I agreed to pick Tasker up.
He was a couple days shy of 6 weeks. I was not happy about it but in all honesty I have to say we had not problems with him because of it. So I would provide her with information and advice but wouldn't hold my breath expecting her to take it!! |
| Thanks everyone for your thoughts.
Marilyn- I can't agree more with you! Thanks for posting. Butterstoch- Wow, didn't know that. Good to know for future informational purposes! Thanks. Tasker's mom- I agree that I may be wasting my breath; but I'm also the type of person who couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least provide them with information. I always like to give people another option. Whether they take it or not is up to them...although I always hope they do  Ok, so that probably makes me a "know-it-all" but I can live with that 
I greatly appreciate everyones thoughts and information on this topic, makes me feel better knowing that I am trying to steer her in the right direction. 
I just wish everyone made informed decisions when it comes to this stuff. I know....wishful thinking. I wonder if there are any research articles on this? Hmm, I feel a google serach coming on  |
| Here's a link to law stuff:
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovus ... etable.htm It's too bad there wasn't one solid federal law in this case. |
Perfect! Thank you!  |
| I have to add that the best behaved, easiest to train out of all my OES came home to me at 12 weeks. I think 8 weeks is fine, but it's a lot easier to housebreak them if they are a bit older. |
| I could not get Obe until after nine weeks. It ended up being ten weeks as our schedules were conflicting.. I would have to say it was for the best. When I got him he had the idea of potty training, and he was not much of a chewer. I have no experience with breeding but, in the future if I get another puppy I will wait until ten weeks, breeder doesn't like it I will go else where. Most likely will get a rescue... Andy @ the Colorado OES rescue!!!! I wish. |
| Lucali,
Many good points have been raised here so I won't repeat them even though I thoroughly believe that 12-14 weeks is the best time to send a pup to his/her new home. What has not been mentioned however is that Christmas is by far the single worst time to bring a puppy into the home. For the most part Christmas is far too busy to dedicate the time necessary to help a puppy transition into his new home and more importantly his new pack! While the puppy may be the "best gift to open" at Christmas - be that actually on Christmas day or a week or two either way - he/she needs time, dedication and consistency in attention and training. The number of visitors coming through the home and their behaviour - either directly towards the dog or indirectly through other activities - could easily "spook" a new arrival, especially one only 6 weeks old and believe me no one wants a chronically shy and introverted dog for the next 10-14 years - been there done that but it's another story. Christmas decorations can be a minefield of death to dogs especially untaught puppies from broken glass tree ornaments, low slung electrical wires for lights that are on the tree, windows etc to that lovely but toxic poinsettia! Children, excited by the holiday activities could all to easily overpower the pup resulting in a fear bite and we know who really suffers for that one and it isn't the child who in fact inadvertantly caused the bite..... And ultimately a Christmas Puppy isn't good for the family either. Do people really want to deal with "potty presents", do they want those pretty packages torn apart, do they want to deal with an energetic puppy begging for table scraps and treats - and his potty problems when "someone or somebodys" inevitably give him "just that one" moresel, do they want to be up in the early morning hours for potty walks after that late party with co-workers, friends, neighbours or family not seen all year .... Anyway you get the idea... If you still have breath to expend on your boxer friend try to make her/him see the social problems a Chrtistmas puppy will suffer. Best of luck Carl |
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