Puppy Age

[Waiting4rAM]

What age do most breeders recommend that a puppy come home with their new family? I have seen a standard of 7-8 weeks. Is 7 too young? Or Does it depend on the type and size of the puppy?

[stevends71]

I have heard that the safest time is between 8 and 12 weeks of age. This gives the puppy enough time to learn some very important lessons from mom and siblings about how to be a dog. There are many opinions on this subject though. Personally, I will wait until they are 10 to 12 weeks.

[PatchO'Pits]

They can go at 8 weeks but I hold my pups until 9-10 weeks as I do a lot of training with them before they leave me.

Socialization time with their mama and siblings is very important

[JustJo]

The breeder I got Bullwinkle from does not let them go until 10 weeks of age.

[Arlo's Dad]

Arlo was almost five weeks old when I brought him home. They were listed at four weeks. :( The humane society didn't want to hang on to them any longer.

I like to think the upside was that Arlo and I bonded that much more after being ripped away from his family. Please let me think that. ;)

[Elizab3th]

Cy was 6 weeks old when I brought him home. Personally I would have liked to have waited until he was at least 7, but if I waited I ran the risk of someone else taking him. (Cassie was just 7 weeks when I brought her home.) I have read that puppies should not be brought home at 8 weeks old because they go through a "fear period" during that week, and if anything frightens them, they could be afraid of it forever. Has anyone else heard this?

Elizabeth
Mom to Cy and Cassie

[PatchO'Pits]

Cy was 6 weeks old when I brought him home. Personally I would have liked to have waited until he was at least 7, but if I waited I ran the risk of someone else taking him. (Cassie was just 7 weeks when I brought her home.) I have read that puppies should not be brought home at 8 weeks old because they go through a "fear period" during that week, and if anything frightens them, they could be afraid of it forever. Has anyone else heard this?

Elizabeth
Mom to Cy and Cassie

Puppies go through a couple of fear stages usually. That though as nothing to do with the 8 week minimum rule of thumb.

The pups need to be with their dam first off to nurse and get her antobodies. They also need to learn bite inhibition and doggy manners from the dam and siblings.

Dogs taken too young sometimes develop issues if not trained and socialized properly by owners who are inexperinenced or not willing to take on the task.

A breeder who says you have to take a pup under 8 weeks is a BYB IMO and doesn't care about the dog

[dogs7]

What age do most breeders recommend that a puppy come home with their new family? I have seen a standard of 7-8 weeks. Is 7 too young? Or Does it depend on the type and size of the puppy?
7-8 is what I heard too so go with 8 because thats when most breeders send their puppies home.