You can’t wait to bring home that adorable bundle of fur because you’re getting a puppy. You don’t want to miss any of your newborn child’s early years.
But wait. Bringing home a puppy too early can have an impact on your dog’s behavior for the rest of his life, and not always in a positive way.
There are various viewpoints and factors that affect the answer to the question of what is the ideal age for a puppy to be when you welcome him into your home. The ideal time to bring home a puppy, according to the majority of doctors and breeders, is between 8 and 10 weeks old. Here’s why.
The socialization period is a key consideration in determining when to send a puppy to a new home. According to veterinarian and behaviorist Dr. Sally Foote, puppies’ socialization phase typically lasts from six to twelve to fourteen weeks of age.
Puppies are learning the rules of the world around them at this time, and they are also developing attitudes and behaviors that they will maintain as adult dogs. Puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli, and environments as possible during this time, according to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, without overstimulating them.
A puppy’s socialization during this time has a significant impact on the behaviors, self-assurance, and attachments the dog will have for the rest of his life. The puppy will also develop a close bond with the people taking care of him during this period.
Puppies also go through a period known as the primary socialization period, which starts when they are three to five weeks old and when they start to become more aware of their environment. Puppies learn how to interact with other dogs, communicate with them, and play appropriately from their mother and littermates.
Additionally, they pick up some basic impulse control skills and bite inhibition from their mother and siblings’ observations.
According to research, puppies who are taken from their litters very young are more likely to exhibit behavioral and temperamental issues as adults, such as guarding their food and toys, acting fearfully or aggressively, or being highly reactive and challenging to train.
On the other hand, puppies that remain with their littermates for an extended period of time may begin to exhibit negative dominant or submissive behaviors.
It’s crucial to ensure that you are happy with the breeder’s choices before purchasing a dog. Find out the breeder’s plans for your puppy’s weaning, socialization, and when you can take the puppy home.
Claire Apple, a working Shetland Sheepdog breeder, prefers to keep her puppies in her house while they are getting used to people. At 12 weeks old, her puppies are adopted by working or athletic homes. She does this so she can direct the experiences her puppies have while going through their socialization and fear phases and start the focused training they will require for their future homes.
Early socialization of puppies should be done thoughtfully. Good breeders gradually acclimate their puppies to things like children, other adults, cars, crates, noises, surfaces, grooming equipment, solid food, the outdoors, and individual care. Puppies can benefit from new experiences, bounce back from unexpected events, and learn to enjoy being handled while forming connections with people thanks to them.
Breeders can instruct puppy owners on how to socialize their puppies safely and appropriately when they are placed in new homes without overwhelming or traumatizing them.
Another consideration in deciding when a pup can leave the litter is weaning. Most puppies start the gradual transition from their mother’s milk to solid food between three and five weeks of age, according to Dr Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer.
“This process can take a few weeks, and the pups might feel a little anxious during that time.” Puppies shouldn’t be brought home until they are content eating by themselves. Puppies who are denied the ability to suckle for comfort and sustenance may later exhibit insecure behaviors. ”.
Some states have laws stating that puppies must be at least 8 weeks old before being sold to the general public. In about 15 of the 28 states, it is against the law to sell a puppy to a minor.
The laws frequently exempt nonprofit humane societies or animal shelters from these restrictions. In many states, only pet dealers, retail pet stores, or pet breeders are subject to the laws.
Due to the tiny size and fragility of the toy breed puppies, some breeders may decide to keep the puppies past the 8-week mark.
Breeders may decide to hold off on placing a puppy for adoption if it will be flying a great distance to its new home, especially until the puppy has had the majority of its vaccinations and is more prepared to handle the physical and mental strain of travel.
A seasoned dog trainer and development expert recommended that a puppy should be introduced to its new owner at around 8 to 9 weeks old, when the animal is prepared to form a close bond. But the same trainer added that if the breeder is spending a lot of time and effort socializing and training the puppy, the puppy might also gain from staying with its littermates for a little while longer.
Conclusion: Consult your breeder, veterinarian, and dog trainer. You’ll be better prepared on the big day if they advise you to wait a week or two longer for the healthy development of your new companion.
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Can puppies leave mother at 6 weeks?
At six weeks old, veterinarians and animal lovers advise against letting puppies leave their mother. This is too early to take a puppy home.
However, this does not imply that a puppy won’t survive being separated from its mother so young. A puppy is physically independent of its mother at the age of six weeks and can be placed in a new home.
But it won’t have received the socialization required to flourish in a novel environment. In fact, according to numerous studies, separating mother and pups is best done between 8 and 9 weeks of age.
Got My Puppy At 6 Weeks – Should I Be Worried?
Continue reading the article if you want to learn more about bringing a six-week-old puppy home and caring for them.
How Early Is Too Early To Get A Puppy?
Puppies can be truly irresistible. So it makes sense that everyone would want to adopt a young puppy to take advantage of its adorable appearance and playful personality.
Nonetheless, taking a puppy away from its mother too early can negatively affect its entire life and threaten your owner-dog bond.
So how early is too early to get a puppy?
Most experts agree that the minimum age for a puppy to get adopted is 7 weeks old, though it’s better to wait until a puppy is around 8-10 weeks old. Some states also have laws in place about how old a puppy should be before it is offered for sale. Usually, puppies have to reach at least 8 weeks old to get sold.
Additionally, authorized breeders associated with regional and local kennel clubs will keep the puppy for at least 7-8 weeks.
Breeders occasionally want to sell puppies as early as 6 weeks of age. The reason is simple – money. The more time they keep the puppies, the more money they’ll spend. But it’s preferable to steer clear of purchasing a dog from a seller who wants to dispose of it so young. This demonstrates that the breeder is either ignorant of dog breeding or unconcerned with the welfare of canines.
FAQ
Can puppies leave mother at 6 weeks?
Before eight weeks, puppies shouldn’t be separated from their mother and other littermates. The new puppy has a lot to learn from his mother dog, including lessons that will stick with him for the rest of his life, and his littermates also have a lot to teach. The littermates must stay together if the mother dog has passed away.
What happens if you give puppies away at 6 weeks?
Early mother separation impairs a puppy’s physiological and psychological growth. Puppies that are placed in new homes too soon may struggle as adults with anxiety, inadequate bite inhibition, and attachment problems. Due to these factors, reputable breeders won’t market puppies that are younger than 8 weeks old.
Is it OK to pick up a puppy at 7 weeks?
A seasoned dog trainer and development expert recommended that a puppy should be introduced to its new owner at around 8 to 9 weeks old, when the animal is prepared to form a close bond.