Visiting Breeder With Young Pups

[parrotpea]

My breeder's girl has just had her pups, and I was talking to her about a week before they were born and she was saying that she didn't want anyone visiting the pups until they have had their first vacc at 6 weeks. Is this usual?

She is going to put pics up on the website for me but I would love to see them in the flesh.

[Skitch]

Definitely the 'norm' with most breeders. They dont want you tromping anything in on your shoes/clothes/hands/etc before the pups have atleast had their first vaccs they are very vulnerable! Parvo is too easily transmitted and very common this time of year.

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

breeders often don't let people visit to protect the pups from diseases like parvo.

[parrotpea]

breeders often don't let people visit to protect the pups from diseases like parvo.

That sounds very reasonable - guess I just have to be patient then

[becks]

aside from protecting them from disease, until they are 5 or 6 weeks old, they really don't do much to be of interest to watch and see personality/temperaments. Earlier on, once they are up on their feet, they are active for such short bursts, it would take good timing to see them awake.

[Sandra777]

Yes, for all the reasons given above - and also because it is inevitable that someone will fall in love with a puppy and that will be the puppy the breeder decides to keep. Most people are obviously sensible about this and know they don't have first choice, but there's always someone who needs to be a drama queen and it's frankly not worth the bother

Yep, patience is required!

[raz]

Yes what the other posters have said. They're only blobs at the moment anyway and the time will go quicker than you think. Have fun - is this your first puppy?

[Guest Ams]

Sounds like a very responsible breeder to me. It is very important to make sure the puppies are protected until they are vaccinated.

[dunnwarren]

I don't let people come near my pups before 6 weeks. Sometimes they ask to come and pick their puppy but I discourage them by telling them they all look the same until 6 weeks of age.

[WreckitWhippet]

It will depend on the breeder.

We do not vaccinate until the puppies are 8 weeks of age, so I will let people visit. It's not every Tom Dick and Harry and the tyre kickers, just the serious puppy purchasers and friends.

If a breeder was really serious about that kind of thing, they wouldn't allow you into the home until two weeks after their first vacc, which would pretty mush be the day you picked up a pup vacc'd at 6 weeks. I'm pretty much convinced that a vaccination at 6 weeks is next to useless and offers little if any protection for a pup.

[Cosmolo]

One question i would ask is what socialisation the pups are receiving until 6 weeks. It would concern me if the pups had no contact whatsoever with anyone except the breeder until after 6 weeks.

[WreckitWhippet]

One question i would ask is what socialisation the pups are receiving until 6 weeks. It would concern me if the pups had no contact whatsoever with anyone except the breeder until after 6 weeks.

That concerns me too.

I know how attached to me and how my pups recognise me at an early age. They certainly know, even as very young babies, that a stranger is handling them.

I have a select group of friends that I encourage to visit and are hands on from the time they are born.

Some will argue that a good temperament and well bred parents will be enough to get pups through, but I think you can never give them too much of a head start when it comes to socialisation.

[parrotpea]

Yes what the other posters have said. They're only blobs at the moment anyway and the time will go quicker than you think. Have fun - is this your first puppy?

My first puppy from a reputable registered breeder. It is lovely to have met some of her dogs(and her and her husband) before pups were even born. So excited to be getting a pup from someone who obviously cares so much about her dogs and keeps in regular contact with several of the owners of her pups from previous litters. She is also willing to take me under her wing as I start showing

One question i would ask is what socialisation the pups are receiving until 6 weeks. It would concern me if the pups had no contact whatsoever with anyone except the breeder until after 6 weeks.

That is a good question Cosmolo - I will check that out with her. I am worried about sounding rude but I'm sure she would prefer that I asked the question right?

[Sandra777]

That is a good question Cosmolo - I will check that out with her. I am worried about sounding rude but I'm sure she would prefer that I asked the question right?

Yes, most breeders would prefer sensible questions than nothing or assumptions. You'll probably find she's like everyone else and has a group of people who help socialise their pups and understand about disease etc.

[dancinbcs]

It depends on the breed and the breeder. With small breeds it seems to be the norm but with the larger or more boisterous breeds many breeders are happy to have buyers visit on several occasions, observing rules to prevent infection. I like buyers to come weekly from about 4 weeks as do many of my breeder friends but not all breeders do things that way.

[Paul Bright]

Yes this very normal. Breeders do this to avoid diseases that puppies may easily catch as their immune systems are not strong yet. Outsiders often bring in diseases from other pets and the environment.