Puppy Leaving Breeder Question

[Mags]

Cats are so very different - our kittens don't leave here until 16 weeks as they are a slow maturing breed and need the time with their mum, our other adults and their siblings (and our dogs) to learn the life skills they need to make good indoor companions.

It's interesting, I've noticed that most cat breeders don't let kittens go until at least 12 weeks. None seem keen to let them go sooner. Is that because they want to desex them first?

That is also a consideration (as no pet kitten leaves here undesexed and our kittens are desexed at 14 weeks minimum) but cats are just slower maturing and also just need longer with their litter mates/mums to learn house rules. I can have kittens that are still suckling from their mums as their major source of nutrition at 7 weeks (whilst maine coon kittens are big they are slow maturing) and they are not fully weaned till about 14 weeks - we never force wean - mum and kittens work it out themselves. Their siblings & mum teach them bite and scratch inhabition, they learn to use toilets reliably, they gain confidence and are much better able to cope with a move to a new home with minimal stress and fit in without experiencing any problems. They also get taught before they go it is not manners to climb people like they are trees, land on their shoulders from dog knows where, wreck curtains and blinds and it is OK to ask if you can sit on a lap, cuddle up for sleep with your people (without attacking feet)etc. Their mums are also very comfortable at them heading off at this age (as long as they see them leave). We have had people "demand" we sell them kittens much earlier as they can get puppies from 8 weeks - really not interested they are different species with totally different requirements.

[becks]

I know people at my training club who get breeders to let pups go to them from 6 weeks old, as they think they can better train and socialise them from that age - well the end result is no better then pups who have left at older ages (and they also seem to be the dogs who jump and climb on people without notice or go the other way and be DA and generally to me have bad manners!!!)

Pups that have left me at an older age, the owners all have said how well they have settled in from the start, easier to complete toilet training, they have learned their manners better from being around other dogs. So long as pups are living in the home and being treated as a pet, not just penned up in a spare room or outhouse with nothing to see or do all day, then they should settle well and owners bond just as well.

[emery]

I got my recent pup at 6 months as his breeder ran him on. He was from a kennel environment and she doesn't have toddlers or babies.

He settled in here fine, chased the cats once or twice learnt very quickly they are the boss, learnt our rules and fitted in fine.

He is a confient, social (very social), loveable, easy to train (except how to stand still :p ) pup.

I don't think getting him older has affected him at all though he was socialised at dog shows etc with his breeder and through a few cyclones which probably helped :D

[limbrick123]

This is going to depend heavily on breed. Toy breeds I think can stay longer with their families, but larger breeds are sometimes ready even before 8 weeks.

it is against the COE to allow pups to go before 8 weeks.

Not quite sure why it would be breed size specific, unless you mean how giant breeds maturity is different to small breeds - in which case it's the other way around - giant breeds are generally later to mature/develop

[limbrick123]

Not quite sure why the timing should be breed size specific, unless you mean that different sizes mature at different rates. In which case you're th wrong way around. The giant breeds are slower to mature/develop than the small/toys