BT-Argo Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Hi all I was wondering what the differences would be at getting a puppy from a registered breeder at the age of 16 weeks as opposed to say 10 - 12 weeks old. Would a 16 week old pup settle in better to a new house and less prone to seperation anxiety etc. Thanks Curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 No, you are better advised to get the puppy at 8 weeks of age if possible. Puppies need to be introduced to as many new people, dogs, places and experiences as possible prior to 16 weeks of age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skwo2 Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Isn't that breeder usually let puppy to go home at 8 weeks? It said usually between 8 -12 weeks is the best time for the puppy to adapt to a new environment. But I guess it doesn't really matter, you can always train the puppy, even with separation anxiety. Do a search on this forum and you will find a lot of thread talking about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I got kaos at 4 months. She had never been around other dogs (other then the ones at the breeders) and had never been on a lead (the day i was there the breeder told me was the 2nd time she had been on a lead) She suffers fear aggression around other dogs while on lead. And HATES other staffords. I will, next time, be getting an 8 week old puppy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pesh Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I'm with 8 weeks also. BUT, if the breeders have socialize the pup and done all the normal things you would if it was yours, then I have no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I am for 8 weeks as that is when they say impressions gather and stay anyway having other dogs I dont think they would take all kindly a 4 month puppy on their territory yet they like the smaller ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peibe Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Really depends on what the breeder has done with the puppy If the pup has been treated like terrorbulls run away but if the breeder has done some socialisation and training fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nevafollo Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 i agree with peibe, aslo as the breeder has been doin things properly you are fairly safe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT-Argo Posted October 16, 2006 Author Share Posted October 16, 2006 Hi all thanks for the replies! the puppy is gorgeous... it entered its first show yesterday and came second... it was a quite little dog the breeder was handling him and then he was in his crate after and no barking nothign.. later he was with another 2 dogs and they all sat nicely and calmly.. i got a very good vibe from the 5 hours i was there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 It is a totally different scenario if the breeder has been showing the pup, I thought you were referring to a pet puppy that had been kept in a kennel situation until 16 weeks waiting to be sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT-Argo Posted October 16, 2006 Author Share Posted October 16, 2006 It is a totally different scenario if the breeder has been showing the pup, I thought you were referring to a pet puppy that had been kept in a kennel situation until 16 weeks waiting to be sold. Hi Miranda How is it different if i can ask? When speaking to the breeder she said he has been trained to be in a crate also socialised.. that i could tell . He was also used to being handled as she groomed him, was picking him up and he was not at all bothered by it. She did say he is not fully toilet trained but i can do that .... and she crates him at night like her other dogs as part of the training Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 It is a totally different scenario if the breeder has been showing the pup, I thought you were referring to a pet puppy that had been kept in a kennel situation until 16 weeks waiting to be sold. Hi Miranda How is it different if i can ask? When speaking to the breeder she said he has been trained to be in a crate also socialised.. that i could tell . He was also used to being handled as she groomed him, was picking him up and he was not at all bothered by it. She did say he is not fully toilet trained but i can do that .... and she crates him at night like her other dogs as part of the training Maybe I misconstrued your original post, but I took it as a general inquiry as to whether it's better to get a pet puppy from a breeder at 10/12 weeks or 16 weeks, I wasn't aware that you were talking about a potential show dog. Obviously if the breeder is intending the puppy to be shown he will have been well socialised and handled and will have received some training. Normally it is better to get a puppy at 8 weeks as they adjust better and the new owner is usually in a better position to give the puppy plenty of socialisation and one on one attention. Not all breeders are able to give each puppy in a litter (in my breed it's quite normal to have 12) individual attention and adequate socialisation up to 16 weeks of age which is why most pets go to their new homes at 8 weeks. Once the pet puppies have gone the breeder is then in a position to put much more time into the potential show prospects. A puppy left in a kennel situation until 16 weeks of age may not receive adequate socialisation and may not adjust as easily as an 8 week old puppy when it finally goes to its new home. This isn't always the case, but as a general rule it is far better to buy a pet puppy at 8 weeks of age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Mal Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I would agree with previous posts that 8 weeks is best. Regardless of how much training and socialising this pup will have had, I think you need to take into consideration that 8 weeks of age is also a very crucial stage for pup/human bonding too. This pup might have bonded better with the breeder by the time you get it ! JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TessaBella Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I'm picking my puppy up at 10 weeks. I have my 2nd year uni exams at the same time as she turns 8 weeks, so I have no choice other than to pick her up later. However, If I had it my way, I'd be picking her up at 8 weeks so that she had plenty of time to adapt to her new environment and to me. I have been visiting her regularly and intend to see her again this weekend, so she at least knows me a little, and I've also asked the breeder to do a little lead training with her. The breeder pays her quite a lot of attention because she's more outgoing than the others and seems to follow her everywhere. She also runs a kennel, so is used to different dogs being around. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Yes if the pup has been well socialised by the breeder I wouldn't be too concerned about getting it a bit older. One of my absolute favourites came to me at 5 months old and she fitted in beautifully. I wonder if it does depend on the breed a bit too? Cavaliers tend to love whoever feeds them I guess some breeds that are a bit more stand offish may have more of a problem adjusting. If you are buying the pup to show getting it at a slightly older age is a good idea as you can see how the pup is turning out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peibe Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I do not agree with the bonding I have a French Bulldog that I got at 7 months, her old owners came to visit her on Sunday and she did not want a bar of them and stayed with me all day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT-Argo Posted October 17, 2006 Author Share Posted October 17, 2006 I understand generally that the thumb of rule is 8 weeks. I guess its on an individual basis also on lots of cases. I have yet to make a decision.. I asked for a few days to think about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I understand generally that the thumb of rule is 8 weeks.I guess its on an individual basis also on lots of cases. I have yet to make a decision.. I asked for a few days to think about it! From what you have said this puppy sounds fine, as the breeder has obviously taken the time to train and socialise it I can't see that the fact that it's 16 weeks should present any problem. If you are intending to show the puppy sounds ideal, if he's been run on to 16 weeks at least you have a better idea of show potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 You may be interested in this link: http://www.k9force.net/index.html?row2col2=develop.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepet Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 I would agree with previous posts that 8 weeks is best.Regardless of how much training and socialising this pup will have had, I think you need to take into consideration that 8 weeks of age is also a very crucial stage for pup/human bonding too. This pup might have bonded better with the breeder by the time you get it ! JMO Hi, after having to have our 15 1/2 year old shepard put down 4 years ago (who we got at age 7 weeks )it took me a long time to recover & think about getting another dog ,we now have a 4 1/2 month old cairn terrier,named Ralph , which we got from a breeder aged about 15 weeks .I too was worried that he may be a little too old to settle i & bond & train ,but he has been FANTASTIC ,he bonded with me immediately really ,really well .He rarely leaves my side ,we have just finished puppy pre-school & he socialised excellently with the other dogs ,he picks up things really quickly ,we just put in a dog door & only showed him once & that was it .We picked a cairn as I have an injury which limits me a lot physically & after research it showed cairns were really what I needed ,now if I need to rest he will just sit by me & if I'm active he is too .I cannot praise these little dogs enough & I would not hesiatate to get another older pup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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