Pitfalls of removing a puppy early from its mother Discussions

@Jackie my pups were never trained in the confines of my own garden, they went to the rescue home with me as I was hand rearing them, there were more distractions there from other puppies to volunteer dog walkers, to building works going on plus all of the barking dogs & not forgetting the wild rabbits in the big open field, so like I said I have a special strong bond with my hooligans.

Its under the new dog law gov/direct site that is what was on poster in vets

Its also on Robert Allens Facebook page (guy from dog borstal)

I can't find anything online about it at all, Robert Alleyne's website has a dogs and the law section, doesn't even mention it.
The Government website talks about 2006 and nothing more recent.

I'm not sure what's on your vets wall, but the government website states. 8 weeks for both microchip and sale !!!

Regardless of where you trained your dogs, I doubt you have any more of a special bond than the rest of us, and to be honest it's a little condersending to suggest, you can only have a special bound if you hand rear pups.

The guide dogs puppies leave the breeder ie me at 6 weeks old. They go up to the breeding centre and stay as a litter altogether then go on to puppy walkers at 7 weeks.

They all seem to be fine and don't seem to have any problems.
Ndidi

The only legislation im aware of is the Breeding & Sale of Dogs Act where it is an offence to sell puppies under 8 weeks but that only applies to a “licensed Breeder’ and has clauses that are exempt. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/11/section/8

Mine would be 7-8 weeks of age, preferably closer to 8 than 7, if you wean at 4-5 weeks of age, that only leaves two weeks for them to get used to their food, and learn all the social skills, that's a lot to squeeze in. Plus if you do anything like crate train, recall to name/whistle, get used to house hold noises, children etc, two weeks to do all that? It's a big ask!!

It's not condescending to me, it's simply pure garbage. My boy is extremely well behaved and loyal. He can do around 20 commands, both verbal and signal, has excellent recall and leash skills, is great with ALL people and ALL animals (including wildlife). He's very loyal and follows me about and he sleeps and eats in my room each night.

If I go somewhere that allows dogs, he goes with me. And he's over 90 lbs (40kg) so isn't exactly EASY to fit into our small car etc. There's no such thing as a stronger or more special bond than the one we have. Many people have great bonds with dogs they didn't hand rear. To say there's something extra special about the bond with hand reared dogs is just randomness IMO.

I agree Myra I hand reared from 4 days old, I wanted the best for the pups and poured my heart and soul into them. I have no bond with them I kept myself detached, it was a job that needed doing and I did it. I showed them affection but I knew they weren't staying so why get overly attached. They were weaned, puppy pad trained, crate trained from day 1, used to household noises, being on different surfaces, used to the cat and other dogs and came when called all at 7 weeks

I believe that the bond we have with our dogs is more based on compatibility than the time we have them or how young they came into our lives.

'A match made in Heaven' is often the case when a dog and owner are in synch

It didn't actually say that at all.

" What you need to know that your puppy should never leave its mother and litter mates before they are at least 8 weeks of age".

It's just stating the potential fallout from bringing a pup home earlier, as Azz originally asked.

That to me is correct information. Whether pups should leave before then boils down to personal preference, but I personally don't feel a puppy is developmentally ready to leave before that age and still has more to learn from mum and littermates. And thankfully that seems to be the general consensus of experts too.

The advice for toy breeds is 12 weeks, so it can depend on the breed, but for my breeds I wouldn't be happy sending them home any sooner than eight weeks of age.

The socialisation window is very brief and can never be regained. Whilst many responsible breeders will ensure that socialisation needs are met while pups remain with them, many don't.

It's a juggling act. Yes, there are many advantages to staying with mum and litter mates, but there are also advantages to leaving them to so that the introduction to the big wide world can commence.

To me, 6-8 weeks is therefore, the happy compromise to ensure that pups receive the best of all possible starts on the road to happy relationships

I don't get this tbh one minute you post saying 8 weeks and another 10 weeks, you yourself brought a pup home later than either of those ages and he's had issues, so why recommend it?
The longer they stay with Mum is not better because some breeders keep pups and as the pups develop they have issues with mum or siblings if they are kept together.

Generally eight weeks, I've let a couple go at six by specific arrangement and they turned out well enough and I'll keep a runt up to the point at which I'm satisfied with it.

And yes, 10+ weeks with a full litter would drive you mental plus its likely better for them going forward to move on rather than become habituated where they are.

8 weeks is fine, but I wouldn't want a puppy any earlier and yes I would prefer 10 weeks with my own pups. I've never heard of pups developing problems with mum to be honest.

My Cavalier and Lowchen puppies generally went to their new homes at 8 - 9 weeks. Only rarely did I keep a puppy I was not running on for myself beyond this age. (Maybe if below average weight, having needed some vet care, or a new owners prior engagement). Although house reared puppies are well used to everyday domestic sounds and activity, the socialisation window is so brief that I think they are better having their wider experiences with their new 'parents', in the environment that will be their home for life.
I would not let a puppy go before 8 weeks - even to an experienced home. I believe that they are still learning to be dogs before this age.
I also agree with @Chris B that the 'special' dogs that we bond with can come to us at any age. Whether bred at home, bought at 8 weeks, or adult rehomings, with some dogs there just seems to be a meeting of minds, it isn't always an instant click, but it is a very special relationship when it does happen.