Age To Leave Mother

[cantona 310]

I've been told I can pick up my cocker pup next weekend which will make it 5 and a half weeks old, it's been eating solids for the past week and the breeder thinks it is old enough to leave, has anyone had a pup at this age before? A friend of mine had a terrier at 6 and a half weeks and it was fine but I was thinking 5.5 is to early?

[cantona 310]

I've been told I can pick up my cocker pup next weekend which will make it 5 and a half weeks old, it's been eating solids for the past week and the breeder thinks it is old enough to leave, has anyone had a pup at this age before? A friend of mine had a terrier at 6 and a half weeks and it was fine but I was thinking 5.5 is to early?

. GOT IT WRONG, 6 and a half weeks next weekend not 5and a half sorry! What do people think of a pup leavening at 6 and a half weeks

[taz2010 1,297]

had pups at 6 weeks if ya look after them during the first few weeks until jabbed up will be fine,sure most lads will have had a pup or 2 at that age but ideal at 8 weeks

[stealthy1 3,964]

Some bitches give up producing milk for a couple of reasons, 6.5 weeks is not ideal, but it's ok if you make sure the pups food is not dry and is easy to swallow you should be fine.

[mackay 3,400]

In all reality it's the change of home that's the issue as I would expect a 6 1/2 week old pup to be away from it's mother even if still with the breeder.

Nothing pisses me off more than seeing a litter of eight week old pups hanging off their mother, regardless of what books and experts claim to the contrary.

[fat man 4,741]

In all reality it's the change of home that's the issue as I would expect a 6 1/2 week old pup to be away from it's mother even if still with the breeder.

Nothing pisses me off more than seeing a litter of eight week old pups hanging off their mother, regardless of what books and experts claim to the contrary.

Have to agree with you Mackay,i would wean pups of at around 4-5 weeks once they are eating solids and eating well,maybe let them feed of the bitch once a day in the 5th week,i have seen bitchs that wont allow pups suckle after 4 weeks or there abouts.It allows the bitch to come back to herself a lot quicker than if pups were hanging off her until 8 weeks old,i also do bitch for parvo and worms 2 weeks before she whelps so pups are healty.

[wilt 112]

you can get jabs for pups at six weeks upwords then give one at ten weeks for 20 quid ask about there are people who can get them

[Allan P 1,150]

Maybe wrong ,but not to long ago 6 weeks was normal for taking pups.

[skycat 6,173]

It's not just the feeding, but the younger the pup the more care it will need. Not good to leave very young pups on their own, so unless you can rear it in the house (best for all pups anyway) I wouldn't even consider getting a pup until it is 8 weeks old. They do settle into their new homes faster if they are only 6 weeks old, but they also need constant company. Get a crate and keep it indoors, but obviously this can only be done if there is someone 'dog friendly' at home all day who will undertake house training etc. A crate is not a substitute for day time care: you can't leave it shut in a crate all day.

[morton 5,368]

Pups should be eating by 3 weeks of age,weaned by 7 weeks.Id be comfortable to let a pup go at 6 weeks,if its going into an home that can commit to its needs,more social than welfare,its an easy task to cater to a pups diet,they are greedy beggars,its their socialisation at an early age that is far more important.