8 weeks.

[jukel123 7,957]

I think the law says a pup must be eight weeks old before sale. I've always preferred to get a pup around 5 to 6 weeks. My reasoning is the pup isn't getting much from a bitch after 5 weeks and they are stuck in a run learning nothing. I get a tin of Lactol  a heat lamp and have the pup alternating between house and kennel with a laid back adult dog. I figure that way it's learning more and accepting its new circumstances without any fuss. The longer you leave it before bringing a pup home the greater the chance it will take a longer time to settle. Opinions?

Edited December 17, 2022 by jukel123

[si brown 8,486]

last pup I got was six week old, came home fine settled in straight away no problems... 

got more grief from the silly cow at the vets when I went to register it as it was irresponsible and the owner who sold the litter should of kept them till first jabs!

at one point she said I might have nicked it because it wasn't chipped.. fcukin idiot!

 

[Neobliviscaris1776 1,998]

If the bitch is a good mother, a pup will learn more social behaviour and be better prepared for meeting other dogs and interacting with them when their introduced to other dogs and pups soon after. No lactol can compensate for the mother's milk, that's where their immunity is built. 

[Bakerboy 4,672]

Was always 6 weeks when I was a kid

[jukel123 7,957]

2 hours ago, Neobliviscaris1776 said:

If the bitch is a good mother, a pup will learn more social behaviour and be better prepared for meeting other dogs and interacting with them when their introduced to other dogs and pups soon after. No lactol can compensate for the mother's milk, that's where their immunity is built. 

In my experience, most bitches snarl and snap at pups after 5 weeks. The pups scratch the bitch's teats with paws and milk teeth. The bitch gets mugged by the pups for a few minutes and then she has to leave. The pups are too painful and irritating for her.

I don't buy the socialisation thing when they are in a pen looking at walls 24/7. They get far more being brought to their new home where they get fussed and settled in. I think immunity from their mothers milk happens in the first few days when they get colostrum from her.

I'm not saying you are wrong, I just have a different opinion. Be interesting to see if Skycat or Old Phil will comment.

Edited December 17, 2022 by jukel123

[BEARINATOR 2,867]

Let mine go at 7 weeks after the first jab and chip as they wouldn’t do them at 6 weeks. But I prefer the 6 - 7 weeks old if getting a pup in 

[moonlighter 1,163]

I like to get them at 8 weeks.. I’ve found any earlier and they don’t eat as well away from their litter mates and dam. That’s just in my experience. They eat, but they don’t stuff their selves like when they eat with a full litter. 

[TOMO 26,061]

big no for me getting them that early..

8 weeks plus 10 weeks even better...I think it's daft saying there getting nothing from the mother or siblings...there learning how to be dog...

let's be honest the only reason they go early is cos the owner wants them gone

[mC HULL 12,238]

1 hour ago, TOMO said:

big no for me getting them that early..

8 weeks plus 10 weeks even better...I think it's daft saying there getting nothing from the mother or siblings...there learning how to be dog...

let's be honest the only reason they go early is cos the owner wants them gone

by 5 week the bitch normally getting hammered by em start ripping the teet then you have to worry about mastitis etc

[TOMO 26,061]

42 minutes ago, mC HULL said:

by 5 week the bitch normally getting hammered by em start ripping the teet then you have to worry about mastitis etc

really....I've never seen that....

 

[TOMO 26,061]

nothing to be gained by removing a puppy at 5..6 weeks....

pups are still feeding of there dam...and playing with there siblings

[mC HULL 12,238]

1 minute ago, TOMO said:

really....I've never seen that....

 

never seen it ? i’ve never seen a bitch still feeding pups at 8 weeks mate 

there hammered by 5 week most the litters i seen it’s cruel you never seen a butch with mastitis rips big holes id start weaning 3 and half week be off completely by 5 

[mC HULL 12,238]

2 minutes ago, TOMO said:

nothing to be gained by removing a puppy at 5..6 weeks....

pups are still feeding of there dam...and playing with there siblings

i agree i’d keep until 9 ten week to play be a pup with siblings but there off the mam a month before 

[TOMO 26,061]

1 minute ago, mC HULL said:

never seen it ? i’ve never seen a bitch still feeding pups at 8 weeks mate 

there hammered by 5 week most the litters i seen it’s cruel you never seen a butch with mastitis rips big holes id start weaning 3 and half week be off completely by 5 

I have last litter I had...still feeding them at 8 week...not saying they were getting much...but still having a go...

[mC HULL 12,238]

Just now, TOMO said:

I have last litter I had...still feeding them at 8 week...not saying they were getting much...but still having a go...

8 week ? pups i had similar time would have had the bitch dead the teeth at 4 week was ruining the bitch red raw 

ive never seen pups feeding on the bitch at 8 week mate