The complete Book of Dog Care, Leon F. Whitney, D.V.M. Revised by George D. Whitney, D.V.M.
“The Newly weaned Puppy. We believe that puppies weaned at five weeks of age are ready to be placed in the homes. This is particularly important in breeds such as Shetland Sheepdogs, where socialization at a tender age with people results in an outgoing, well-adjusted pet. But if not given this early exposure they may be shy all their lives. And many shy, fearful, biting adult dogs became that way because of inadequate handing and affection when they were a young impressionable age.
Some states have enacted legislation making it illegal to dipose of a Puppy under eight weeks of age. We feel that this is the result of misguided if well-intentioned legislators. Puppies cannot receive as much individual attention as parts of a litter as they can in the homes where each is the center of attraction. Not only is this legislation a disservice to the puppy but also to the person who has to clean up after it for two or more unnecessary additional weeks.
A Shy puppy needs more that handling, cuddling, and kindness; it needs exposure to strange noise and activity as often as possible. Taking it along on trips to noisy, busy places on a regular basis underscores your frequent reassurances that there is no danger. For any four to sixteen week old puppy, we cannot overemphasize the importance of handling and affection.”
This is an older book but well written. It is believed by many that a puppy should not leave the litter until at least 7 weeks, and many also would say 8 weeks, and yet there are many who would say, 9, 10 12, and even 16 weeks. But what are the reasons. Let us take a look. I have often heard it said that they need to stay with mom because they learn so much from the mother and that learning time is so important, or they need more nursing time than 5 or 6 weeks, or they learn from their litter mates, like what happens when one pup bites another to hard, they get bit back hard. So litter solemnization is the key. More time to mature before going home. There are other reasons sited as well, like a optimal bonding age. So many reasons are given with such a strong opinion that the reader believes it must be a fact. Or the vet said it, or the breeder said it, or everyone on facebook said it so it must be fact.
Well here is my two cents. I believe that the above statements by “The Complete Book of Dog Care”, hits pretty close to home. With over 100 litters leaving here, and many pups staying here, this is what I've come to believe and what we do here. But before that I want to tell you about a red male Doberman that I got at 4 weeks old. That pup named Copper would go on to become the youngest Police Dogs in the United States. A wonderful well adjusted and extremely loving dog in ever respect. So what you might ask was the problem by taking the pup at 4 weeks old. I would say nothing.
About 10 years ago a beautiful 4 ½ week old pup went home to a very insistent nurse who would not take no for an answer. That dog who I see on Facebook and get plenty of updates is also an extremely loving, well adjusted, and healthy puppy. I've come to learn that at around 5 weeks old many mothers are done with the litter. They simply can't take the nails and teeth, and maybe the hard sucking of the pups. Also many breeder feel that by taking the pups away from mom at 5 weeks that mothers return to condition without baggie boobs, and a clean break being best.
Years ago I thought that the pups might learn something by staying with mom, I simply don't believe that anymore. I do think that the pups learn some social skills from their litter mates, and even more by the pack. But not everyone has a pack of dogs, so your pack can accomplish much of what is needed. I very much agree with the above statement: “ Puppies cannot receive as much individual attention as parts of a litter as they can in the homes where each is the center of attraction.” But that said, I don't see puppies becoming shy, who were not shy in the litter until around the 12th week. Meaning that I feel they are better off going home from the 5th week to the 12th week, and the breeder better be finding away to get a lot of human contact after 11 weeks, even if they have been well socialized as smaller pups. Also the amount of stimulus needs to increase each week, as new toys, better and bigger play areas, training, and outing should also be taking place, as well as introduction and inter actions with other dog, especially if they are going to be working or playing with other dogs.
What we do as a matter of course is start the pups eating food at 3 weeks or so, move the mother and pups out of our house, and the pups whelping box at 4 ½ to 5 weeks. The mom stays with them in a large room, where she is able to get up away from the pups. She will stay with her pups a few days to a week, and then she is completely removed from that area. Most often a clean break, never to return until we take the pups on outings starting often at eight weeks with a pup or two that we have kept back or pups that have not sold. At 5 or 6 weeks we give their first vaccine, and micro chip. 7 weeks will will give a modified Volhard Puppy Aptitude test. The pups have already been stressed via the super puppy program. 7 to 8 weeks the pups get their 2nd puppy vaccine. Vanguard Plus 5 is our vaccine of chose. Because we often keep one puppy back from each litter, I want to see all pups go through the 7 week puppy test. Pups can leave after the test, is what we tell buyers. But that being said, I see no reason what so ever why a puppy can't leave after it is weaned, at about 5 weeks of age.
“The Newly weaned Puppy. We believe that puppies weaned at five weeks of age are ready to be placed in the homes. This is particularly important in breeds such as Shetland Sheepdogs, where socialization at a tender age with people results in an outgoing, well-adjusted pet. But if not given this early exposure they may be shy all their lives. And many shy, fearful, biting adult dogs became that way because of inadequate handing and affection when they were a young impressionable age.
Some states have enacted legislation making it illegal to dipose of a Puppy under eight weeks of age. We feel that this is the result of misguided if well-intentioned legislators. Puppies cannot receive as much individual attention as parts of a litter as they can in the homes where each is the center of attraction. Not only is this legislation a disservice to the puppy but also to the person who has to clean up after it for two or more unnecessary additional weeks.
A Shy puppy needs more that handling, cuddling, and kindness; it needs exposure to strange noise and activity as often as possible. Taking it along on trips to noisy, busy places on a regular basis underscores your frequent reassurances that there is no danger. For any four to sixteen week old puppy, we cannot overemphasize the importance of handling and affection.”
This is an older book but well written. It is believed by many that a puppy should not leave the litter until at least 7 weeks, and many also would say 8 weeks, and yet there are many who would say, 9, 10 12, and even 16 weeks. But what are the reasons. Let us take a look. I have often heard it said that they need to stay with mom because they learn so much from the mother and that learning time is so important, or they need more nursing time than 5 or 6 weeks, or they learn from their litter mates, like what happens when one pup bites another to hard, they get bit back hard. So litter solemnization is the key. More time to mature before going home. There are other reasons sited as well, like a optimal bonding age. So many reasons are given with such a strong opinion that the reader believes it must be a fact. Or the vet said it, or the breeder said it, or everyone on facebook said it so it must be fact.
Well here is my two cents. I believe that the above statements by “The Complete Book of Dog Care”, hits pretty close to home. With over 100 litters leaving here, and many pups staying here, this is what I've come to believe and what we do here. But before that I want to tell you about a red male Doberman that I got at 4 weeks old. That pup named Copper would go on to become the youngest Police Dogs in the United States. A wonderful well adjusted and extremely loving dog in ever respect. So what you might ask was the problem by taking the pup at 4 weeks old. I would say nothing.
About 10 years ago a beautiful 4 ½ week old pup went home to a very insistent nurse who would not take no for an answer. That dog who I see on Facebook and get plenty of updates is also an extremely loving, well adjusted, and healthy puppy. I've come to learn that at around 5 weeks old many mothers are done with the litter. They simply can't take the nails and teeth, and maybe the hard sucking of the pups. Also many breeder feel that by taking the pups away from mom at 5 weeks that mothers return to condition without baggie boobs, and a clean break being best.
Years ago I thought that the pups might learn something by staying with mom, I simply don't believe that anymore. I do think that the pups learn some social skills from their litter mates, and even more by the pack. But not everyone has a pack of dogs, so your pack can accomplish much of what is needed. I very much agree with the above statement: “ Puppies cannot receive as much individual attention as parts of a litter as they can in the homes where each is the center of attraction.” But that said, I don't see puppies becoming shy, who were not shy in the litter until around the 12th week. Meaning that I feel they are better off going home from the 5th week to the 12th week, and the breeder better be finding away to get a lot of human contact after 11 weeks, even if they have been well socialized as smaller pups. Also the amount of stimulus needs to increase each week, as new toys, better and bigger play areas, training, and outing should also be taking place, as well as introduction and inter actions with other dog, especially if they are going to be working or playing with other dogs.
What we do as a matter of course is start the pups eating food at 3 weeks or so, move the mother and pups out of our house, and the pups whelping box at 4 ½ to 5 weeks. The mom stays with them in a large room, where she is able to get up away from the pups. She will stay with her pups a few days to a week, and then she is completely removed from that area. Most often a clean break, never to return until we take the pups on outings starting often at eight weeks with a pup or two that we have kept back or pups that have not sold. At 5 or 6 weeks we give their first vaccine, and micro chip. 7 weeks will will give a modified Volhard Puppy Aptitude test. The pups have already been stressed via the super puppy program. 7 to 8 weeks the pups get their 2nd puppy vaccine. Vanguard Plus 5 is our vaccine of chose. Because we often keep one puppy back from each litter, I want to see all pups go through the 7 week puppy test. Pups can leave after the test, is what we tell buyers. But that being said, I see no reason what so ever why a puppy can't leave after it is weaned, at about 5 weeks of age.