Why 12-14 Weeks Old!!

[Yorkiemom1]

I pulled this out of my puppy pak information that I distribute with my new owners. There is always a lot of discussion about leaving or not leaving babies with moms until 12-14 weeks old....I explain to my new owners why you can not own a Rosehill Yorkie under 12-14 weeks of age. After much research and documentation of evidenced based results achieved by leaving puppies with mommas until 12-14 weeks of age, this is what I commit MY breeding program to.

This is the most important time in your puppy's life development and growth, not just physically but emotionally and psychologically as well.

The experiences, or lack thereof, during this most important time will shape your puppy for his or her entire life. This is the reason your puppy cannot leave his mother until he is at least 12 weeks old. These are the most crucial days in the puppy's life experience. That momma is teaching that puppy how to be an integral part of a pack, regardless if it is with other dogs or if "the pack" is the "human pack", i.e., your family!
BIRTH to 2 WEEKS OF AGE:
Puppies cannot even regulate their own body temperature or eliminate without the mothers stimulation. They are only aware of direct contact. The introduction of mild stress to puppies during the first several weeks develops dogs which are superior when in learning or competitive situations. They are better able to handle stress, are more outgoing and learn more quickly. Mild stress at an early age will actually increase the size of the brain. It is during this stage that we involve every puppy in the "Bio-Sensor Program" explained in detail at the end of this article.
2 to 3 WEEKS OF AGE:
Their eyes and ears open. They begin to hear and respond to taste and smell. This is the time to introduce items to the whelping box such as a plastic soda bottle, knotted sock, newspapers, cardboard box, etc. It is also important to continue picking up the pups daily, love them, talk to them, and spend time with each one individually.
3 to 7 WEEKS
Puppy is now learning how to be a dog. He must live with his mom and littermates during this entire period. He will learn how to stop mother's discipline by acting submissively. Pups should not be weaned during this time! A puppy removed from its mom and litter during this time can become overly noisy, have a discipline problem, or be a fighter. The mother is allowed as much time with the pups as she wants. She will naturally begin to spend a little less time with them on her own.To raise a pup any other way, makes you an irresponsible breeder.After week five is ideal for timing for a puppy temperament test. The brain waves of the puppy are the same as a mature dog, but the puppy is a clean slate. If the puppies have been properly socialized and have not been traumatized before the test, the test is a reliable measure of their suitability for whatever role in life they are expected to fulfill. It is an excellent aid in placing puppies in working situations or compatible pet homes.
Breeders have an important responsibility to provide proper experiences for the puppies they have bred. Mom did not ask to be pregnant and the puppies did not ask to be born. Now that they have arrived as the breeder planned, the breeder must take responsibility and socialize these same pups with diligence, care and sincerity. We follow a "7/7" rule...by the time they are 7 weeks old, we have had them on 7 different surfaces, in 7 different areas, playing with 7 different types of toys, introduced to 7 different types of food stuffs ( formula, canned dog food (RC Puppy Mousse), kibble softened with formula, kibble softened with warm water, softened kibble mixed with RC Puppy Mousse, kibble mixed with RC Mousse, and then just kibble. We start out with Royal Canin Starter Mousse, Mini Royal Canin Baby Dog and graduate to Mini Royal Canin Puppy, which is what you receive in your puppy pack.)

From three weeks of age when the learning stage begins, to 16 weeks of age, the character of a dog is formed. No matter how good his inherited character traits, if they are not socialized during this period, they will never be as good a dog as they could have been. It is also worth mentioning that a poorly bred pup will not have the basic foundation needed to benefit anywhere near as much from this early training. Excellent, proven pedigrees are an essential part of the formula for breeding healthy, well adjusted dogs.
What role does genetics play vs. environment?
In addition to genetic pre-disposition in regards to temperament, the environmental and social experiences also make lasting impressions on a developing puppy. Important stages in a puppy’s development begin at birth, peak around 10 weeks, and extend to maturity.
Having all of the above in mind, understand that you must have a healthy, sound pup to start with. Genetics dictate a dog’s temperament. With a well bred pup, the above socialization will help your pup reach his or her full potential.
These all important experiences, or lack thereof, during this time will shape your puppy for his or her entire life. Let's give them the best possible start to their new life in our world. Take care, take time and do it right, and do right by the dog. He will be a part of your family for the next 12 to 18 years.

This information has been acquired from many, many articles on this topic. I use this information to lay the foundation for my babies and their development, because I believe it contributes to the "all around design" of the very best puppy you can own.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Thank you so much. I'm going to save this!!! Priceless information.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Also would be great if this were a sticky!

[Teresiana]

I love this post! Thanks for that information! Also, aren't there certain "fear periods" that all puppies go through? I should look that up.

I just got a new puppy almost 2 weeks ago. She stayed with her breeder until 16 weeks. I must say, she is the best behaved puppy I have ever met! She's so easy to take care of that I almost feel guilty. She's transitioned to her new home better than I ever could have imagined! I'm a true believer in the 12-14 or even 16 week "rule".

[Verbena]

I agree. Great info. Wonderful sticky

[McheleM]

I just want to say that I notice a difference in the dogs I have that we're kept with mom and littermates until 12-14 weeks and the one I got at 7 weeks and he spent 2 weeks in ICU at the vet with limited interactions.

[gemy]

Great post Judy Thanks

[alaskayorkie]

Yes! I have understood the importance for a while but it's rarely presented so eloquently. Thanks! Sticky!

Question for you: Is this true for all breeds?

[Lovetodream88]

I vote for sticky status

[gemy]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Yes! I have understood the importance for a while but it's rarely presented so eloquently. Thanks! Sticky!

Question for you: Is this true for all breeds?

Not really, as far as my training goes with the large breeds. We tend to place at 8 to 10 wks old, and usually pups at that time weigh 15- 20 or more pounds.
The bitch has usually weaned by at least 6wks old, and trust me, she is pretty adamant about that. And yes she disciplines her pups, and teaches bite inhibition from a very young age, somewhere around 4 1/2 wks old it starts.

It is very important to place the dogs while they are relatively young into the owners home, for training and socialization to their family. And for the bonding to happen.

We at least the responsible breeders of a large guard breed are very very selective for our pups homes. Usually we have training requirements built into the contract, and trust me we do follow up a lot, at least for the first three years.

You need to understand that it is much much easier to teach a young and relatively light dog to heel on a leash, to not jump up, etc. We teach as breeders come, sit, and usually all pups are already acclimatized to a leash and collar prior to going home.
And they are already 90% the way to house broken, by the time they go home.
With in one wk of Magic coming home he was fully house broken to our home.

As a working breed, they are mouthy! Most good working breeds are as young pups. And you spend a lot of time helping them not to "mouth" your hand. Mostly they just love you so much they want to munch on you. Of course you need to train this out of the young pup .

WE spend a lot of time making sure our large dogs won't jump up on citizens, mouth citizens, go into attack mode at any provocation. WE also through our training make sure that big boy knows who is the boss, and will obey our commands.

Magic and I from the time he was 12 wks old spent 3x a week training in obedience until he was about 2.5 yrs old. He was and is what is called a "hard" dog. This descriptive is both a compliment and a whole lot of caution with it. A hard dog, once trained is the ultimate obedience and guard dog; but getting there is going to take a whole lot of time.

There is no physical discipline in the world that will correct a "hard' dog, they don't and won't recognize it. Instead you need to find your way in, delicately, judiciously and with much trial and error.

You need to do physical correction only when necessary, and believe you me, this breed judges what is necessary or not. And by physical correction I mean a quick snap which is likened to you putting your finger in their neck and a quick push. You need to always "make" them listen. That means come means come. Stay means Stay. And stop means stop

This training started at my breeders and continued with me from the time he was 8wks old.

So in summary ... gosh I wrote a bible, but no larger breeds have different needs to the YT and one size fits all placebo, just doesn't fit.








We usually have trainers we can refer to, if the buyer is too far away from us, to help the new owner with training the BRT.

[Teresiana]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I vote for sticky status

Me too!

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by gemy

Not really, as far as my training goes with the large breeds. We tend to place at 8 to 10 wks old, and usually pups at that time weigh 15- 20 or more pounds.
The bitch has usually weaned by at least 6wks old, and trust me, she is pretty adamant about that. And yes she disciplines her pups, and teaches bite inhibition from a very young age, somewhere around 4 1/2 wks old it starts.

It is very important to place the dogs while they are relatively young into the owners home, for training and socialization to their family. And for the bonding to happen.

We at least the responsible breeders of a large guard breed are very very selective for our pups homes. Usually we have training requirements built into the contract, and trust me we do follow up a lot, at least for the first three years.

You need to understand that it is much much easier to teach a young and relatively light dog to heel on a leash, to not jump up, etc. We teach as breeders come, sit, and usually all pups are already acclimatized to a leash and collar prior to going home.
And they are already 90% the way to house broken, by the time they go home.
With in one wk of Magic coming home he was fully house broken to our home.

As a working breed, they are mouthy! Most good working breeds are as young pups. And you spend a lot of time helping them not to "mouth" your hand. Mostly they just love you so much they want to munch on you. Of course you need to train this out of the young pup .

WE spend a lot of time making sure our large dogs won't jump up on citizens, mouth citizens, go into attack mode at any provocation. WE also through our training make sure that big boy knows who is the boss, and will obey our commands.

Magic and I from the time he was 12 wks old spent 3x a week training in obedience until he was about 2.5 yrs old. He was and is what is called a "hard" dog. This descriptive is both a compliment and a whole lot of caution with it. A hard dog, once trained is the ultimate obedience and guard dog; but getting there is going to take a whole lot of time.

There is no physical discipline in the world that will correct a "hard' dog, they don't and won't recognize it. Instead you need to find your way in, delicately, judiciously and with much trial and error.

You need to do physical correction only when necessary, and believe you me, this breed judges what is necessary or not. And by physical correction I mean a quick snap which is likened to you putting your finger in their neck and a quick push. You need to always "make" them listen. That means come means come. Stay means Stay. And stop means stop

This training started at my breeders and continued with me from the time he was 8wks old.

So in summary ... gosh I wrote a bible, but no larger breeds have different needs to the YT and one size fits all placebo, just doesn't fit.








We usually have trainers we can refer to, if the buyer is too far away from us, to help the new owner with training the BRT.

Thanks for the detailed reply. That's been my suspicion based on all the breeders I know placing larger breeds at younger ages.

[yorkiemini]

WOW . This is great info!
Thanks for sharing!
I got my Cali at 9 months and she was being shown so got lots,of attention and socializing..... And from your post I can see why she is such a great dog!

[lynzy420]

Sticky, very good info Judy you are awesome...