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Originally Posted by FlDebra  I have not sold any Yorkie puppies but have an opinion based on when I got my last two Yorkies. I got Ben after 10 weeks old. He is feisty, full of it and very confident. He took over the household on arrival. He seems so smart. I can tell him to go get his sock (a sock covering what is left of a toy that talks when hit about) and he will go find it and bring it to me to tease him with. He is very spoiled though and insists on his own way, crying if we do not give in.
Sadie, (here it is I am going to confess) -- I brought her home at 7 weeks. Her mother was not going in the pen anymore. She was eating well, and larger in size than Ben had been at 10 weeks. Since we had other dogs, I am home all day and the mother seemed to have desserted them, I brought her home. She has been skitterish since day one. She is afraid of everything. She will not go out in the yard unless I am right there, not just watching from the door, I have to be right out there in the grass with her. Yet, she house-trained easier than Ben. She is the most cuddly dog I have ever seen. She lives to be loved! She is very dependent and I think she missed gaining self-confidence because she left mom and siblings too soon. We love her just as much and she is still a wonderful pet -- but I wish we had given her another 3-4 weeks, for her own sense of well-being.
If we do ever have puppies, I am keeping them all til 10-12 weeks at least. I keep thinking I may just keep them all period! LOL! |
Yes, you can tell the difference in puppies that are kept with mother and siblings longer.
Some feel that just because mothers are done with the nursing, and puppies are eating they ready to go. However, the mental developement and socialization really begin at 8 weeks and puppies learn so much from mothers and siblings from 8-12 weeks of age. It is one of the most important times in their lives. The gain confidence and self importance, let alone leaving familiar surrounding they tend to go off food, which may be dangerous, if not monitored. None leave my home prior to 12 weeks of age and/or past that 2 pound weight, when they're eating well, socialized and piddle pad trained (which my mothers have always done for me).....