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Originally Posted by MyFairLacy  You don't get much potty training accomplished until about 12 weeks anyway. 8 week old puppies go when they feel the urge..they basically don't have much bladder and bowel control. I'd much rather have an older puppy because it would be easier to potty train. The breeder should be working with them somewhat with potty training anyway. From 8-12 weeks your puppy will learn a lot from its mother and siblings like socialization and bite inhibition. It really helps later in life because your puppy will have learned acceptable and nonacceptable social behavior from its mom and siblings. Of coarse you have to continue socializing once the puppy is brought home. Also, even if your puppy isn't having blood sugar problems at the breeder, you're saying its not eating super great right now. Well the stress of going to a new home will most likely cause the puppy to eat even less and then you will have blood sugar problems. Just be patient and do what's best for the puppy. |
Very well said! I can tell you from EXPERIENCE that a 12 week old puppy is SO much easier to train and to care for as a whole! Maddie was my first Yorkie (from a BYB) and I got her around 7 1/2-8 weeks at 1.5 lbs. She never had a sugar drop because I took off 2 weeks from work when I got her, but I had to put sugar in her water a few times to stimulate her to eat her food. She was OBVIOUSLY waaaayyyy to tiny, fragile, and young, and she should have still been with her mother. She just slept and ate most of the time, and there was no chance of potty training for at least 4 more weeks.
Then, after I became much more informed about Yorkies, I decided to get Sophie. Her breeder kept her until she was 13 weeks old, and it made ALL the difference. She had been using one of those puppy mat potty training pads that are washable since she was 3 weeks old (the breeder simply divided their living area into three places: potty, food, and sleep). Even though she said that puppies almost never start using the pad immediately, over time they begin to understand that the areas are separate...and so when I took her she understand that concept already, I just had to transfer it to grass. She was potty trained, I kid you not, in ONE week. Of course she still has the occasional accident, but it's usually at night, and I ALWAYS find that crate training during the night works wonders. They sleep in the crate until they're not having accidents for about 6 hours, then they can slowly get bed privledges...lol. Of course, I have to take Maddie and Sophie out once in the middle of the night, but they have TINY TINY bladders and truly can't hold it like a large dog could. Sophie was also very alert, smart, and playful, and she was very interactive with me and with Maddie right away. She already had A LOT of personality!
So...sorry to have rambled, but I hope this helps. Everyone here is RIGHT! Let her keep him until he's AT LEAST 12 weeks, and eating well. That's the #1 thing. =)