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YorkieRose · 02-11-2008, 10:17 AM

Here are my reasons for 12 weeks min....
At 6 weeks, mine have been weaned for no more then a week, some not that...I feel strongly a Yorkie should be eating for a bare minium of 4 weeks on their own before leaving. This is the time many genetic problem can show up..mothers milk is very easy to digest and agreeable to the puppy... about 2 to 4 weeks on regular dog food can reveal problems, good to be sure.

At 6 weeks most of mine are only in the one pound range..some are smaller, a few bigger, but not by much...
They need to enter act with the litter and dam for another few weeks so they learn they are dogs....makes a more well balanced pet.

From 6 weeks to 12 weeks is my job as the breeder to prepare them for a new home...they learn to be groomed, housetraining started, riding in the car, crate training, sleeping alone, meeting new people, two series of shots....it is not recommended to give vaccines before 8 to 9 weeks now, so it would mean they have two series of shots and are better protected....

Many pet owners get the new pet and take it all over town to visit family, it comes into contact with other animals, too much stress for a young one and they get sick...and I can not comfort myself by saying..."the pup left my home well and it is the new owners fault it is sick...

The fact is this, it is a matter of percentages....most 6 week old Yorkies do not do well leaving the breeder and to me, it is not worth the few who do...
Then again, it can depend on what kind of environment the breeder provides for the puppy...some pups are lucky to get out of the breeders care in 6 weeks, by 12 they would be mentally messed up or dead....

02-11-2008, 10:17 AM	#2
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	age Here are my reasons for 12 weeks min.... At 6 weeks, mine have been weaned for no more then a week, some not that...I feel strongly a Yorkie should be eating for a bare minium of 4 weeks on their own before leaving. This is the time many genetic problem can show up..mothers milk is very easy to digest and agreeable to the puppy... about 2 to 4 weeks on regular dog food can reveal problems, good to be sure. At 6 weeks most of mine are only in the one pound range..some are smaller, a few bigger, but not by much... They need to enter act with the litter and dam for another few weeks so they learn they are dogs....makes a more well balanced pet. From 6 weeks to 12 weeks is my job as the breeder to prepare them for a new home...they learn to be groomed, housetraining started, riding in the car, crate training, sleeping alone, meeting new people, two series of shots....it is not recommended to give vaccines before 8 to 9 weeks now, so it would mean they have two series of shots and are better protected.... Many pet owners get the new pet and take it all over town to visit family, it comes into contact with other animals, too much stress for a young one and they get sick...and I can not comfort myself by saying..."the pup left my home well and it is the new owners fault it is sick... The fact is this, it is a matter of percentages....most 6 week old Yorkies do not do well leaving the breeder and to me, it is not worth the few who do... Then again, it can depend on what kind of environment the breeder provides for the puppy...some pups are lucky to get out of the breeders care in 6 weeks, by 12 they would be mentally messed up or dead....