[MyFairLacy]

The YTCA mandates that reputable breeders keep puppies for a minimum of 12 weeks, saying "All puppies leaving the breeders possession will be a minimum of twelve (12) weeks of age to facilitate adequate socialization as well as appropriate emotional and temperament development through interaction with siblings, dam and other dogs"

Chances of hypoglycemia go down tremendously after 12 weeks of age. Puppies should also have been eating on their own well for 4-5 weeks by that time. A lot of important socialization takes place during 8-12 weeks - puppies learn appropriate behavior from their mother and siblings, including bite inhibition.

Also, at 8 weeks puppies will have only had one vaccination and not be protected from any diseases. First vaccines should be given at 8 or 9 weeks of age. When people bring home a new puppy, they want to show it off and take it places...diseases are easily transmitted. At 12 weeks, puppies should have had 2 rounds of vaccines and be better protected against diseases.

Also at 8 weeks, puppies are just beginning to show their personalities - it's really hard to tell how a puppy will end up looking and acting at 8 weeks of age.

Lastly, reputable breeders keep puppies until at least 12 weeks of age, so I would stay away from any breeder letting puppies go before that age. If they are violating that YTCA rule, they are most likely violating others as well.