[CupofDog]

My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeder wouldn't let Louis come home until he was 16 weeks. She said the CKCS matures slowly and she also told me, no matter what the breed, breeders shouldn't let the babies go earlier then 12 weeks. She explained all about development and mainly, the big deal about socializing and how puppies can become nippers (and worse) if they are separated from their littermates too soon.

IMO its better to be safe then sorry - its harder to repair a broken heart from losing a sick pup then to be patient in the first place...

I did the work with Ella Bean, nursing her back to health after some horrid puppy mill did god knows what to her. She was nearly dead. Lethargic, kennel cough, hypoglycemic, infected wounds, infected tail docking (or maybe it was severed, we can't tell) She still had dew claws even. It required 2 months of round the clock care. No guarantees she would survive and about $2,000 of vet bills. Now she is healthy as a lark, but who knows what genetic surprises wait down the line?

After this experience, all I can say is that these places do unspeakable things to dogs. You can find gorgeous rescues if you want to adopt from a mill - but giving your money to these monsters perpetuates a business that treats puppies like electronic devices and illness like defective hardware. If you find you are dealing with a mill or broker - chances are they are doing something unlawful - contact your local animal services and get them busted. Then adopt your baby from those rescued!

Lets put the Jeff Dane's of the world out of business!