[alyx]

In the UK it is the norm to get your pup at 8 weeks as leaving them longer could lead to lack of proper socialisation and lead to a lot of problems with training in the future. The first 12 weeks are seen as the most important for socialisation - away from the mother taking the pup out and about to meet people and seeing different things, providing they are not allowed to mix with other dogs which aren't vaccinated or put on the ground where such dogs may have been.

At 8 weeks, providing they have come from a decent breeder, they should be well used to eating on their own. They should have been doing so for some weeks so it's nothing new to them. It's not ideal to leave a pup all day, but what you're planning on doing sounds fine providing you leave the put in a safe pen with food and water accessible to them all day and somewhere for him/her to do her stuff. He/she will also need some safe chews and you must give him/her as much time as you can.

My pup's now 18 weeks. I got her at 8 weeks and she's completely house trained (tells me when she needs to go out as won't use pads), very well socialised with other dogs and people. She (along with my little boy) are the main attraction along our sea and river proms, as they both have so many fans it takes forever to get a decent walk in. She's great in the car and people didn't even know she was there when we went on a steam train trip the other week. She's a fantastic, strong and well adjusted little pup, and I'm sure yours will turn out the same as long as you devote the time to bond with her and train her. It's so much easier when they're rehomed at 8 weeks. I've had pups at an older age and had lifelong problems as they've not been properly socialised when they should have been. As I say, it's the norm in the UK and many other countries so if you want to get your pup at that age don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it. Good luck. Give that pup lots of love, attention and correct feeding and she'll be fine.