Quote:
Originally Posted by lfbussell  I don't understand many of you--when someone comes on here and asks a question or for help and mentions the age of their pup, if it is under 12 weeks so many of you go off on a tangent on the age of the pup. They already own the pup so what's the point???
Many people sell all breeds of puppies at 8 weeks, sometimes less, with no harm done. I have bred dogs before and many times the mother wanted nothing to do with the pups after she weaned them-usually around 6 weeks!
I bought my Tessa when she was 7 weeks from a private party, not a 'show breeder". No problems ever!!
So why not just help people instead of 'going off'?????? |
Because we are trying to do the best for the breed and the puppy. What better way is there than to try to educate via a public forum.
Reputable breeders do not sell that young period. By experience of long time breeders we find it best if they do not leave the breeders at that young an age. There is the socialization to be done at the breeders, vaccinations as a pup should never elave until at least the first two puppy series are done whcih are not started in so small a breed until 10 weeks.
Also the stress of weaning, no longer having the mom to nurse from etc add a new home/environment, the immune system drops leaving the pup susceptible to problems that a pet owner will not recognize too readily and some Vets are not in tune to. How many on this forum bought pups at a young age and have had a really bad time, huge vet bills, and in some cases, lost the pup it died. Cant turn that one around once it is dead.
Those that sell them young do so because,
1. often command higher prices
2. once mom is done the breeders work escalates big time to keep the puppies clean, fed and cleaned, feed the front end clean up after the back end.
3. breeder doesn't have to do any training.
4. breeder doesn't have to handle the laundry of washing beds, pee pads, etc with pups.
5. pup dies, breeder will blame you where it could have been preventable or their was a problem in the first place.
A grooming client I had had bought her yorkie at 7 weeks. She was ongoing ill and finally diagnosed with liver shunt. A heck of a lot of money later she still lost her at 4 years. That pup should never have been sold.
By 12 or 14 weeks it likely would have been more obvious that there is a problem.
Selling young also can hide health issues because they have not quite manifested yet.