Quote:
Originally Posted by KazzyK810  Well, I'm with you on this!
I would much rather get my pup at 8 weeks than 12. For me, that cute puppy stage is such an amazing & short period, and the longer puppy period I get the better. I'd rather have that extra month with my puppy!
I've never had a problem with bite inhibition, housebreaking, or other behaviour issues with a dog....and the more I read about them on here the stronger I feel it has alot more to do with the person raising the pup than the pup itself (just like any other form of parenting...) Given a choice, I want my pup as soon as it's able to eat kibble! |
The good thing about toys, is their cute puppy stage lasts forever, lol. I don't think I would have missed much with Pixie being 12 weeks as opposed to 8 weeks, except for the time.
But I can respect that. With larger breeds, the puppy stage is much shorter, and so you want that time in. I do think we can safely forgo that with toys, because they never really grow up. But some like yourself want as much time with their puppies as they can get, and I do understand.
I guess what I'm trying to do is get more in-depth information on this general rule of thumb. Because as I have said, OTHER THAN hypoglycemia, the reasons give don't make sense to me. So that is what I'm trying to understand.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemy Well from my point of view; first if the YTCA a respected breed club, with hundreds of years of combined breed experience recommends 12wks and 2 pounds; that is pretty persuasive to me, that it is in the best interests of the puppy and new puppy owner.
I think that 2lbs is still very tiny, but I'm thankful that my pup didn't come home when he only weighed a pound!. It is my understanding that the smaller weight wise a pup is the more danger of hypogylcemia.
A quality breeder of Yorkies, during that "additional" 4 wk or more period, can make a huge difference in the nature and character of the puppy. Basic obedience, hard food eating, learning more to focus on humans, she even begins leash training (in house), and toy motivation skills. But if the breeder doesn't add valuable life lessons to the puppy, still the puppy can learn more from Mom and siblings.
Funny my breeder and I were just having a discussion about best age to take puppy home. One pretty salient point she made was, if the breeder does no training of pup (and here specifically we were talking about older pups 4mths on), then it is best if pup goes to owner earlier so this can be done. As a breeder she has often had to deal with Yorkies who come to her at an older age and know nothing but kennel life.
It takes much time to socialize these dogs, give them confidence when outside, but certainly can be done.
I'd certainly wouldn't hesitate to take an older dog from Ilona. |
I see your point, but I have never been one to agree with someone just because someone else, no matter how well known or respected says so. I can't disagree with the YTCA of what they say doesn't make any sense to me.
But no one place or person, or group of people is the end all and be all of anything.
It is indeed possible for someone to be a top breeder of yorkies and not be a member of the YTCA, if ONLY for the reason that they haven't been sponsored or their sponsor doesn't live close to them.
9) Members shall sponsor an applicant for membership only if the member has personally known the applicant for a minimum of two years. At least one of the sponsoring members must have visited the applicant's facility one or more times during the two years immediately preceding the application date.
That doesn't mean that said hypothetical breeder isn't ethical, isn't a good breeder, doesn't actually go by YTCA COE rules... but they're not a member.
I suppose that I would not have brought this up if there were similar codicils on other breeds. One would think that the Chihuahua Club of America would have similar guide lines, considering that chihuahuas and yorkies have similar issues. But they don't. But the Maltese Club does. Toy Fox Terrier Club doesn't. Silky Club says puppies can go at 8 weeks. The Pom Club says not before 10 weeks.
Mind you, I am trying to pick out the toys that are comparative in size to the Yorkie. While I don't believe that a toy is a toy is a toy, I do believe in comparing dogs of a similar type, be that breed type or size.
I do not know why the different toy clubs have different rules with regards to the release of puppies, but I do find it interesting that there is no consensus, especially with the Chihuahua, which shares the smallest breed title with the Yorkie.
I don't think that Chihuahua people care about their puppies any less than Yorkie people do. I do believe that Chihuahua people care just as much for their puppies. So why do THEY not ask the same thing of their COE breeders... Unless I missed something on their site.
I am not asking anyone to answer that question, I am explaining why I am asking MY question. One of the reasons, at least.
I do agree that a quality breeder can enhance a puppy through the reasons you listed. But as you also stated, this breeder of yours has had to deal with kennel bound puppies, coming, one would assume from other COE breeders, or at the very least reputable breeders who did nothing for their pups emotional health.
Not that I am impugning their reputation, but I feel that kennel raising dogs is borderline cruelty. My opinion only. And I can't say that a puppy raised for 12 weeks in a kennel situation is better than a puppy that is 12 weeks old but in a home situation since 8 weeks.
Oh, and I might have mentioned it, but Pixie didn't hit 2 lbs until she was 4 and a half months. Part of it might have been the food, since I have switched her food, she is a lot more solid and less frail to the touch. She's even gotten a song about how fat she is, because she feels so much heavier than she did.
I cannot see where the YTCA says 2 lbs, but if so, then I would not have gotten Pixie until 4 and a half months.. And I wouldn't have wanted to miss those 2 and a half months for the world. Though I would have liked her to be a BIT bigger.. 1 lb 1 ounce at 9 weeks is TINY!
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDMomma I've gotten two dogs at 8 weeks and one at 12 weeks (our fourth is a rescue and was an adult when she came home).
My 8 weekers were almost unbearable nippers in the beginning. It took a while to teach them not to nip.
My 12 weeker- no nipping.
One 8 weeker and my 12 weeker had a hard time potty-training. My other 8 weeker came to us potty-trained and hasn't had an accident since.
None of my dogs have had a hypoglycemia event, which must have been a stroke of luck because we knew nothing when we brought our first girl home.
The breeder I got my last puppy from holds them until 16 weeks. |
Just goes to show that every dog is an individual. 12 and 8 weeker not potty trained, 8 weeker potty trained, 8 weekers nippy, 12 weeker not nippy.
Mind if I ask how small was the first one when you brought them home? I am truly curious.