Originally Posted by Belle Noir  I am breaking my own train of replies to respond to you.
I HAVE asked breeders, and I am asking again. You don't like it, bully on you. How am I being difficult? Because I don't accept what is spoon fed to me when I have, and I will say it again, twenty years of breeding and showing experience under my collar and a wall of ribbons and trophies to reminisce on.
Just because YOU don't know me, doesn't mean I am NOT known in my breed.
I like how having a rational explanation as to my experience in this matter is a "smart" come back.
I am sure MANY people here have puppies that were brought home before 12 weeks with no issues, and though I only got to page 3 trying to see where I ended, NO ONE, answered the question of the tragic orphaned singleton pup.
Please, I KNOW it has happened. So what was the disposition of said pup? I'll even go for singleton pup. QUITE common in a toy breed.
I am having a nice discussion with a few people and sure as sun, there is always going to be one or few of you that either don't care how rude you sound, or have no idea.
I'm going for don't care.
Guess what, I don't care if your feathers are ruffled by my questions. I am going to ask them, because this isn't your sandbox. You think I'm being difficult and you don't like what I have to say, do us both a favor and ignore me, and this goes for everyone else that has difficulties with me asking the questions that I ask, because frankly I'm a bit tired of seeing the same names that time and time again attacking me and others who DARE break with status quo and question things we either don't know, aren't sure of, or that makes no sense to us.
If you don't get that I am trying to understand how Yorkies are different from the dogs I raised and showed, that's not my problem, it's yours.
You go on and follow the because we say so routine, I have not, and I never will, I want more than just that, I want to know WHY it's being said so.
I have already said I understand and agree with the HEALTH reasons, but I guess that's not good enough for you, because I won't bow down to the hierarchy that gives the OTHER reasons that makes no sense to me.
I asked this question without looking for OTHER information than MY OWN experience, but you know what SCIENCE says?
The scientific tests at Hamilton Station have show that it is advantageous for a puppy to remain with the litter long enough to acquire a little competitive spirit, but that too much is detrimental to the puppy's emotional growth. The pups that remain in the litter after the seventh week will begin to develop bullish or cowed tendencies - which will remain with them into adulthood. The longer a puppy remains with the litter after completing the seventh week of its life, the more deteriorated the emotional growth of that puppy will be.
Wow, so much for it being good for the puppy. By the way, the Hamilton Station mentioned is the one in Bar Harbor, Maine, at the Jackson Laboratory.
The trainability of a puppy is ripe and operating to capacity as the puppy enters the eight week of life. Thus, the puppy enters the fourth critical period of emotional growth (50 to 84 days). What the puppy learns during the fourth critical period will be retained and become part of the dog's personality. If a puppy is left with its mother during the fourth critical period, its emotional development will be crippled. The puppy will remain dependent upon her, but in her will find very little - if any - security.
When a puppy remains with the litter beyond this time - and without adequate human contact - its social adjustment to human society will be crippled, and what it learns will be learned from the litter mates. The optimum time for taking a puppy into a new household is at the conclusion of the puppy's seventh week.
Because a pup's trainability and learning facilities are operating at full capacity during the fourth critical period, it is better that a puppy do his learning from his new owner. And learn he will! The fourth critical period marks a time when a new puppy will learn at a fast and furious pace. And much of what he learns will stay with him a long, long time. What the puppy learns during the fourth critical period will help to shape him into the kind of dog he will be forevermore!
AlsoThe fifth critical period is the 13th, through the 16th week of a puppy's life. A highly significant thing will happen during the fifth critical period, and puppy owners should be prepared for it. A puppy will make its first attempt to establish itself as the dominant being in the pack (family). It is during the fifth period that a puppy will learn whether he can physically strike out at his owner - and get away with it!
If a puppy is allowed to get away with it, he will lose the confidence and the respect for the owner that developed during the fourth critical period. The tolerance level toward the owner will be narrowed. The puppy will learn that by rebelling he'll get things his own way. It is during this fifth critical period that authority will be challenged. It is here that the challenge must be met head on by the pup's owner.
Hmmmm... I wonder about that.. How many dominate type dogs were sent home at 12 weeks, and because they were soooo adorable and cute, got away with being nippy, and turned into nasty buggers.
This falls inline with what I said before about people who spoil their dogs, and it is so hard not to spoil an adorable puppy, but once you've had them for a bit, the shine wears, and it's easier to discipline them, sweet face or not.
These excepts were taken in part from Complete Dog training Manual by Bruce Session.
Also interesting to point out that Guide Dog puppies are sent to their homes at 8 weeks, and guide dogs are among if not THE most highly socialized and trained dogs there are.
So in my opinion, ASIDE from the HEALTH benefits that have been pointed out regarding tooth eruption, shots, and the dangers of hypoglycemia, the reasons given do not make sense with regards to socialization, house training, bite inhibition and so forth.
And my opinion is based, NOW, not just on my personal experience, but also on proven scientific FACT.
Thank you got getting me angry enough to look for this information to debunk the reasons given. I prefered to come to this question as open minded as my experience in dogs allowed, and not look for anything to back my opinion, but I'm glad I did.
Point of fact, IF I should ever get another Yorkie, I will actually most likely, get an OLDER puppy based on the HEALTH reasons, but I won't be worried about any socialization aspect given, since behaviorally, a puppy is a puppy is a puppy, no matter what the breed. And that has been scientifically proven.
How is that for a smart come back?
To those who were polite in your replies, I thank you, and I would apologize for stooping to the level of rudeness shown me if it didn't feel so good getting it out after holding my tongue as much as I have.
But I am sorry that I had to even go there.
It's sad that a place that is supposed to be friendly and welcoming is ONLY friendly and welcoming to those who don't question answers given by those who feel threatened by that questioning.
It's sad that there are many people that quietly thank me for my questions and my replies privately... Because they're AFRAID of how some other members will act towards them.
I'm going to take a couple days off, I'm afraid that my temper is not at it's best. And when I return, I'll gladly reply to the rest of the posts here, but privately, since I am tired of being attacked by a small but vocal group who likes to make pointed veiled barbs aimed at putting me in my place.
Those of you that see my questioning, not as pot stirring, trouble making, pushing an agenda, or being difficult, but see it for what it is, someone that is looking for a REAL answer to my questions. Thank you. |