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Originally Posted by Disasterous  Okay, I will be the first to admit that I'm not the smartest when it comes down to getting a pup at a certain age. When I got my Cocker Spaniel, he was 9 weeks old. He was the last of the litter and according to my mom she had to sign a plethora of puppy papers. We never had an issue with him eating, socialization, ect. He was, aside from a hook worm incident, a healthy and happy dog. When I got my Yorkie, he was a mere 8 weeks old. He, too, was the last of the litter, and my mom payed half price for him. We had zero issues with him, and he was a healthy little dog.
In my opinion, which does not have to affect yours, is that it's fine for the pup to leave it's mother at both eight and twelve weeks; however, it needs to be ready and at a good weight/size, and the breeder needs to be educated and have good judgment. Of course, if the pup is not ready to leave the mother, the breeder can keep it until it is. |
Operative phrase....."cocker spaniel". Yorkies are not cockers..... Yorkies are a different breed, and while I have had cocker puppies, german shepherd puppies, irish setter puppies, pointer puppies, beagle puppies, and have bred Chihuahuas and Yorkies, Yorkies benefitted from remaining with momma for 12 weeks. I have seen the interaction of mommas and their babies, and Yorkies interact differently than any of the other breeds I have had the pleasure of watching develop and mature. Even if they did not learn and develop so much from week 8 to week 12, puppies going out at 8 weeks old are unvaccinated.....I wish a reputable breeder could expolane to me why in the world you would send out your puppies to new owners unvaccinated....or with only one in a series of 3 or 4 puppy shots given? It can only be to avoid the work involved with keeping those babies, or to avoid the expenses involved with those additional 4 weeks....I give my last puppy shot at 14 weeks of age, then keep the baby an additional week to give the shot time to become effective, and to make sure the baby is not going to have ANY adverse reaction to the shot. I can not stand the thought of dumping a youngster on a new owner, thinking they may get sick from the vaccination or anything else. Why would a breeder want to do that? Why would a breeder not even THINK about the possibility of that happening? Your primary concern SHOULD be for the well being of the puppy.....