Is 6 weeks too earliy to leave home - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tinker89144 · 08-07-2008, 06:33 AM

Doo Doo's litter turned 5 weeks today. The mom is no longer nursing and beginning to dry off. The pups are eating dry kibbles (I moist it with a little water) 3 times a day, all are eating, pooping, walking, running, barking, and playing with each other. They are very independent and don't seem to miss mom at all. Oh and did I mention they are not full breed yorkies, they are momma yorkie and dad Cocker Spaniel, so they are a little bigger than a yorkie puppy would be at this age. My question is, at 6 weeks would they be ready to go home to new families? I talked to my vet about it, and he said absolutely yes, but I want to hear all your opinions.

TLC · 08-07-2008, 06:40 AM

I am not a breeder, so my opinion may not count, but I can tell you from my experience of the "buyer" - which most are unexperienced, and think that when they get an animal they are all set and ready, but the reality is, they are merely babies still, they still have needs and still get can go down hill fast.
I know you say they are a bit bigger than the normal yorkie pup, but I honestly would hold them a few more weeks, as they learn socialization skills from the liter mates and momma.

tinker89144 · 08-07-2008, 06:44 AM

Thanks for your advice, I'll keep that in mind. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance on something I already knew. But when my vet said they're ready to go, I thought maybe he's the profesional and always knows best.

YorkieRose · 08-07-2008, 06:50 AM

I would check with county laws first...but aside from that, I would let them go at 8 weeks...since they are half Cockers..
It is true, most vets are professionals..but few have hands on experince with breeding and raising puppies unless they have done it or have a lot of breeders as clients..my old vet used to call me and ask all sorts of questions when he was puzzled about breeding etc...he had a woman come once with her two Yorkies and she wanted them bred, naturally...he told me he did not learn how to breed dogs in vet school...most vets learn first hand, on the job..

TokenChin · 08-07-2008, 06:59 AM

Six weeks is too young.

They might not need Mom for food now, but they still need to learn some important things from interacting with her and their littermates.

Just as an example, all that play fighting and biting and the squeals when a sibling nips too hard....lessons in bite inhibition. Very important!

I'd place 8 weeks with only the MOST responsible owners, otherwise 10 weeks, tiny pups 12 weeks.

Brooklynn · 08-07-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I would check with county laws first...but aside from that, I would let them go at 8 weeks...since they are half Cockers..
It is true, most vets are professionals..but few have hands on experince with breeding and raising puppies unless they have done it or have a lot of breeders as clients..my old vet used to call me and ask all sorts of questions when he was puzzled about breeding etc...he had a woman come once with her two Yorkies and she wanted them bred, naturally...he told me he did not learn how to breed dogs in vet school...most vets learn first hand, on the job..

I agree with you! Vets are professionals but they do learn from their breeding clients. My vet is GREAT but he has sought my mentors advice regarding the breeding or yorkies when he was younger and he also has listened to me with some of my yorkies so Vets I think learn alot from their client breeders as well

I love a vet that listens to their clients who do have the experience

We all learn from each other

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

tinker89144 · 08-07-2008, 07:03 AM

Thank you all for the reassurance I was looking for.

katelin · 08-07-2008, 07:07 AM

My vet says optimum time to let them go is 8 weeks as they are bonding with humans at that age... but I keep mine 10 weeks for the socialization with mom and litter mates regardless of size. I think this extra time makes it much easier for the puppy to adjust to the new home and makes training easier too.

bjh · 08-07-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katelin

My vet says optimum time to let them go is 8 weeks as they are bonding with humans at that age... but I keep mine 10 weeks for the socialization with mom and litter mates regardless of size. I think this extra time makes it much easier for the puppy to adjust to the new home and makes training easier too.

I totally agree.

Julie1760 · 08-07-2008, 07:13 AM

I would wait till at least 8 weeks...and closer to 10 if you can.

I've heard of too many problems with the 6 week old pups adjusting to new homes. If you think about it. Most of the " I can't stand the crying" posts are from people that got the pups at a younger age.

I personally don't think anyone should get a pup at 6 week, no matter how big they are.

If you keep them longer, you'll feel better about them going to their forever homes.

Good luck and please screen the people you are considering for home for them and I hope you are charging something for them.

BamaFan121s · 08-07-2008, 07:18 AM

Yes, IMO 6 weeks is too early for a dog to be placed in it's permanent home--even if it is fully weaned. I would recommend waiting until at least 10 weeks.

JeanieK · 08-07-2008, 07:23 AM

Even though they are no longer nursing, they still need their momma. If you watch them with momma, you will see that she is teaching them how to play, how to behave, how to be a dog. Without that interaction they can have a lot of social issues unless they buyer is really experienced with puppies and knows how to teach them. Which most people don't and that is why there are some many people with dogs that don't know how to be a dog.

Cookie2 · 08-07-2008, 08:21 AM

I'm sure since they are bigger and seem very independant,all seems great now. I think they are doing so well because they are still learning,bonding and becoming more independant with their litter mates. As soon as you take such a young puppy home, they might cry way more and for many hours and might even lose their appetite. They can lose weight extremely fast too.
Right now my only surviving puppy will be 5 weeks old on Monday. Mom has completely stopped nursing him since 3 days ago .He seems happy,wanting to play ,pooping and peeing well but he gets lonely and I have to substitute for his mommy and give him lots of playtime and cuddle time ,which I dont mind! lol But I'm home almost the entire day.
My neighbor just got a Cocker Spaniel puppy at 6 weeks old and I cringed when she told me how young he was.She said he cried a lot for a week. He is abig boy too weighing around 3 lbs already.he is doing great now after adjusting for 2 weeks in his new home.
I'm so happy your litter is doing so well. Do you have any pictures? I'd love to see them before they leave!

Genie
Cookie,Lola,Angel & Lucky

Baron · 08-07-2008, 11:42 AM

Toy puppies should be kept with the mother until 12 weeks to learn from the mother, and build more confidence in themselves. They learn socialization from their siblings and mother, besides the human family.

YorkieRose · 08-07-2008, 01:27 PM

I like 12 weeks for most..some stay 16 weeks to 6 months, depends on size. No pet owner needs to be going through what Paris's mom is going through..shoot, if I had an 8 oz, 9 weeks old, I would be stressed out..don't need or want it.

These pups are half a toy breed and half Cocker...reputable breeders of med and large breeds tell me they place younger..

08-07-2008, 06:33 AM	#1
tinker89144 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 80	Is 6 weeks too earliy to leave home Doo Doo's litter turned 5 weeks today. The mom is no longer nursing and beginning to dry off. The pups are eating dry kibbles (I moist it with a little water) 3 times a day, all are eating, pooping, walking, running, barking, and playing with each other. They are very independent and don't seem to miss mom at all. Oh and did I mention they are not full breed yorkies, they are momma yorkie and dad Cocker Spaniel, so they are a little bigger than a yorkie puppy would be at this age. My question is, at 6 weeks would they be ready to go home to new families? I talked to my vet about it, and he said absolutely yes, but I want to hear all your opinions.

08-07-2008, 06:40 AM	#2
TLC Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 7,247	I am not a breeder, so my opinion may not count, but I can tell you from my experience of the "buyer" - which most are unexperienced, and think that when they get an animal they are all set and ready, but the reality is, they are merely babies still, they still have needs and still get can go down hill fast. I know you say they are a bit bigger than the normal yorkie pup, but I honestly would hold them a few more weeks, as they learn socialization skills from the liter mates and momma. __________________ Adopt Donate Foster www.yorkie911rescue.com

08-07-2008, 06:50 AM	#4
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	pups I would check with county laws first...but aside from that, I would let them go at 8 weeks...since they are half Cockers.. It is true, most vets are professionals..but few have hands on experince with breeding and raising puppies unless they have done it or have a lot of breeders as clients..my old vet used to call me and ask all sorts of questions when he was puzzled about breeding etc...he had a woman come once with her two Yorkies and she wanted them bred, naturally...he told me he did not learn how to breed dogs in vet school...most vets learn first hand, on the job..

08-07-2008, 07:07 AM	#8
katelin YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,778	My vet says optimum time to let them go is 8 weeks as they are bonding with humans at that age... but I keep mine 10 weeks for the socialization with mom and litter mates regardless of size. I think this extra time makes it much easier for the puppy to adjust to the new home and makes training easier too. __________________ *LaVail Yorkshire Terriers*

08-07-2008, 07:13 AM	#10
Julie1760 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Packer Country!!! Posts: 666	I would wait till at least 8 weeks...and closer to 10 if you can. I've heard of too many problems with the 6 week old pups adjusting to new homes. If you think about it. Most of the " I can't stand the crying" posts are from people that got the pups at a younger age. I personally don't think anyone should get a pup at 6 week, no matter how big they are. If you keep them longer, you'll feel better about them going to their forever homes. Good luck and please screen the people you are considering for home for them and I hope you are charging something for them. __________________ •·.·´¯`·.·•Julie •·.·´¯`·.·• Chloé & Myah

08-07-2008, 06:44 AM	#3
tinker89144 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 80	Thanks for your advice, I'll keep that in mind. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance on something I already knew. But when my vet said they're ready to go, I thought maybe he's the profesional and always knows best.

08-07-2008, 06:59 AM	#5
TokenChin Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA Posts: 17	Six weeks is too young. They might not need Mom for food now, but they still need to learn some important things from interacting with her and their littermates. Just as an example, all that play fighting and biting and the squeals when a sibling nips too hard....lessons in bite inhibition. Very important! I'd place 8 weeks with only the MOST responsible owners, otherwise 10 weeks, tiny pups 12 weeks.

08-07-2008, 07:03 AM	#7
tinker89144 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 80	Thank you all for the reassurance I was looking for.

08-07-2008, 07:18 AM	#11
BamaFan121s Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,432	Yes, IMO 6 weeks is too early for a dog to be placed in it's permanent home--even if it is fully weaned. I would recommend waiting until at least 10 weeks.

08-07-2008, 07:23 AM	#12
JeanieK Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa Posts: 12,552	Even though they are no longer nursing, they still need their momma. If you watch them with momma, you will see that she is teaching them how to play, how to behave, how to be a dog. Without that interaction they can have a lot of social issues unless they buyer is really experienced with puppies and knows how to teach them. Which most people don't and that is why there are some many people with dogs that don't know how to be a dog.

08-07-2008, 08:21 AM	#13
Cookie2 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,568	I'm sure since they are bigger and seem very independant,all seems great now. I think they are doing so well because they are still learning,bonding and becoming more independant with their litter mates. As soon as you take such a young puppy home, they might cry way more and for many hours and might even lose their appetite. They can lose weight extremely fast too. Right now my only surviving puppy will be 5 weeks old on Monday. Mom has completely stopped nursing him since 3 days ago .He seems happy,wanting to play ,pooping and peeing well but he gets lonely and I have to substitute for his mommy and give him lots of playtime and cuddle time ,which I dont mind! lol But I'm home almost the entire day. My neighbor just got a Cocker Spaniel puppy at 6 weeks old and I cringed when she told me how young he was.She said he cried a lot for a week. He is abig boy too weighing around 3 lbs already.he is doing great now after adjusting for 2 weeks in his new home. I'm so happy your litter is doing so well. Do you have any pictures? I'd love to see them before they leave! Genie Cookie,Lola,Angel & Lucky

08-07-2008, 11:42 AM	#14
Baron Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 216	Toy puppies should be kept with the mother until 12 weeks to learn from the mother, and build more confidence in themselves. They learn socialization from their siblings and mother, besides the human family.

08-07-2008, 01:27 PM	#15
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	puppies I like 12 weeks for most..some stay 16 weeks to 6 months, depends on size. No pet owner needs to be going through what Paris's mom is going through..shoot, if I had an 8 oz, 9 weeks old, I would be stressed out..don't need or want it. These pups are half a toy breed and half Cocker...reputable breeders of med and large breeds tell me they place younger..