I have not sold any Yorkie puppies but have an opinion based on when I got my last two Yorkies. I got Ben after 10 weeks old. He is feisty, full of it and very confident. He took over the household on arrival. He seems so smart. I can tell him to go get his sock (a sock covering what is left of a toy that talks when hit about) and he will go find it and bring it to me to tease him with. He is very spoiled though and insists on his own way, crying if we do not give in.

Sadie, (here it is I am going to confess) -- I brought her home at 7 weeks. Her mother was not going in the pen anymore. She was eating well, and larger in size than Ben had been at 10 weeks. Since we had other dogs, I am home all day and the mother seemed to have desserted them, I brought her home. She has been skitterish since day one. She is afraid of everything. She will not go out in the yard unless I am right there, not just watching from the door, I have to be right out there in the grass with her. Yet, she house-trained easier than Ben. She is the most cuddly dog I have ever seen. She lives to be loved! She is very dependent and I think she missed gaining self-confidence because she left mom and siblings too soon. We love her just as much and she is still a wonderful pet -- but I wish we had given her another 3-4 weeks, for her own sense of well-being.

If we do ever have puppies, I am keeping them all til 10-12 weeks at least. I keep thinking I may just keep them all period! LOL!

Yes, you can tell the difference in puppies that are kept with mother and siblings longer.

Some feel that just because mothers are done with the nursing, and puppies are eating they ready to go. However, the mental developement and socialization really begin at 8 weeks and puppies learn so much from mothers and siblings from 8-12 weeks of age. It is one of the most important times in their lives. The gain confidence and self importance, let alone leaving familiar surrounding they tend to go off food, which may be dangerous, if not monitored. None leave my home prior to 12 weeks of age and/or past that 2 pound weight, when they're eating well, socialized and piddle pad trained (which my mothers have always done for me).....

I would not bring home a baby that is under 8 weeks old...so I will not part with any of my babies until they are at least 8 weeks.

You must evaluated them on an individual basis...to see if they are ready to go. I make sure my babies leave me being well socialized and eating good.

But again I have not breed yorkies so it might be different per breed also.

This is not the case at every place so I don't feel that we should be giving specific information to what is a general problem
First off when mom is done at 5 to 6 weeks the babies are already eating and when I say done -Mine are like "Sugarsmom" said- they are done with the babies and they don't stay around them enough to teach them anything with the exception of growling which says "get away from me you have teeth"
My babies all have at least 2 sets of shots - the first are given by my vet at 6 weeks and must have second at 9 weeks and 3rd at 12 weeks.

As to socialization- the fact that they are here in the puppy nursery with other puppies,some adults and myself and hubby where they are fed , handled , played with etc many times a day does the trick. You may ask any of my puppies new moms and dads if their baby was social when they took it home- I know that the answer is yes.

As to complete potty training -now I am the breeder and nurse, housekeeper and chef for these babies but I can not walk on water :D surely you aren't suggesting that everyone should expect a completely potty trained baby at
10 to 12 weeks ? Just asking as I am surely dropping the ball if that's the case :confused: :confused:

Let me finish by saying my babies leave from 9 weeks up depending on their development- as I do not breed or often have extremely tiny babies , I feel that when the vet & I say they are ready on a case by case situation then they go to their forever homes.

Weeks
 

I Was Going To Sell Them When They Was 12 Weeks Old. In The End We Kept Them All

Everyone's way of doing things is different.

However, since I am a YTCA member I have a Code of Ethics and Conduct to follow. Puppies leaving my home will be a minimum of 12 weeks of age to facilitate adequate socialization as well as appropriate emontional and temperament development. Have a minimum of 2 innoculations. And yes, my puppies do go home piddle pad trained.

But since I only breed 1 or 2 litters a year.....very few puppies leave my home, at the most maybe 4 puppies.

I've found that by weeks 5 and 6 puppies teeth are coming in and mom's are reluctant to nurse, but usually work through it and my mom's will allow them to readily nurse again and call the shots as to when they've had enough and do the weaning process on their own...

[QUOTE=hasrv4fun;1071174]This is not the case at every place so I don't feel that we should be giving specific information to what is a general problem


I totally agree as this is a Forum of exchanging experiences and ideas. And as I tell every newbie entering the show world; You are going to be fed a multitude of advice and opinions, everyone has their way of doing things. File that info in your memory banks and pull it out as needed. Every situation and dog is different. Use what works best for you......

[QUOTE=Mardelin;1071279]Well said..........:thumbup: :thumbup:

Oh - piddle pad trained - yes that I relate to as mine are also paper or pad trained but they certainly are not ringing bells etc to get out side to do their business if you know what I mean :D :D I was hoping you had some well kept secret for that - Ha Ha - after 40 some years I have tried most everything and some things work and some don't

Just keep trying to see what works best for you and the very best things for the babies.