What are the negatives of bringing a puppy home at 8 weeks?
 

I'm curious as to what the negatives are of bringing a puppy home at 8 weeks?

I brought both Britney and Brooklyn home at 8 weeks (Britney might have been 9 weeks) and they have always been both mentally and physically healthy.

ETA: I just wanted to mention that I know just because nothing negative happened with my two, that nothing negative comes out of taking puppies home at 8 weeks- hence the reason I am asking. :)

I'm not an expert but I brought Milo home at seven weeks ( that's only two weeks ago pretty much lol). He definitley wasn't ready to leave his mom yet I realize this now. He's very attatched, which isn't bad but still, plus he didn't even have his teeth in yet so if he'd had an overbite or underbite we wouldn't have known yet. I am learning as I go. You just never know what they'll truly be like until they are a bit older. That's just what I myself have learned, but others will be able to give you a much better qualified response.

You are right about this... They are taught by their moms how to be social toward their siblings. 8 weeks is just too soon:(

The YTCA mandates that reputable breeders keep puppies for a minimum of 12 weeks, saying "All puppies leaving the breeders possession will be a minimum of twelve (12) weeks of age to facilitate adequate socialization as well as appropriate emotional and temperament development through interaction with siblings, dam and other dogs"

Chances of hypoglycemia go down tremendously after 12 weeks of age. Puppies should also have been eating on their own well for 4-5 weeks by that time. A lot of important socialization takes place during 8-12 weeks - puppies learn appropriate behavior from their mother and siblings, including bite inhibition.

Also, at 8 weeks puppies will have only had one vaccination and not be protected from any diseases. First vaccines should be given at 8 or 9 weeks of age. When people bring home a new puppy, they want to show it off and take it places...diseases are easily transmitted. At 12 weeks, puppies should have had 2 rounds of vaccines and be better protected against diseases.

Also at 8 weeks, puppies are just beginning to show their personalities - it's really hard to tell how a puppy will end up looking and acting at 8 weeks of age.

Lastly, reputable breeders keep puppies until at least 12 weeks of age, so I would stay away from any breeder letting puppies go before that age. If they are violating that YTCA rule, they are most likely violating others as well.

Kayah was about 8 1/2-9 weeks when we brought her home.. and she is completely unsocialized!!

We brought Evie home last week at a few days short 12 weeks.. and she's great!! she's soo playful!!

Like I said.. a week later.. and Kayah still wants nothing to do with Evie.. she'll sniff her butt and walk away... It actually made me a little sad today.. I was brushing my teeth and the girls were waiting for me.. Kayah sat down and Evie wanted to lay down next to her.. Kayah just walked away:(

So if you can, please do wait.. If I knew.. I would

My parents brought Rylie home at 7 weeks and luckily he never had any issues. But he hates all other dogs but Lacy...he won't play with any other dogs at all and usually growls and nips at them when they get too close. I think the only reason he likes Lacy is because they were introduced to each other when they were babies and spent 3 weeks together over Christmas break.

Definitely true about the socialization...Chloe (my sister's dog) and Maddie were both brought home earlier and are always barking and growling at new people or new dogs. :rolleyes:

The advantages of having a pup stay with the breeder and his/her mom and littermates to 12 weeks:
They are better socialized.
Mom teaches them the ropes. Breeders start with puppy training and crate training.
Your breeder can better asess the puppies health and personality and be sure the puppy is ready to make his/her move to their new home.
And also with a toy breed the pups are just so small that if they should go down with hypoglycemia/low blood sugar you will start to see it between 8-10 weeks.
Also they will have vaccinations and have some time for the vaccinations to provide some immunity.
A lot of breeders like to let them go early, because the work becomes more the breeders work, clean up, feeding etc after the 7 week mark.
I love for a dog to stay with the breeder as long as possible. If a puppy goes to a new home and the puppies sugar level drops and the pup doesnt eat the pup can die before the new owners realize what is going on. The breeder knows what to look for. There is nothing more terrible than to find a pup that has crashed from low blood sugar when you don't have a clue what it really is like. I will never forget the first time I experienced it.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

We brought Emma home too early, and she had separation anxiety & socialization issues. We have worked on these things for a long time, with the help of training classes and our own animal behaviorist.

Also-when they're really small at 8 weeks, hypoglycemia can be an issue more often than when they're a little bigger and older.

I got Little Man at 5 weeks old, he is now 8 weeks old. When I got him home, my cousin brought over his older brother (from an earlier litter) so they could meet. Pointer acted like he was protecting Little Man from us. Little Man loved the attention though. He would wag his tail and they would play, until my cousin or I would reach down to pick up Little Man then Pointer would kinda stand over Little Man and gave us a look as to say don't you hurt him. They get along like siblings do. We do have play dates. He also loves people. He likes other small dogs, but very skittish of big dogs. I've been very blessed with his socialization skills.

I knew once I got him home, he wasn't ready to leave his mom or his sisters. I've had to wean him which that has bonded us. He didn't have any teeth except his canine teeth. He's teething now. He's just about got all of his back teeth in, now his front teeth are coming through. Little Man came from a very bad situation. Not a puppymill but close to it. I've had a rough time and it may seem that I am complaining but I'm not. I don't want to see anyone go through what I have been through with my baby. He's just such a joy to have around. Altho, his stubborn streak does get to me at times but that just makes having him worth everything to me. I wish you good luck with your babies.

I have always bought puppies at 8 weeks old without a problem..although I have read on here the downfalls..

Dawn

i have never noticed a problem with getting puppies at 8 weeks

i noticed the mothers stop tending to them at certain points anyways.

Mos professional breeders of yorkies state that they keep them longer for the mother to socialize them, i think its a matter of opinion.

if they are very small then i do believe they should stay longer with the breeder

I brought Jobey home at 6 weeks, which I know I shouldn't had, but the breeder I got him from said his mom had weaned all of her pups at 4 weeks. He was eating hard food and he seems great. Although we do have a slight problem with him not knowing how to play. He thinks playing is growling and biting me.:( I personally don't see anything wrong with bringing them home early.

I brought mine home at 6 weeks and 8 weeeks and the only temperment problem they have is barking and I dont think that would have been resolved by them staying with the mom longer because my breeders dogs were barkers

I brought Quincy home at 6 weeks, I realize now that it is kind of soon for him, but my only "problem" is that he is VERY attached to me. Now he is 8 or 9 weeks and he's fine, he runs around and plays and tries to carry my daughter's stuffed animals around LOL! He is a very funny, smart little guy. I should be getting another one in a month or two for him to have a friend :)

At first, Jobey didn't want to run around, just sleep, but now he is all over the place. For some reason he loves my son's monster trucks. I guess he is a true boy:D Come to think of it, Jobey hasn't barked one time since he's been home. Weird.

Kyle, not a thing, and I see nothing wrong with getting them even at 7 weeks..I have had much better luck with the ones I've gotten that young with everything...The one I got at 11 weeks is biting still(she's almost 7 mos now) and still hasn't gotten the poop on the pee pad down yet. If I ever get another one, it will be much younger..I've never had any issues with the one I got younger like I'm having with the one that we got a little older..

Thanks everyone!

It's nice to see both sides. :)

not sure if you are still looking for replies (lol!) but

i brought bentley home at 8 weeks and he is the sweetest, most loving puppy i have ever seen...he loves everyone and is not scared of any noise (well except for the soda can with coins to stop his yipping hehe) or anyone...anyone he meets is his new best friend and he gives lots of licks and kisses!!

in retrospect, i wish i would have waited until he was 12 weeks but his breeder knew i had another baby around his age so she thought it would be okay as far as his development went...the ONLY downside to his coming home so early was that he was quite a biter (did not learn the bite inhibition from mommy) but he soon learned it from miss buffey who would yelp (i have to admit - she IS a bit of a drama queen and a mommas girl :D ) and stop playing with him if he nipped too hard :)

i kinda like getting them earlier than 12 weeks (around 8 weeks) because i dont want any bad habits setting in or them having truma or unnecessary fears (apparently these set in around 8-12 weeks).

we got pebbles at 9 weeks and she is 10 weeks now... i dont think it would have been better if we got her at 12. she was the only one in her litter so there was no socialization or whatever to be had

I think on this subject, everyone has their own opinions..I know years ago, breeders never would have even considered keeping pups until they were 12 weeks, that I think has been in the last few years, and I still don't like the 12 week thing..so, again, as on a lot of other subjects, to each his own...I like getting mine around 6 weeks other people prefer the 12..preferences!!

I think that baby's should stay with mom until 12 weeks.. but I got my last girl at 8 weeks and she flew a 12 hour flight then a 3 hour drive.. she came into our home as if she was there since day one..I think you need to pay more attention to them,.. making sure they are eating good.. watching them lots.. making sure that since they are young they are not left alone with other bigger dogs.. in case of accidents.. as baby's think they are bigger and want to play hard with a more settled dog..
I also think size is an issue.. a tiny is much harder due to blood sugar.. making sure they are eating a bit more often.,..
I have also gotten one as young as 6 weeks.. now that would be a breeder that did not want to put money out on shots..

post pictures.....

Here's my opinion, as a breeder:
Aside from the obvious research that indicates the social development recieved by staying with the mom/pups until a minimally 12 wks of age. I realize there will eternally be people who are of the opinion that this ISN'T the case, but it is my opinion based on my experiences.
In addition, I prefer that the pups have ALL of their vaccinations before they leave my home. I don't even begin with the vaccinations for ours until around that age. If the pups are going to have adverse reactions to the vaccinations, I want to know and I want them to be with me, not the new owners when this happens.
I like to keep them longer to see what types of personalities they develop. Otherwise, how can I determine at such a good age if the home they are going to is going to be a good match. I look back and see how our previous litters have had personality changes from 8 weeks until when they left at 12-16 weeks. I think there are alot of breeders who want the pups gone earlier just so they can avoid continuing the cost of caring for the pups. I guess an important conversation to have w/ any breeder you may be considering is to get their reasoning on WHY they choose to place their pups at the age they do. Regardless of what age that is, they should have thought their decisions through and should be able to give you their IN DEPTH reasoning behind their decision.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts on the matter.:)

I got a puppy once at 12-13 weeks. He was honestly awful. I ended up re-homing him with someone who could spend more time with him. He wouldn't potty train, wouldn't crate train, chewed on walls-furniture-carpet-people-toys-books... he chewed through baby gates, kennels. I had to bathe him almost every day because of the horrible poop smearing he'd do. He barked a lot too.

Scrappy came home in his eighth week. He is 11 weeks old today and he's 99.9 percent potty trained. He doesn't bark all the time. He does nip a little, but not excessively - and he's never left a mark on anyone.

I think it depends on a lot of factors. I'd say to go with the gut... talk to the breeder, meet the folks, meet the puppy.

thanks for this thread. We brought Bengi at 9 weeks and he has socialization problems too. He barks at new people and won't warm up to them easily. Also, he's scared of other dogs and won't play with them at the park. He may sniff a little but he won't allow them to smell his butt, no way!
He only plays with Brownie, his mini pin cousin, who he met when he was like 6 months old. Too bad I don't have any more family with dogs.
I'm going to make sure that whenever the time comes to get another puppy, we get it at 12 weeks at least.

I think the reason is they have to bond with their mom and littermates, the later on you bring them home the more time they bond, learn to socialize.

i got brownie at 8 weeks & hes nutty lol & doesnt like other dogs
i got austin @ 10 weeks & hes got an awsome temperment
But brownie was from a petstore & austin breeder so who knows

Absolutely right.. although I have gotten baby's young.. I do not let mine go at that age..
I too think the puppies need to have some if not all there shots.. if they do not have all their shots.. I make sure since I would only sell locally that also staying with my vet until shots are given.. means I also know what is going on.
Many people do not even know what parvo is and the importance of getting shots done properly...