Too Young?

[mogli]

My wife called Mogli's breeder a few weeks back ... the breeder told her that she was expecting a litter just about any day ... and would call us if she had a male (our target).

She called up this weekend and let us know she had several males. Mother 6lbs, Daddy 5lbs.

We are going down this weekend to see them and hopefully pick one out. I did this when picking Mogli also ... the breeder is a home breeder, very clean facility, all dogs on-site. Great lady. We stopped by once on short notice to show her Mogli's tricks!

Anyways ... here's the catch ... she is having surgery and needs the buyers to get the puppies at 8wks instead of her normal 12 (Mogli went home at 12 wks).

Should this be a show stopper? She does not breed often and the timing is right for us ... though emotionally I'm still a bit of a wreck over Mogli at times.

I know we can handle the puppy, I'm more just wondering if there is something that I don't know about that is magically supposed to occur in the 4 week period. I'm going to get more information this weekend, but will likely pull the trigger if things are as I remember.

Thanks ...

[lulababy]

well from 8 -12 is socialization... they learn from their mom and siblings about proper behavior... if they are biting too hard, etc. they are also easily scared during this time, and can develop fears etc. (so ive read)

that being said, i got my puppy at 8 weeks and she is fine.. I socialized her myself with my friends dogs and other people I know and am teaching her about biting (when it is inappropriate etc.) she is very smart and is doing great!

I think having them at 12 weeks is ideal (especially if they are really tiny--going to be 4lbs or less), but 8 weeks isnt going to traumatize them. good luck!

[Jeri Cunningham]

I got 3 of my 7 dogs at 8 weeks and 1 at 12 weeks and one at 4 months. I almost forgot two were my puppies!

Only the one I got at 4 months old had issues and she hids food as if she is going to starve.

All the ones I got at 8 weeks are fine. You just need to know how to handle an 8 week old puppy.

[mogli]

Thanks!

We do have another dog ... she is very gentle but is a bit larger. So only supervized socialization will be allowed for quite some time. We're going to have them meet on neutral ground -- she did get along with Mogli great though!

I do plan on socializing him, but at 8 weeks I will be cautious about too much exposure to animals outside the home because of the immune system.

[LouisLove]

we got Louis at 8 weeks. We couldnt set him down outside because of the immune system and he needed certain shots and so on. We used purell if anyone just wanted to pet him. It was hard to socialize him with other dogs because of this ( we don't have any other pets) but it could be ok with you since you have another dog and other known dogs that you aren't afraid of them to be sick or anything.

Louis is 11lb but was very little when we got him 3 lb. He has made it so far.
Best of luck! and Congrats on your new baby boy... I'm jealous

[ace611]

I think at eight weeks the pup will be a bit on the small side but should be fine as long as someone can be with it all day. We go Bella at 6 weeks due to a complication the breeder had healthwise and she is the sweetest most soft tempered dog ever! its all in how you raise them thats just my opinion though

[y0rkiesR0ck]

i got Kash at 9 weeks, and he's great. he listens pretty well when i say no. the only problem i have with him is that sometimes he runs away when i'm trying to pick him up. not because he's scared, but because he's a little booger! lol. i think he thinks it's a game (chase me, mom!)... other than that, he is responding well to potty training, he eats well, and he loves people and other dogs/cats. oh, and he also whines when i lock him in the kitchen because i have to go to work (but crying is expected from a young puppy).

anyway, i'd go for it. Kash was about 1.5 lbs when i got him... it's been about a month and a half now (he's almost 15 weeks), and he's probably gained a half a pound. good luck!

[abbie's mom]

Though 12 weeks is the ideal age to place, if this is the pooch you want, and the time is right - seeing as you've had positive results from this breeder already - I'd go for it. I wouldn't pass on a pup just for the sake of a few weeks, if everything else checks out.