Is An 8 Week Puppy Too Young?
 

I found a breeder who is on the Akc webpage who has puppies available soon. I believe she is releasing them at 8 weeks. I have read in a lot of breeder books this is a no-no. Especially since yorkies are soo small. I want to purchase her pup but I would rather take her home at 11 or 12 weeks. How do I get around this? Thanks..

have you spoken to the breeder about this? It is worth a shot maybe they will be willing to keep your pup with the mother a little lomger.

I think it depends on which state your in, because it seems that there are different guidlines per state. However, Im in Cali and we got Meka at 9 wks. She was very healthy and well socialized... But, if your wanting one at 11/12 wks... why not just contact the breeder and express that to her/him...Shouldnt be a problem :)

I think it depends on each puppy individually. My said the two big males in Cozy's litter could go to new homes at 8 weeks. Smaller male at 10 weeks. I am keeping the females myself. The smallest puppy is 2 pounds 3 oz. at 6 weeks and I'm keeping her. The largest puppy is 3 pounds presently. The three males are going to homes were people are home almost 24/7 so they will be watched closely. Plus they will still be close by so they can visit and come back if they pups are not adapting well. They are all eating like little pigs.

I got my golden when he was 6 weeks. He was part of a large litter and a good eater and very healthy. But others in his litter were held my the breeder for longer.

I agree with everyone else, it doesn't hurt asking the breeder to keep the puppy a couple more weeks.

I brought both A.J home at 8 weeks and KaCee home at 9 weeks.

I got my first one a day shy of 7 weeks, I've never had any problems out of her, she housebroke very quickly, very well socialized, and never was a biter or chewer..are you going to be home with it all the time?

Like everyone else said..it depends on the dog. But as a MAJORITY, most reputable breeders keep their puppies until they are 10-12 weeks for socialization purposes. I think 8 weeks is a lot better than 6, but why not keep the baby with it's mommy for a couple more weeks?

The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America is the parent club for this breed and sets the standard and ethical guidelines for Yorkie Breeders. They mandate that a Yorkie puppy should not leave the breeder until a minimum of 12 weeks of age. If a breeder is breaking that ethical rule, they are most likely breaking other rules as well. I will NOT buy from a breeder that lets puppies go before 12 weeks...reputable breeders keep them that long.

The period from 3-12 weeks is a critical imprinting and socialization period for the puppy. During this time, it learns to basically be a dog from its mother and littermates. It learns bite inhibition from 8-12 weeks as well. The breeder should be working to socialize the puppy as well during this time and potty training should be started. At about 8 weeks is a critical time for the puppy..if they are exposed to a negative experience they may be afraid of that experience for life....but to the degree depends on the individual puppy. The dog was actually studied thorougly during this imprinting/socialization period so a lot is known about critical time periods.

Also, before 12 weeks, the puppy has a much higher risk for hypoglycemia. The puppy might be eating fine at the breeders but the stress of changing environments often causes puppies not to eat at first. Hypoglycemia can be very serious and even fatal if signs aren't recognized and blood sugar raised soon enough. It's really hard to know what you are getting in an 8 week old puppy too...it's hard to estimate looks, size, petsonality, etc with a pup that young. It's really too early to do a Bile Acid Test at that age too...12 weeks would be better, and that's a test you definitely don't want to skip, especially with a breeder already breaking an ethical rule (they may not be health screening their dogs). Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined so all yorkie puppies should be BAT to make sure they don't have a shunt.

I highly recommend checking out www.ytca.org and reading. There is a breeder referral list there as well. These breeders should be following the code of conduct.

I would ask the breeder if the puppy can stay longer. Anyway, if they refuse, I would reconsider getting a pup from them, because a good breeder wouldn't release the yorkie at 8 weeks.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Great post, please listen to this post.


According to the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, which is part of the AKC, a member must abide by these rules of conduct.

8) 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.

It doesn't matter how much anecdotal evidence you receive; studies have proven it should be a minimum of 12 weeks for the Yorkshire terrier.

Any breeder that breaks one of the rules is probably breaking others as well. To me this is a huge red flag, and no reputable breeder will do it. I cannot understand why people who purportedly love this breed will buy from unethical breeders.

I realize many people on YT bought their puppies before they were aware of the qualities to look for in an ethical breeder, but one of the main purposes of YT should be to help better the breed. Please report her to the AKC, unless we all take responsibility for reporting bad breeding, it will continue. For further information see:
http://ytca.org/frame_index2.html

report her for what???? This is the age they like them to go..down here, they can go at 6 weeks...:rolleyes:

Just because it's allowed doesn't make it right... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Right or wrong, everyone has an opinion..myself, I have found they do better when you get them young..And if it's allowed(each state is different), then it should be up to the breeder at which age to let them go..what I was saying, is report them for what? If it's in a state that doesn't allow letting them go before 12 weeks, then she has a case, but, if it's like it is here now, there is nothing that can be done about it

I got mine at 6 and 8 weeks and while I didnt really have any problems except one of them getting diahrea I would never get another one before 10-12 weeks. They go through an important socialization process durin that time with the mother that my dogs missed out on and may explain a couple of their behavior problems

You could always ask the breeder if you could put her on hold, and just say that you will pick her up when she turns 12 weeks. Like everyone else, I guess what I'm saying is to talk to the breeder about it. But I don't know because I have never been in this situation.

You are referring to a state law; the state law includes all breeds of puppies and does not take into account the needs of smaller breeds. It's kind of a minimum standard for the backyard breeder.


She originally said that she found them on the AKC web page; the AKC refers people to the YTCA. In order to be listed this breeder has had to promise to abide by certain rules. She broke rule number 8.

I often refer people to the breeders on the YTCA website. The AKC refers people to the YTCA website. If someone is listed on the site, who is breaking the rules of conduct, they should be reported. We have to weed out the bad breeders. Hha, maybe you should read this: http://ytca.org/frame_index2.html. I am not talking about different "opinions" I am referring to rules that this breeder has promised to go by.

Look for the code of conduct.

The point is not whether or not it's "legal". The point is that the YTCA, the ones who mandate everything about Yorkies from breed standard to breeding regulations, DEMAND that puppies be held until 12 weeks. Like others have said, if a breeder can't listen to the people who maintain the breed, the ones who know Yorkies BEST, then they probably are not practicing other proper breeding practices either. It does not matter what an individual experience was like, all Yorkies are different and on average, puppies do better when they are released at 12 weeks.

:thumbup: :thumbup: While puppies have come that early and been fine, why risk it? It is selfish on both the breeder and buyer's part to take a puppy that young. The puppy might be fine..but what if it dies from hypoglycemia? What if it ends up having Liver Shunt which could have been detected with a BAT at a little later of an age? Just because someone has had a good experience doesn't mean it's the best way to do it. I could NEVER recommend bring a puppy home so young..if the puppy died from hypoglycemia or some other reason, I sure would feel horrible. Why not be patient and wait? It's best for the puppy..and that's not an opinion - it's a FACT

It's really funny to me, that I've never had a dog with any kind of socialization problems, well, except the one that I got at 5 1/2 mos..he's finally gotten better, but it took a lot of time and patience...to the op, you decide which you feel is best for you..you will get all kinds of opinions on here...

haven't you had to rehome several dogs due to problems? I'm pretty sure I've seen you mention a few on this forum

8 Weeks is a no no ..... buy him/her and pick the Pup up at 12 weeks ... talk to her and see what she says

Yeah, I did, the one I got at 5 1/2 mos. and couldn't get her housebroken to use pee pads...the shih tzu is 10 now, got her at 6 weeks, the yorkie got her at under 7 weeks(she's now 5), the shepherd I got at 7 weeks, she's going on 3..:confused: and no socialization problems out of any of them I got at 6 weeks..just the 2 older ones..the one I got at 11 weeks is eating poop, my other ones never did that..the one I got at 11 weeks bites all the time, never had that problem before either..oh, and the maltese, yeah, rehomed her, but, only because hubby is on the phone a lot, and she was a high pitched barker..so, your question is answered, and as you can see, it's not the ones I got that were YOUNG that I had the problems with..

That's the thing though..that's YOUR experience! Just because it worked out for you does not make it the norm! The YTCA makes this a part of their code of ethics for a reason!

Like I've said, I have my own opinon just like everyone else..I feel after being around dogs all my life, I know what to look for and how to handle hypoglycemia, etc..I've never lost a puppy from getting it too young, I'm also home all the time...I prefer to get mine younger, always have and if I get anymore, I will still get them younger..that is JMO...my dogs are all very well socialized, to all 6, they know no strangers, they kiss everyone that comes in(unfortunately)..

My question is, if a breeder can't follow the simple rule to hold the pups til 12 weeks, what other rules have they decides aren't necessary? Are they breeding diseased or off-standard dogs? How much testing have these breeders done?

You're right..everyone does have their own opinions. There may be new members asking for help on this subject that HAVEN'T been around dogs all their lives or might not have ever heard of hypoglygemia. I would hate for a new member who is trying to do their research about bringing home a new puppy to be misinformed about this when they might not have the same lifestyle and experience of people like yourself.

I sure would feel guilty if I told someone it was okay to bring an 8 week old puppy home and then it died from hypoglycemia.

While South Carolina has a six-week law, I'm proud to say the state of Arizona has an 8-week law, which is of course minimum. This "breeder" is following minimum requirements of the state. Don't you want a better breeder than that? A puppy is a 10-15 year investment, the initial cost is nothing compared to later costs, especially if you end up with in inherited disorder. I can't believe so many of you are encouraging her to buy from what is essentially a backyard breeder. While the puppy is getting important socialization from it's mother and littermates, it's also getting socialization from the breeder, I wouldn't feel good about leaving my puppy with a breeder who wanted to get rid of him sooner then YTCA recommendations.

While it is true, you get many different opinions on forum such as this, some people have taken the time to do further research, and form their opinions carefully, from a combination of experience and research.

:thumbup: :thumbup: I think my signature says it all when it comes to BYBs and puppymills. Any breeder selling puppies this young is not reputable..and why buy from a BYB?

:thumbup: :thumbup:

As the others have said, the YTCA sets out the code of conduct and ethics Yorkie breeders should follow. I would not consider getting a puppy from anyone who does not follow the basic guidelines of the YTCA.

Whenever this question is asked, we always get a few people who tell us that they got a puppy earlier than 12 weeks and had no problem. To me, it reminds me of someone saying they went 60 in a 35 mile per hour speed zone and didn't crash.

This is a great explanation of the twelve week rule from a well known Maltese breeder:

http://www.foxstonemaltese.com/12weekrule.htm