Forgot to add that we have had no behavior issues with Laddy he loves other animals of all kinds big or small. Same with people kids and adults alike. Only thing he really does wrong is chew on the back of my throw rugs ;). He loves to snuggle and at night when we say bed time he heads right to his little bed and stays there till morning. I guess we were very fortunate. He has given us only one hypo scare.

So I added my experience to this post because I thought people were going to share their experiences with adopting younger and older. Instead, I feel like I (and others) are being attacked for "not educating ourselves". First, there isn't a law on when a puppy should go home and I'm sure you will find vets and breeders with many different opinions. It is all a matter of opinion. I did do research and many times I read that 10 weeks was fine to take a puppy home. I feel like this forum has been so negative lately. I joined YT so that I could ask questions and learn how best to take care of my new baby and so I could talk to other Yorkie lovers. I was really, really enjoying YT but lately the energy has been really bad so I may take a YT break for awhile. If you want to get word out to people BEFORE they adopt and inform them of what age you believe is best to take home, that is great! But please don't make us feel like irresponsible parents because we did what we thought was right. We all have the best intentions for our sweet babies.

When my princess had her babies, my vet tried to tell me that i should let them go at 6-8 weeks old. She said thats when they bond with their new owners. I DID NOT take her advice. NO WAY would i let a puppy go before 12 weeks, guess thats why i got so attached to them and ended up keeping two.

I am sorry that you feel like you have been attacked! It is hard to take in many different opinions, sort through them, and make a decision as to what you think is ethical. I got Moose when he was 7 weeks old! I was misinformed and thought he was older. I can not just blame the breeder because I myself should have done more research now looking back on it. Gettting my first yorkshire terrier was ALOT different because she was already 2 years old, potty trained, and her temperament was alot different than Moose. I was amazed as to how social Moose is but he lacks as far as how hard to bite when his playing, which most of the time he does not know that his biting your finger because its in the way of his toy, and I know that's something he learns from his mother. Luckily, my boyfriends mom is a great trainer and she has a pack, 7 dogs, of her own so she is really great at using them when it comes to teaching other dogs.

Also, one more point...what about female dogs that only birth one baby? How do they do with social interaction as far as learning? etc. Is it completely different than when a female has more than one baby? Just curious!

I didn't know diddley squat before I got my puppy (he is 4 now) you can't blame everyone for not knowing. When I say 4 years ago I didn't know about the age thing the puppy-mill thing or the BYB thing, I am telling the truth.
So when people come on here and say "I didn't know" I believe them cause I didn't know either. However now is what matters and I for one got very educated and try to inform all I know. It's not what we didn't know, it's what we do know now and try to educate .:hug:

I got Cash at eight weeks and he had never had any health problems. The only times he has been to the vet is for his vaccinations and for the one time he accidentally ate a bag of nuts - he was fine (my bank balance wasn't).
I didn't know that pups needed to be that age when they go to their new home, but unfortunately the fact that I am now educated doesn't change a thing. The fact of the matter is: In South Africa, there are no breeders who keep their pups until that age. If I were a breeder, I would keep them (maybe forever;)), but I am not.
So, what should a prospective yorkie owner in SA do? I think they should just do the best they can... Buy from a good breeder who keeps the dogs in the house, get a health guarantee (also not readily available here, one breeder laughed at me when I suggested it) and make sure that the pup is in good health.
I reckon I might be unpopular for this, but I am getting June at eight weeks. I don't have a choice. It is a really good breeder. She is responsible. She loves her dogs. She is well-versed in all things yorkie. She gives them only the best. And she lets them go earlier.
I guess it is just the social climate we are living in, but I am sure when more people know about this and more people are able to do something about it, we too will be able to leave the pups with their momma until 12 weeks.:aimeeyork

We got Jasmine at 7 weeks old. We were shocked and scared when we went to pick her up. That was the only thing we didn't think was right with our breeder. She has thirty years exp., doesn't breed teacups, spent so much time with us etc. She did explain hypoglycemia to us and told us to take the door off the crate and she should have access to her food at all times. With that advice she did fine. We watched her like a hawk and was fortunate because we didn't have to leave her, I'm a stay-at-home mom. That would be my advice if you have to work do not get a puppy under 12 weeks. We are so lucky Jasmine is healthy, and loves children, and other animals. Puppy classes really helped with her socialization. Also, our cat has taught her all the litter playing rules, he's a great big brother!

These are the people that shouldn't be Breeders!!

I think before 10 weeks it is to young for sure !! And that is for the bigger yorkies, the smaller the pup, the longer he should stay with mom.

I brought Suzi home when she was going on 9 weeks old. She was already 3lbs . And has turned 1yrs old on March 3. She is a 7lbr now . I too, was not aware of the 12 week rule of the Yorkie breed. Suzi had no issues with Hypoglcemia.
She has loves people , and dogs and we have had no other problems with her whatsoever. Perhaps I got lucky. I know that if I ever got anther yorkie I'd wait until she was 12 weeks old. I would not tkae any chances with the next one because I feel more educated now.:aimeeyork

I totally agree with you. I brought both of my yorkies home at 8 weeks and I have had ZERO problems. I think sometimes some of you think that you are informing people, when all you are doing is knocking them down! I have learned to avoid some of you because I feel like a lot of what you have to say is judgemental! I think that it is great to be educated, but I think that some of you on here dwell on what they could get, or what can happen and don't let your dogs live. Like I said I brought my puppy home at 8 weeks, and I just have to say that I think that my breeder is/was wonderful.

I don't think they have more health issues but later on they can have more social issues. Then people come on here and say thier 3 month old yorkie is biting them when they just never learned proper dog ettiquet, and not to play rough.

It is interesting to watch the mothers teach the puppies how to play. They even play tug o war with them and let them win.

hmmmmm, I had no idea that the mama pup taught socialization until just now. I got Bailey at 8 weeks old and I think it was a BYB (although I didn't know it then), I also learned what that was on this forum. It's so sad what's out there. I think a lot of Bailley's socialization issues and pack issues maybe could have been prevented had he been kept with his mama longer. Poor baby.... That's so sad!

I got Wylie at about 10 weeks (but, I actually wonder if he was 8 wks) and I didn't know much at all about yorkies at that point except about 2 weeks of research - I did know about what supplies to get and that they were prone to low blood sugar. He did have one or two episodes, which he came out of very quickly w/ nutrical. He was quite sturdy and about 2.5 pounds when I brought him home.

With Marcel, who I knew was a tiny - I didn't bring him home until he was 16 weeks old - he weighed 1 pound 4 oz at the time (he is now a sturdy 3 lbs as an adult). Even at 16 weeks, he was FAR more vulnerable than Wylie - but not in terms of hypoglyc. or anything (he never had a single episode) - more just his size at that point and how it relates to safety and vulnerability. I am SO glad I waited until 16 weeks. I mean, I'm a nurse for pete's sake, and I still didn't feel adequate at times to care for such a wee one.

As far as socializing and stuff, I can tell that Marcel (who was kept longer by his breeder) was far better off right from the beginning - he was then and is now much more secure, easy going, easy breezy, feels safe, no separation anxiety whatsoever, very relaxed - than Wylie was and is. I'm not sure if that's bc Wylie was taken more early from his mama or what - but there is quite a difference. I'd be interested to hear any breeder thoughts on that. It could just be personality, so who knows?

as the OP of this thread. I want to start off by saying I was in NO WAY passing judgement or putting down anyone who purchased a yorkie prior to 12 weeks old.

I was just curious.

since I read people stating all the time about bringing home 7 week and 8 week old puppies. My curiosity about how social they are later as they grow to adult hood. and how if any they deal with health issues.

I wasn't putting anyone down. I was only curious.

I read where some people thought that some of the posts were rude or judgemental. Isn't part of an open forum where people were allowed to post their opinions? That's what makes this forum so great. It doesn't mean we have to agree with every post.

I read all the posts and didn't see any that were rude ( we even had one of the admins share her experience). While some may have seemed judgemental, are we sure it just wasn't someone's passion mistaken for judgementalism?

if we don't want to add to the thread we have the choice. We choose to read the ones we are interested in and then choose to post our opinions or not.

To be anything less would be quite boring if we all thought the same.....

My last yorkie I got when he was 8 weeks old and he loved everyone and every dog. I socialized him with every dog and in return he was great. Never a health issue because he came home early. Finley ( my new little one) I also got at 8 weeks and he loves to play with everyone and every dog. I think that you have to take it upon yourself no matter what age you bring home your dog to socialize your dog. As for the health issues, I have yet to have an issue.