She's coming home by August 1st
 

Is six weeks old enough time for my pup to have grown up with her litter mates and her mommy enough? We're getting her from her breeder at 6 weeks they think because she's already eating from mom's bowl.

You should wait until they are 10-12 weeks old before bringing them home. I know that you are probably very anxious about getting your puppy, but IMO it's just too early. There are so many things that they still need to learn from mom and that age is the most impressionable time. When I had my litter, I didn't let them go to their new home until they were 12 weeks old. I wanted to make sure that we were past the low blood sugar levels, that they were well socialized, and had 2 sets of shots. I didn't get them their first shot until they were 8 weeks old. I also wanted to make sure that they didn't have any reaction to their shots. I had also started them on their flea treatments.

If I were you, I would ask the breeder if I could wait until the puppy was at least 10 weeks old.

I would ask if you could leave her there till 12 weeks at least. She still needs the playtime with littermates and the teachings from mommy. They learn so much from their littermates and mom. 6 weeks is just too young. When left alone they whine more and go in backwards circles instead of running and playing. It looks so sad. They just don't have that socialness built up yet. I hope you understand this. I feel like I am not explaining correctly.

Please don't take your puppy home at 6 weeks. I brought my Bailey home a 9 weeks and that was to young, I would wait until at the very least 10 weeks, and believe me it will be an easier transition for the both of you if you wait.

I don't know what to do here:
 

Here's the situation:

I'm going to my parents over labor day weekend. I haven't even told them about Sadie yet, i'm worried about what they will think and whether they will let her in their house when i'm staying there. I have told this to the breeder in hopes that they would keep her past that weekend and give her to us after that, but they think she's ready cause she's starting to eat mom's food and they're wanting to give her to us August 1 at 6 weeks. I know she would need more time with her mom and litter mates, but i don't think this breeder will keep her that long. i don't know how to ask them to, and i don't know how to get around this trip with a new puppy along for it. if we get her Aug. 1, she'll have a month of getting used to us before we travel, but if we wait until after we get back from the trip i think that might be better...

what do i do?

I would tell the breeder that you don't feel comfortable taking her home at 6 weeks. Ask her if she can keep her at least another 4 weeks. Tell her that you don't want anything to happen to her with getting low blood sugar etc. If you explain it in a way regarding health, then the breeder will probably agree to keep her. If she doesn't, I would second guess this breeder. If you read up on Yorkie Breeders, it clearly states that they shouldn't leave until they are 10-12 weeks old.

Let me tell you a little of my story and hopefully it will help you to understand better. When I got Ellie she was only 6 weeks old. At that time I didn't think much of it because I didn't do the research necessary. Well, within 3 days, Ellie got very sick. She was throwing up, had bloody stools, and wasn't playing or eating. I rushed her to the emergency vet to find out that the stress she had endured to getting her too early made her sick. They had to give her shots and fluids. I took her home and prayed like crazy. Now that Ellie is older, she wants to be chargea and the pack leader, which is alright, but I constantly have to make sure that she's not being agressive. I believe this wouldn't have been the case if she would have stayed with the litter longer. They learn their place and their mom helps them to understand. I would strongly press the breeder to let her stay until she is 10-12 weeks old.

thanks for the advice, i emailed to see what the breeders thoughts were on keeping her longer to give her more time.

Just think, 12 weeks is 6 weeks' worth of bladder control that the pup would've gained. Definitely a plus, that will make potty training much easier!

Please don't bring this pup home at 6 weeks. I know how anxious you must be to have her, but I'd rather you walked away than were pushed into bringing her home that early. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your breeder is reasonable and agrees to keep her until AFTER your trip. Good luck!

Emailed the breeder to keep her til Sept. 11 or so
 

Please pray everybody that they will agree and keep her longer, i don't want to have to go back on the search for another breeder. I want a pup so much and i'm ready to have one, but i'd rather wait to get her until after we go to my parents so that we can have full time attention on her and not travel with her...plus i want her to have that mom/pup time and be healthy.

do u think the breeder is trying to avoid giving her the shots from 6 weeks-12 weeks???

i'll admit it to you all and risk the tongue lashing, i found the breeder in the classifieds and she's APRI registered not AKC and these are most likely backyard breeders...but we're not able to spend $1000 for a dog right now and i'm ok with her just being a yorkie, i could care less about papers, showing, or breeding her...she's just a family pet, as long as i know she's healthy, i don't really mind that she's not AKC registered.

I just want to be leery of her breeders cause i don't want her to be sickiepoo, so hopefully they are as nice as they sound on the phone and they will keep her, am i stupid for not trying to see her breeding area and their home that she's at, i was going to have them meet me closer to my home when the pup is ready...

i'm trying not to be stupid or scammed, but also trying not to have to drive 2 hours and pay over $1000 for a pup that i just want to love on, not breed or show.

keep helping me,

Rachel

GreenWoodKennels
 

Here's where we are planning to get Sadie

Greenwood Kennel

they just seem to check out so nicely to me!

I would be extremely careful of not seeing the conditions that your puppy was growing up in. I invite all my customers to my home, and actually prefer it. I want them to see the set up that I have and what conditions their new baby has grown up in. I want them to see all the records and receipts where they were taken to the vet. I want to educate all of my buyers so they know what to be prepared for when their little one comes home.

Did you put a deposit on this puppy yet? If not, then offer to go to their home and see the conditions yourself, make the deposit and offer to pay for the shots for her holding onto the puppy for you.

I know that you don't want to hear this, but if she is unwilling to hold the puppy for you, I wouldn't buy it from her. It doesn't sound like she's concerned about the ethics of breeding, but of making some money.

I know how much hard work it is on a breeder holding a puppy until it's 12 weeks old, but if you truely love these little guys and want the new family to care for them as much as you do, then you do what's best for the puppy.

Again, I strongly urge you to go to their home and look at the conditions in which this puppy has been raised. You may end up getting a sick dog and spending over $1000 on it anyway.

With all do respect how do you know your getting a healthy pup after all if their cheap and not willing to hold on to her and give first set of vaccinations I doubt they put much into their breeding dogs.
be highly suspect look at all those breeds how can they put the necessary care into all those dogs.
Please at least visit the kennel

some of the breeds listed they don't have right now, and there are two family breeders using the same website. i have spoken on the phone to them, they seem very nice and willing to tell me all they can about the puppies.

your puppies at three weeks old look so tiny compared to Sadie who is four weeks old and she just looks bigger than those pups on your website, i wonder if Sadie is older than they are telling me???

Just remember that anyone can be nice over the phone. Until you see what conditions this puppy has been in, you're going in blind. Trust me, I have learned from experience and spent lots of money on a sick puppy that came home to me too young. I did what you were thinking about doing, and I tell you one thing, after almost loosing Ellie, I would never put myself in that position again, and hope to stop anyone who might end up in that position.

I hope that you seriously reconsider this breeder unless she lets the puppy stay and you go and see the conditions yourself. Please use extreme caution. These little ones are so easy to get attached to and I would hate to see something happen especially since you said that you don't have a lot of money to put into a dog. What happens if it is sick after you bring her home? What's in her contract about guarantees? What happens if it's a weekend and you have to go to an ER Vet like I did? That's very expensive.

did u look at their website? greenwoodkennels.com

I did contact this breeder, and the only thing that I can say is RUN RUN RUN RUN FAR AWAY!!!!!

He offers no health guarantee, only offers that he will take it with you to his vet. He will get a health certificate from his vet that is only valid for 10 days stating that it was in good health at the time of the appointment.

He also said that he has let puppies as young as 5 weeks go to their new homes depending on how they are eating.

I'm telling you from experience, please don't buy from this breeder. He has a litter now that is 4 weeks old that he is weaning. That is just too soon!!!!

I have stated everything I know. If you do buy from this breeder, which $400 for a female is very cheap, just remember that you get what you pay for. I wish you the best.

Can't go to see her
 

She lives almost 4 hours away from me, their daughter lives in Kearney and so they were willing to drive her up to meet me, i can't drive the four hours to go see the kennel, but maybe i can ask for pictures of everything? they are always in the house i think.

puppies weights vary...depends on the parents and the genes

thanks for the help i'll have to be more careful and see about getting my money back, he has a $50 deposit which he was willing to give back if we couldn't afford her due to hospital bills, i just feel so yucky inside, cause i want her so much

I know what you are feeling. I have been there. But I am trying to spare you the pain and money that it possibly cost you in the long run. I am so sorry.

it's ok, i just don't know where to go, i don't want to be stuck in a mess, and i don't want to pay over $1000 for a puppy, that's just too much, i guess i can keep looking and praying about it, do you think this current breeder if willing to keep her for another 6 weeks is still okay, or not at all??

How big are they say she is going to get?
I know you want her but just consider the cost if she is sick.
Most kennels would prefer to meet you they dont like visitors ,im not saying they are for sure a puppy mill or a backyard breeder but their site raises many red flags for me.

IMHO, I would say that even if he holds her for another 6 weeks, you are taking a gamble. He told me on the phone that he doesn't take them to a vet at all. He even said that the new owners can pay him to give the puppies their shots instead of having to take them to a vet. It sounds like he is running a puppy mill or is a back yard breeder to me.

Have you checked the rescues listed on this forum lately? They also have the Yorkie classifieds on here. I would suggest that you go that route first. Sometimes, you can get a puppy that is more in your budget and you can get a healthy puppy. The resuces are a little older, but then you don't have to go through the potty training stage which could more than pay for itself. Just think about it.

Good luck.

he says that his daughter is a vet assistant and that she can give the shots to the pups so that you don't have to pay the vet costs, just the money for the shots, i could do whatever i wanted with her tho, i could just take her to the vet instead of listening to his advice...but i might at least make him get her vet checked and have some sort of a guarantee.

they probably are a backyard breeder, i'm ok with that part, i just want to know that she is healthy and going to be fine coming home with me

MAJOR RED FLAG, they said they take the mom away at 6 weeks old!! I have just asked them why they would do something like that??

We all just want you to make the best decision for you becuase there are many Yters regret not being better informed before taking on a possible 15 year commitment.
Go with your gut and I hope whatever decision you make will be the right one for you:)