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Is 16-18 weeks too old for a puppy to come home? I am looking at purchasing a puppy from a professional breeder. The puppy is already 17 weeks old and I am not sure if that is a little older than what is ideal for introducing a puppy into a new home. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks |
We got Stella at 16 weeks and she's doing great--she was quick to learn the ins and outs of pee pad training. I think they have a little more control at that age. We enrolled her in puppy training once she had all her shots and now she's well-trained and well-socialized. Some breeders will keep them longer if they are especially tiny or prone to hypoglycemia, so it's not unusual for Yorkies to go home later than that. I would definitely get another at 16 weeks or older, as little struggle as possible during potty training is always good :) |
From a breeder's stand point, it is best that they be at least 12 weeks old before going to their new home. A puppy that is 16-17 weeks will have learned so much from it's mother & litter mates. I am definitely for keeping them until they are older. |
A puppy at that age will be just fine going to their new forever home! Congrats! |
Firstly welcome to YT. You will be getting your pup at the perfect age. Tia was 13 weeks. It only sounds older I guess because bigger breeds you do tend to get them younger, my border collie was 6 weeks when I got her. |
16 weeks will be just fine. You are going to love her! |
I got Fancy when she was 16 weeks and she has done just fine. I too was worried before I met her about the age but we have a very tight bond and she has the best personality. We bonded very quickly though, I took her everywhere - she was never alone by herself, she slept with me - I treated her just like I would have brought home a brand new baby (and still do:p). I have had her for 8 months now and she will be 1 year on the 29th of this month. I think you will be just fine, the puppy will still bond with you and will adjust to the new home after a couple of weeks. Congrats & keep us updated. |
I also think older is sometimes better. They are eating well on their own, some even have their feeding and bath room routines down so they are easier to potty train. Sometimes it is hard to determine what a puppy will turn out like so a lot of breeders and show homes keep puppies longer to see how big they grown, how their coats will be if they will clear etc. I purchased my first puppy yrs ago at 6 mos of age from a show home.. He was a bit too small and his coat took longer to clear. Enjoy your new addition. Yorkies are wonderful little dogs. |
Hot Rod was 15 -16 weeks old when we got him. I don't know his history as he was from a pet store. :( (Didn't know any better) I am glad that he was that old because it would have broken my heart if he was 10-12 weeks because that would have meant that he was taken from mom way to early. but he doing really well! We got Maggie at 11 weeks old from a breeder. good luck! |
Puppy's Age From a breeder's stand point, older is much better... The sweet spot for me is between 15 and 25 weeks.... Smaller breeds tend to need a bit more time with mom, take a little longer to ween and the extra few weeks gives the breeder an opportunity to observe for health issues that may not be noticed prior to 12 weeks... There are many health issues that do not show symptoms until a puppy's body is functioning more efficiently... Also, breeders who keep their puppies a little longer generally take care of all of the vaccinations, ect.. To me that is always a plus... |
They are never too OLD to rehome. The more time with mom, the better behaved they are. |
15-20 weeks is better! I think the older the better, 15 - 20 weeks old seems to be the best. My Sister ended up buying a Yorkie from a Breeder that Sold her puppies very young, 6 weeks old so they would appear to be smaller. The Breeder told her that she would only be 4 1/2 lbs. so now that the puppy has grown to 9 1/2 lbs., she finally got her information to register her and found out her real age and birthdate? By then it was too late, she was already attached to her. For the puppies sake they learn more from their Mother & Littermates than any Human can teach. I think it's a myth that the younger they are, the stronger their Bond to you. Both of my Yorkies were purchased when they were 20 - 25 weeks old. You shouldn't have any problems. |
My Ivan was 6 months old when he came to his forever home on August 2nd. He didn't bat an eye and you'd have thought he was with us since the day he was whelped. I wouldn't let a healthy, socialized pup at any age be a concern as to whether you should bring him home or not. Truth be told, it was quite nice as I didn't have to be bothered with the potty training, all the shots, trips to the Vet, etc. that you have with a new puppy. :) |
I let mine go home between 12 and 16 weeks. I kept a couple til they were 16 weeks because they did not yet weigh two pounds. I like them to have 2 pounds of weight so they are more substantial and not quite as fragile when they go to their new home. I also held on to one longer for my sister as she had to get off work to travel here to pick hers up. I think 16 weeks is really the ideal time to go to a new home. It really gives them a good start, plenty of socialization and learning with mom and siblings. It ensures their little bones are a little sturdier and their GI systems a little better developed. It also gave me time to itroduce them all to house-training. This last litter every new owner thanked me profusely as they already had house-trained puppies. You will have no problem bonding with a 16 week old over a 12 week old. I would not recommend ever getting one before 12 weeks. Even a 6 month old puppy has lots of time to bond and still be your "puppy" before it matures into an adult. Sometimes I think the reason I love yorkies so much is that they seem like perpetual puppies. Good luck with your new addition! |
I brought Lilly and Ollie home on the same day (different breeders). Lilly was exactly 17 weeks old and Ollie was 7 weeks old. Lilly is so much better behaved, she knows alot of social things that Ollie is completely unaware of. Like biting and barking and chewing. Lilly does none of that, and we're having a devil of a time teaching Ollie how to behave properly. I firmly believe it's because Lilly spent much longer with her mother and siblings learning how to behave. Lilly also has been easier to potty train and I think alot of it is because she's older and she's learned to hold her peepee longer. Her bladder is stronger. Ollie basically just goes whenever and wherever he is at the time the urge hits him. Not his fault, he's just a baby. But if I were choosing, I would definitely wait until they were older. They really don't start developing their own little individual personalities until that age anyway I don't think. |
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