Is 8 Weeks too Young?
 

This is my first yorkie. I have so many questions. I have been researching and reading information on small dogs (I have always had larger dogs). I am very excited about getting a puppy some time in January. He will be 8 weeks old when I get him. I have been doing a lot of reading, and it seems most are adopted at 10 to 12 weeks. I am curious about pros and cons. I would love to get him sooner, but want him to be ready to adapt to his new home. I would appreciate any thoughts!

It is not recommended to get a yorkie (or other toy dog) until at least 10 - 12 weeks.

These puppies are very small at that age and are susceptible to hypoglycemia and other special health concerns.

I would also be wary of a breeder willing to let your pup go at 8 weeks. :)

You are right, 8 weeks is too young.
Small breed puppies should stay with their mother until 10 -12 weeks. ( Im sure someone will come on here and tell you exactly how long)

I know this because I got my baby at 8 weeks and he had alot of biting problems that could have been avoided if he would have stayed with his littermates. He would have learned from them that this behavior was unacceptable.

I know you are probably very excited and cannot wait to get your little one, but in the long run, it would be the best to wait.

I think that 8 weeks is definitely too young, as I am sure many (if not most) will agree. There are valuable socialization skills that pups learn when they stay with mom and litter mates a little longer. (I know that one problem people often seem to complain about when getting pups young is breaking them of the play biting habit...which can be a real problem.) Also, these little guys are prone to low blood sugar. Breeders keeping them until they are bit older doesn't eliminate that problem altogether, but it does reduce the chances of them having problems with it.

Not to sound negative and rain on your parade, but I would be VERY wary of any breeder willing to release pups at such a young age. I would suggest you take a very close look at all the aspects of this person's breeding practices.

Good luck, congrats on getting your little one soon, and welcome to YT.

Thanks! All this information is very helpful. My puppy is coming from friends who are not breeders. They wanted a puppy so they mated their dog, but she had extras! I will share these thoughts so we can make a decision that is in the best interest of my little fella :)

Eight weeks is definately too young for a pup to leave their moms......they are just being weaned. Will barely be recieving their first innoculation.
Between 8 & 12 weeks of age, pups are learning so much from their mothers.....

The earliest should be at 12 weeks of age....enough time for 2 shots, vet checks, pup is eating well on it's own....

You might visit YTCA.org and read the code of ethics and conduct.....great information there.

from experience....we did 7.5 weeks.

pros: she is super adapted to our lives in every way possible, she learned a ton of tricks in the early weeks and knows a lot of them well still. she is the cutest little bundle of joy and had i waited until 12 weeks i would have missed so much of her puppy stages

cons: biting is still happening and nipping and chewing hands at 6 months old, if she'd stayed with mom that would be gone, the risks to health and the obvious risks of getting a pup at 8 weeks from a person who has NO breeding experience is pretty dangerous in terms of the health issues that could come up. you have no idea what kind of background the pup will have when dealing with a breeder who doesn't know what they are doing or just had pups for the fun of it. yorkie breeding is a very deep and researched thing to get into, not something a person should be doing that only wants puppies nad then gives away the ones that they don't want. you won't know anything about the size and health of the pup you are getting. and i'm not trying to scare you or be rude, just giving you a warning that you might be getting into a situation where you don't know all the health risks and information you should know.

but good luck on finding the perfect dog, if i were you, i'd advise this friend to keep ALL Puppies until at least 12 weeks of age with their mother...and also advise her to next time research and learn A LOT more about breeding dogs before just deciding she wants to have puppies without any knowledge of breeding before hand.

good luck!!

This is the best explanation of the 12 Week Rule I have found. It's from Foxstone Maltese, but applies to Yorkies as well.

Why do Maltese puppies need to be 12 weeks old before going to a new home??

The best takeway message from this is not to get a puppy from a breeder who will let a puppy go before 12 weeks. This breeder is not knowledgeable about the breed. It is like playing Russian Roulette with the future health of your puppy if you get one from an inexperienced breeder.

I got Missy when she was 7 weeks old (didn't know better), and we struggled with her for the first 3 weeks that she was home. It was scarey actually, her blood sugar was always dropping. Since it is your friends that have your puppy, it would be ideal to leave your puppy with it's Mommy and littermates until 12 weeks of age.

We got Jasmine (yorkie) at 8 weeks of age. She will be one year old in two weeks. She never experienced any hypoglycemic spells nor did we go through the biting with her. Prissy (toy poodle) who is 7 yrs. of age now was also 8 weeks old when we brought her home. We didn't experience any problems with her either. It prob. is better if they are older, however with both of ours we didn't have any problems.

I honestly think along with the others that it is too young as well.

HOWEVER,
I got Manolo (female) at 8 weeks and she barely cried if not at all, and seemed to be very well adapted. Actually I thought it was a miracle she was so easy-going. Especially with potty training and with teething. I had no problems or issues with her. I figured she came from a good line of dogs that had good easy going personalities.

My second one, Lewie (male) I got at 8 weeks. Whines whines whines. Is not food motivated and I feel like I should have gotten him at 12 weeks rather than 8 weeks. In fact I was thinking of just giving it back to the breeders so it can stay and I'd pick it up again in a few more weeks.

Nonetheless, better not take any chances and if you can get it at 12 weeks in my opinion.

8 weeks is most definatley to young. Larger breeds can be rehomed at that age because they mature faster. I have had 2 (soon to be 3) litters and have not let a single one leave before 12 weeks. Much to the new parents dismay I know it is best. I get emails ALL the time on how wonderful, well balanced and smart they are. I don't even wean them until around 7 to 8 weeks. I would talk it over with your friend it'll be better for you in the long run and better for all the puppies development.

All I can say is please ask the breeder to keep your puppy until at least 10 weeks old. I had a Biewer litter and can not tell you how important the time with their mommy and siblings are. They only really start playing and exploring by the age of 7 weeks. There is no way a human can teach a puppy how to interact with one another, only their mommies and siblings can do that. My babies have now gone to their new forever homes and the feed back I get from their new mommies are wonderful. They are healthy, well adjusted not fussy eaters and get along with their others pets and humans wonderfully. Not to mention the health risk you will be taking with your baby.

I also agree with everyone, I dont have my baby yet and I probably wont for a while, but in doing my research, I have found that it is best to get a yorkie at 12 weeks or older. I am hoping to get my puppy for Mother's day... I Pray that I get my baby for Mother's day. Hope all goes well w/ your new little baby...;)

My breeder would not let me take Sandy home before he was 12 weeks old. She told me she was not letting him go before he had his second vaccination.

I absolutly agree that 12 weeks or older is the best age! Mom teaches baby so much. They are already weaned and eating on their own too. Check ups and shots have been done as well. I try to have mine semi potty trained to go outside before they go home. Try to talk your friend to keeping your puppy till 12 weeks you'll be glad you did! :)

We got our Zena at eight weeks from an experienced breeder. We have had no problems at all and she is a very healthy and active Yorkie. Of course we have had dogs before and know how to care for them and what to look out for.

Just a question - I am getting a second dog - a new Yorkie puppy and she'll be between 8-9 weeks old (that's the intention right now anyway). I have read the comments about waiting until the puppy is 10-12 weeks old.

Is the issue purely for health reasons? As far as biting and learning goes, won't my other Yorkie (her bilogocial brother the prior litter or so) who will be 2 years in May 2010 be able to teach my new puppy things her mother would?

What is the smallest the pup should be (in pounds) upon coming home with new owners?

Did you read the link I posted on the first page? It applies to all toy breeds, not just Yorkies.

Why do Maltese puppies need to be 12 weeks old before going to a new home??

No training comes from the mother....the teach the pups where they stand in the pack and proper play behavior.......

Here's from the YTCA Code of Ethics and Standard
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.

9) Breeders will provide puppy buyers with written details of feeding, general care, date and types of a minimum of two (2) inoculations, as well as dates of wormings, grooming instructions, etc. and be available to offer future advice as needed.

As stated in # 9 if puppies receive their first innoculation between 8 and 9 weeks.......and leaves the breeders premises younger than 12 weeks said puppy could not receive the minimum of 2 innoculations.

Males are not usually as tolerate of puppies as the mom is. I do not let my male dogs around pups until the pups are at least 12 weeks old. Some males will attack a small puppy. I know of one breeder who's male actually killed a 4 month old pup. It really would be better for your puppy if the breeder can keep her until she is closer to 12 weeks.

I never let my puppies go to their new homes until they are over 2 pounds and are eating well on their own.....So, they may stay with me longer......

My pups will be 4 months of age on Christmas...Today I began taking them outside, 1 at a time and running with the other females

I did read the link. However, if the breeder gives the puppy shots at 6 weeks then she doesn't follow the breeder in the link's processes.

I'm not saying it isn't good/better for the pup to be 12 weeks. I got my current dog at 8 weeks and my parents got my childhood dog at 8 weeks and both were "fine". That being said, they may have been "better dogs" if they had the opportunity to stay with their Mom longer.

I am sure the breeder won't let my puppy leave if she is too tiny, and I won't take her unless she will be OK in my care. After all, it's all about the puppy's health!

If a breeder is giving a puppy it's first shot at 6 weeks she is doing more harm than good and suppressing mother's immunities, there for setting up the pup to contract a case of parvo.

The fact that you got your dog at 8 weeks and your parents got your childhood dog at 8 weeks (don't know how many years ago that was), didn't make it right. And it's all about what is best for the puppy, not the breeder, not the new puppy owner.

Good information - thanks so much for all the responses. I am not sure the schedule for the shots - have not seen pictures yet or seen how big the pups are. They were born Nov 15th.

My male dog was in our care just after 8 weeks and he was eating on his own by the age of 6 or 7 weeks (hard food) and he had teeth etc.

Perhaps if this new puppy is smaller the development may be different than how Rocky was as a 8 week old.

Good to know that the mother teaches the pup - I wasn't too sure of that!

Doing some quick reseach I notcied that many "non-registered breeders" (and also a few registered) say pups ready at 8 weeks - so I think it's a pretty common thing, even with Yorkies.

You have encouraged me to ask about the breeder's intended vaccination schedule - thanks for that. I will do that. I don't want my puppy to be ill in any way, shape or form.

I agree - it may not be right to get a puppy at 8 weeks but I do think it is quite common.

Some of my pups are eating on their own by 6 or 7 weeks of age.....but, it is more common that not that yorkies when taken to a new environment they go off food for a period of 24 hours.......hyperglycemia will come into play.....

It's not a common thing with reputable breeders to let puppies go at 8 weeks of age. Only non reputable breeders let their pups go at 8 weeks of age....it's all about the money.....no shots, vet checks, cleaning up poops, washing piddle pads, extra food.......That's it in a nutshell.

Do a google search on Dr Jean Dodd's vaccination protocal.......

I suggest you check out the Canadian Yorkshire Terrier Club or is it the Yorkshire Terrier Club of Canada.......very reputable breeders there.......

I did that Google Search - and I will read what I found out. Just wanted to comment that you may be right about the breeder wanting money more quickly - but I did negotiate the price down 200 dollars (the initial price was very high) so I think that speaks that she isn't all about the money. She does own the mom and dad and both live in her home. She is not a "Registered" breeder so she likely don't follow the standards.