I agree with the fact that the best interests of the puppy are usually served by staying with Mom until 12 weeks, but in circumstances where the puppy needs to go to it's forever home sooner, the new mommy needs to be well versed in it's care, have an experienced person to bounce concerns off of over the telephone at any time of the day, and be prepared to be with the puppy 24/7, no leaving the puppy home alone for any period of time until at least 12 weeks and then for only very very short periods if it has to be.

The breeder should welcome your concern and honor the fact that you want what is best for her and the best start in life is to learn all she can in those important formative weeks when mom and littermates teach so much. :thumbup:

I got Ceeby at eight weeks and he turned out to be okay but was a very picky eater. it took some time to find something he would eat well. he was never sick (that i can remember) until he was about four months old. he has had two or three sick spells since but that is not related to getting him early. he has never had a hypoglycemic episode but my vet told me the day after i got him to give him nutracal as a routine thing two or three times a day. The breeder had also told me this so he got it at least twice a day every day until he was nearly three pounds. he weighed nine ounces when I got him. My breeder always lets them go at eight weeks unless she thinks she needs to keep them. She has kept them until fourteen weeks. Most people in this area let them go at six weeks which is wayyyyyy too early.

Good points, Pat!

I don't think 8 weeks is too young ---- IF - you're pup is a good size and has a good appetite. My was that age, and I haven't been able to keep up with him since the first night I got him. And, he has grown by leaps and bounds from the first night on.

I would be concerned if my pup were "tiny" and wasn't eating real well by itself yet. This would be my main concern. And, in this case, I wouldn't feel that he was ready to leave his mother.

And - I let my puppy sleep with me. He slept (6 or 7 hours) like a little veteran and never seemed to miss his mom or litter mates at all. I also spent most of my time (the first few weeks) being very close to him - more often than not carrying him with me around the house. And, because he was so young, he slept a most of the time - which was great!

I would say getting your pup at 8 weeks - depends of the pup, you, and your environment.

Carol Jean

Thank you all for your wonderful advice. I really do appreciate it. I do have a 1 year health guarantee. Thank goodness! :rolleyes:

If you are going to pick him up.
For the ride home be sure to have
A small crate with snuggle blanket or towel, extra blankets or towels encase it get the poops.
I'd ask when the pup last ate.
If it has not been just fed,
I'd feed it and let its food settle a bit.
Then it should be ok..until you get it home to feed again.
Toy to play with. It will more then likely sleep most of the time.
Water to drink, ( I'd stop every hour and check the pup and offer it a drink).
Wet wash cloth in baggie to clean up the puppy if it gets car sick or to clean up poo.
bag to put mess in..
and don't for get the Nutri-cal.
Good luck with your new baby.

I would highly suggest asking the breeder to keep your baby for AT LEAST 2 more weeks. These small babies shouldn't go before 10 weeks in my opinion. But if you do decide to get her early, you don't need a carseat. She'd be much safer in a small crate with a blankie. Bouncer didn't get his car seat for a few months.

I dont think there is a problem with taking him home at 8 weeks. As long as he is happy and healthy. :thumbup:

I did not let my pups go until they were 12 weeks....yes..At 8 weeks they were eating good and playing well and one weighed 4lbs and the other was 5 lbs at 8 weeks however the emotional growth I saw in them from 8 weeks to 12weeks was unbelievable...when they left I knew for certain they were ready and were going to do great at their forever homes...they really do gain so much confidence in the world between those weeks...I am so glad I stuck with the plan to keep them until 12 weeks...

ok,these may be concedered fighting words,but are only my opinion,I have raised maletse and bassetts in the past and I always let them go to there new homes at 8 weeks,but after joining yorkietalk, I have a whole new attitude..we have an 8 week old pup now,a yorkie male,what he is learning from both parents is a great thing,such as when he started biting as a puppy does,his mom made a growling sound and got him a toy,dropped it at him and showed him how to play and chew it,also,they scold him when he potties and its not on the potty pad,when he makes pee on the pad they give him kisses and you can tell they are praising him,they taught him in the last week that when he is put in his bed,he is to stay there..when he fusses as if he needs to potty,one of them takes him to the pottypad..now if my parents were left with there parents untill 12 weeks,they would have been potty broke,would have chewed on toys rather than anything else,and this morning I watched them try to show him how to go out the doggydoor to the back yard,but it was a failure,it was snowing outside so pup said no way,that stuff is scarry,but watching them they are sure going to make his future home alot better..sorry..but none of my babies will ever leave before 12 weeks..let the parents train them to be great dogs

I got Ruby at 5 months (and felt like i missed out on her hole puppy stage) so i got Bella at 8 weeks (not realizing this was WAY to young).
Just make sure you don't take your puppy outside or to any friends house when this young because they can pick up ANY kind of illness and become really sick very fast.
My personal experience with a puppy this young was to also not give them any treats and keep them on the same diet that your breeder had them on (even if your planning to switch to another brand in the future). 8 week old puppies are very sensitive, and absolutely no jumping.
I treated Bella like this until she hit at least 12 weeks and then i started to give her a treat here and there. I didn't take her outside until she had all of her shots though.
I think you would be doing the right thing if you asked your breeder to keep your pup for a few more weeks. If i were to get a third Yorkie i would def wait until they were 12 weeks.

Personally, I'd ask her to keep the pup (even if I had to pay extra for it) until the pup was at least 10 weeks.

If she can't/won't, you are going to have to be *extra* diligent about socializing this dogs with other dogs. Obviously, you'll have to wait until completely immunized, but then, your pup needs to have as many positive interactions with other dogs as possible, as quickly as possible!

I picked Rocky up at 8 weeks, and he did fine. I took him the vet the day after I picked him up and had him check out, he got a clean bill of health. He sleep most of the time at the age, but about 2 weeks later he was tearing thru the house.

I had Aggie at 9 weeks. In retrospect, it was perfect timing.

She's a little over 3 months now, appx 12 weeks. She's starting to recognize people (me :D ) and bonding to her surroundings. Yes, it was a lot of work in the beginning, especially the first week at home. However, she didn't think about the "home" she had before (that was our concern because it happened before when we dog-sat our friends' dogs).

I think if I had gotten her now, instead of three weeks ago, it'd be harder. She'd probably miss her "mom - breeder" and cry more.

Bottom line, if you're concerned, hesitating about taking your pup at 8wks, you SHOULD ask your breeder to hold her/him back for at least another week.

Recently someone posted a developmental chart on here of the stages a puppy goes through in those first weeks and months and it was really eye opening for me.

It is not just the "health" of the puppy that is to be considered but the "training" and "schooling" really that a puppy gets from his mother and littermates from 8 to 12 weeks. They learn about how to get along in the pack, pack behavior and other "rules" for getting along with other dogs and people that we cannot teach them and that after a certain age is impossible to teach. They learn how to " bite playfully " with other dogs so as to not hurt them, how to "be submissive" in the right situation to avoid getting attacked and a lot of other behaviors that...if they miss, they suffer for their entire lives in some areas. This is partially how shy, timid, fear biting, overly aggressive or dogs with other behavioral are developed I think. Once it happens, it is hard to correct.

I will try to locate the chart and post the link again because this is an important issue. :thumbup: