I can't believe she had the nerve to even say that she gives the pups away at such an young age. This is one of the reasons breeders are separated into responsible and irresponsible breeders.
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I got Gracie at 2 to 3 weeks old (don't remember exactly) They had been keeping her away from her mother and already weaning her on to doggie food. But, like I have said on other posts, the breeder that I got her from was awful! One of her reasons for letting her go so early is that she was smaller then the rest of the yorkie and maltese pups and was getting beaten up by them. WHATEVER! I think she just wanted the money and to be done with this litter. I had a rough couple of weeks with her. I also had to pay for her shots and worming to be done after I got her. I fed Gracie formula through a syringe and also had to give her sugar water often. She did not eat well for a good few weeks.
I really should report this breeder to the AKC.....

Wow thats awful! Your the only person I have ever heard of getting a puppy at that age. I would report her :thumbdown

How horrible for that breeder to send the pup away at that age!! :mad:

My Lil' Bit had an extra small pup in her last litter, Zoe. Lil Bit is standard size, so her pups are 5-7 lbs grown, but Ms Zoe was a WEE babe! I gave her vitamin drops the Vet gave me every day. I would take Zoe & Mama dog away from other pups so she could nurse alone. She was so much smaller than the others that as they got bigger, she would get pushed aside by them. I can't imagine someone sending one of their babes off at 2-3 weeks! no matter what their size.

Zoe is w/ her forever family now and they spoil her rotten. (as it should be :D ) She's doing awesome, no health problems and weighs ALmost 4 lbs. now. She's full grown and spade. :)

Pics of Baby Zoe....

Only 2 weeks old! That is dispicable!

I was lucky. I got Edie before doing any research. I got her from a backyard breeder, a nice woman who had owned Yorkies for 20+years. I think this was the first litter she had, and there were only 2. She kept Edie until she was 14 weeks old. I know there are a lot of things that could have gone wrong, but Edie is over 5 years old, and very healthy. Not all backyard breeders are bad....Edie and her mother lived in the house with the family, and she was very well socialized.

Happy to hear so many shocked
 

I am glad so many of you are as shocked as I was. As I stated in another post, I come from a Puppy Mill state, so early weaning is only one of the problems many pupies face in the Midwest. Many of you reffered to her as a back yard breeder (to me, this means some one who wants their dogs to have puppies, but they never do the research or develope a good raport with vets, etc. Hobby breeders take the time to research and improve thier standard and socialize each pup. They may only have one female, but they are educated and care.). Or she could have many litters a year and simply not gaive a damn like many breeders out there.

Educating the buyers is more important than the breeders when it comes to ending cycles of animals abuse and neglect. What that woman was doing to those yorkie pups is animal endangerment and she should be fined or jailed.

Out of curiosity, isn't that illegal? :confused:

I still dont think that breeders who let thier dogs go at 6 weeks are as awful as people try to make them sound.As I said,pups are let go at 45 days old here,it works,so I guess things wont change.Its true that alot of people actually prefer the younger pups and dont want a puppy to be 12 weeks old or over when they get them..I know for a fact that pups that age (12 weeks and over) are actually harder to sell (here) and at that age you can usually find them at a cheaper price.
Each breeder/country is different but that doesnt make any of them worse..its just what works for each of them.Iv never heard of a dog having social problems or any other kind of problem due to leaving its mother at 6 weeks old..infact,these pups are usually better around people.
Again,Im not saying its the ideal thing to do,but its done in ALOT of places by alot of breeders and it has to be accepted.Its easier to say no to a 6 week old pup and just go else where if thats not want you want:rolleyes:

Laws
 

California has some of the best laws state wide concerning treatment of aniamls (could be better though), other states are not so lucky. In Omaha, NE pupies must be 10 wks old and people have to pay $100.00 plus $50.00/ yr to the city for breeding and keeping un-altered pets. I don't know about the state laws though.

I got my pup ar 10.5 wks, but they didn't want to let her go that soon (I had a really long drive to get her and couldn't for another 4 wks!).

I know here it is 8 weeks and some places near it is 7 weeks. I know here it is harder to sell pups afer 10 weeks and prices stat dropping after that. I don't breed but I do read the notices and see what people are buying

I have to agree that it is a little harsh to refer to these breeders as "idiots" or talk about sending them to jail or accusing them of not caring about the puppies. I think we, as consumers, even have to accept some of the blame for this practice snce we want the puppies to be less expensive. The longer the breeder keeps the pup the more it costs her.

I would not purchase a puppy from a breeder who let hers go this young because I want what is best for the puppy, but I also would not condemn her for it knowing nothing else about her or her program. Maybe she is from another country in Europe where it is accepted. :confused:

Just another perspective.

I have to agree, We got Tigger at ten weeks old. I don't think that who we got him from was very smart. She first advertised him at five weeks old on the internet(should have been my first big red flag! but I'm so hard headed that I didn't think of it at the time) and that was around the end of july, said he wouldn't be ready to go until Augest 20th, but let him go anyways on Aug 13th. My boyfriend bought him home early as a surprise. I had my suspicion's about her and thought about Pulling out of the sale( after talking to my boyfriend about this), decided even if she was a BYB or a puppy mill at least he'd have a lot better life with us. He hasn't had any health problems as of yet, He's hyper, a TOTAL cuddlebunny, Mouthy, and The best gift ever. I could never ask for anything better.

His supposed birthday is June 11th,2005. Which our vet confirmed. But I would NEVER buy from her or any other dog on the net agian.

It breaks my heart when people come into my work with six or even five week old puppies and say that the breeder had to get rid of them or someother Lame excuse. It happens quite frequently. I seriously wish I could speak to some of these dip you know whats and slap the crap out of them. Grrrr.......

Now guys...I got She-Ra when she was 6 weeks. Her mother had started biting them and refused to care for them. She was eating great, and my hubby's aunt (the breeder), was constantly calling and checking on her. She isn't a bad person, I was so happy she called. Hope eventually killed one of the pups, thank God I took her when I did! :(

I don't think a person is bad just because they let a puppy go at 6,7 or 8 weeks. I really think it depends on the individual puppy, how it's eating, size, etc....

But it'll Never be right in my book for a person to let a puppy go at 2,3,4 or 5 weeks! :thumbdown

IMO, this is something that will distinguish good breeders from bad breeders. The age a pup is let go should depend on when it is in the BEST interest for the pup to leave mom and littermates, not when you are guaranteed to sell it for a larger amount of money.

I understand that there probably are occasions that warrant the pup leaving earlier than the norm...like if the mother has died or something of that nature. But to routinely let pups leave at such a very young age IMO is bad bad BAD. :mad: From all I've seen on this board and all I have ever come accross, I have no indication that this would ever be a good 'general' practice. It really baffles me as to why some think otherwise. :confused: