Socializing Puppies
 

What does it mean that puppies should stay with the mom and siblings until 12 weeks [U]to learn socializing skills[U]? If they're weaned, eating, and active earlier, why can't they go to their new homes earlier than 12 weeks?

Hi.. I'm wondering about all of this myself. I have a 9 month old yorkie now.. we got her at 9 wks. We have had no problems with her at all.. she is so sweet and loving. Never has she been sick or anything. We are waiting to get our second yorkie any time now. We may get her 2 days before she turns 8 weeks old. She has had her first needle and has been given a clean bill of health from the vet. She is eating and drinking and playing , having a great time. The big thing is , my puppy I have already is still a puppy.. she won't be coming home at 8 wks to be alone , she will have another dog to be with , play with , learn from. I wouldn't down the breeder I am buying from because she is letting me take her at 8 wks either. My new puppy is already 2 lbs 4 ozs. There were only 2 puppies in the litter. So for a while now , she has only been around her litter mate. So to bring her home and have her with my dog .. that is still young. I myself think she will be fine. I know a lot on here think its best to keep them with there breeders until they are 10-12 wks old.. but I think they are fine at the age of 8-9 wks . You do have to take the time to be with them though for at least 3 days when you bring them home.. let them socialize and get use to the new area , keep it quiet for them. I think my new puppy will be just fine to come home at 8 wks.

But let others on here give you there advise also. I may be wrong. It's just how I feel about it.

It just seems to me that if a puppy is doing well what difference does it make if he's socializing with his human or sibling, especially if he's going to a home with no other animals.

Here is a sticky thread from the Breeder section that you may find interesting and useful. It breaks down the development of a pup's skills by each week. :)

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31003

You will not find many respected breeders that will let pups go any earlier than 10 weeks...and that is pushing it. This is the advice and opinion of most SUCCESSFUL, long time breeders. They really know there stuff. Rest assured, keeping a pup an extra month is not a bed of roses for any breeder, so there is good reasoning behind it.

Interesting post. I have to agree. I got Piper when he was three, and Sebastian at 16 months and have had no problems, but Penny was only 8 weeks and she's having some socializing issues.

Sometimes I think it depends on the pup & where it is going. Personally, I would much rather have my dogs teach a 8-12 wk old pup "manners" & social behavior than trust them to learn from others. I say that simply because my 3 (the mom,dad& granny) have been with them since birth & seem to take to the teaching process with a gentile mouth. I have noticed that some puppies seem to be ready to go to their forever homes @ a younger than 12 wk age & if it's a person with small-dog puppy experience, no toddlers or large dogs in the home & they're not going to be crated for 6-8 hours at a time I might allow them to go earlier than 12 wks. Birth to 12 wks is a period of time that I take quite seriously and it's my decision when that pup goes to its new home. I kept one pup until it was 16 weeks because at 10 weeks it became fearfull of everything. He is now hearding goats at his new home.
If someone does not like my way of doing it then they can purchase their new puppy somewhere else, there's enough of them out there.

:thumbup: Of course, then they end up here complaining about it's behavior...:rolleyes:

In watching how my Sunshine took care of her babies, I can understand why it is important to stay with mom a bit longer. Besides socialization, I watched how Mama treated her babies in thier daily life. She would sometimes mouth at thier legs and I thought she was being mean to them until I realized she was teaching them thier boundaries. If we had them on a blanket on the patio, and they started to crawl off of the blanket, Sunshine would run over and mouth at thier legs and push them back on the blanket. If they crawled over near one of the other dogs, she would do the same thing. Or if one of the puppies was biting. At first I would tell her to be nice, but once I realized she was teaching them thier limits, I let her do her job as a mom. I am keeping both babies (now a little over 5 months old) and I am so thrilled with how well behaved they are thanks to having Mommy around. Just my own opinion.
Sonya

Sonya, You've got it!! That's puppy school. It's amazing, when you watch the momma interact with them, how much they can learn at such a young age.

It really is amazing. I feel like I was so naive because I always thought that once the puppies were weaned from Mom that her job was done. NOT so! In fact, Sunshine STILL keeps them in line. She plays with them like she does with the other fur siblings, but she also corrects them if she thinks they are getting out of line. Beamer loves to jump up on Sunnie and steal his teddy bear. Sunshine will go get right between them if she thinks he is getting to wild.

Sonya