I brought my puppy home at 9 weeks but she was a bigger puppy (she was 2.8 lbs then). I made sure I had Nutrical on hand and was home 24/7 for the first two weeks I brought her home. I had no issues. She slept in her crate on my bed next to my pillow and didn't cry once.

I do think it all depends on the puppy. Bitsy is a confident and super curious dog. She was the first to open her eyes and the first out of the whelping box.

I think with smaller puppies or puppies who are a little timid or shy do better if left with their mother longer. I can't see how leaving her with her mother longer can be anything but a good thing (especially if it's a good breeder). I would have left Bitsy longer with her mother but I felt the people I got Bitsy from didn't really know what they were doing so that's why I took her at 9 weeks.

12 weeks is the rule of thumb with Yorkies and I think you'd be hard pressed to find any reputable breeders who'd recommend it to be earlier. I know that often larger breed dogs go home at 8 weeks and are fine, but these dogs are very small. The 8-12 week mark is a very critical time of development in socialization skills for these dogs that studies and experts agree are better spent with the mother and litter mates. Chances are that the pup would be OK at 8 weeks, but what risk it when the chance would be greatly reduced by holding out just a little longer. Why take the chance if you don't have to? :)

The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America's Code of Conduct states:


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.

http://www.ytca.org/ethics.html

Not to hijack the thread, but what are the supposed effects and results of bringing a puppy home before 12 weeks?

I think that if you go to the Breeder Section, there is a sticky regarding puppy development that is broken down by week and explaining the stages of development in detail. :)

12 weeks is the minimum for placement. They still have growing and socialization skills during the 10-12 week phase.

1st of all,Welcome to YT! I would recommend taking the pups at 12 weeks or if they are 2 lbs each at 10 weeks and eating well that would be fine. 12 weeks is not excessive Byron,just being careful! Enjoy, cant wait to see pics of your babies!

I got both mine at 8 weeks old and had no problems with their behaviour..they trained quickly and were very well socialized. I can understand why breeders keep them until 12 weeks though...in my experience 8 weeks was fine though..

Dawn

Thanks to everyone who has and may still reply. This is exactly the type of information I was hoping to see. Not necessarily the answer I was hoping for but the type of advice I wanted nonetheless.

I believe we brought our original Yorkie home when she was just a little over 9 weeks old. It's been a long time ago though so I may not be remembering correctly. I don't remember any ill affects but being my first Yorkie and my first small dog, I had nothing to compare it to. Just because things weren't bad doesn't mean they couldn't have been better I guess.

Regardless of how hard it will be (and I know it will be hard) I think I'll push my ex to keep the pups with their mother for a full 12 weeks. It will be totally up to her if she wants to keep them that long but I know she wants to do everything the best way for the pups so hopefully it won't be an issue. This is her first litter as a breeder and earlier than she wanted since it was unexpected so she is still learning too. I'll make sure to pass on everyone's advice to her.

I’ll have my ex take a couple of photos of the litter after the blessed event and a couple more every week until I bring mine home. You better believe I’ll be showing off my new kids here.

Thanks for all of the advice everyone has so graciously provided.

Sincerely,
Soon to be a Dad again,
- Byron

We go Shelby @ 12 weeks and Seymour @ 16 weeks.

I think that if they aren't so itty bitty, you may be able to do 10 weeks. I am sure you would rather wait a couple of weeks to insure that you have happy healthy pups!!.........