What Age to Get Puppy From a Breeder?

[Squeak]

As title, what is the ideal age to get a puppy from a breeder? Is 8 weeks still the norm? What are the disadvantages of getting an older puppy?

We're happy to wait to get it right and put our name down for a puppy rather than needing to find one that is available so in an ideal world what should we be aiming for?

 

[Birker2020]

As title, what is the ideal age to get a puppy from a breeder? Is 8 weeks still the norm? What are the disadvantages of getting an older puppy?

We're happy to wait to get it right and put our name down for a puppy rather than needing to find one that is available so in an ideal world what should we be aiming for?

There is a really important period in a puppies life when they learn socialisation skills, I think its 2 - 3 months of age.

 

[AmyMay]

The norm seems to be 8 weeks (can’t legally sell before then). Daisy was 12 weeks old.

 

[Clodagh]

If the breeder is a good one I really wouldn’t worry about it. Well bred pups that are well looked after can adjust at any age.

 

[gallopingby]

As long as the breeder has sound management and has bred several litters l wouldn’t worry too much. 8 weeks is usually the minimum but for some breeds older is common. Better older than younger, puppies learn some social skills from their litter mates and the first ones away may not have had as much experience. Puppies need to have had their vacinations before they can mix with others so if older l would check that’s been done.

 

[Squeak]

Thanks for all the replies so far. So for a bit more context, we’ve had our name down for a litter for a couple of months. The breeder is now trying to get us to take a 12 week old puppy from her partner/ friends Kennel (they often breed litters together etc) instead of one from the (younger) litter we were initially down for. I’m also a bit worried about how much they’ve done with either litter at this stage for various reasons and so I’m a bit worried the puppy may not be getting the human interaction it needs.

Would that change peoples opinions on needing to have the puppy younger or would you be happy to have one of the 12 week old pups? Or should we just walk away?

 

[Clodagh]

Thanks for all the replies so far. So for a bit more context, we’ve had our name down for a litter for a couple of months. The breeder is now trying to get us to take a 12 week old puppy from her partner/ friends Kennel (they often breed litters together etc) instead of one from the (younger) litter we were initially down for. I’m also a bit worried about how much they’ve done with either litter at this stage for various reasons and so I’m a bit worried the puppy may not be getting the human interaction it needs.

Would that change peoples opinions on needing to have the puppy younger or would you be happy to have one of the 12 week old pups? Or should we just walk away?

Go and meet the pup and see if it’s bright and confident?
ETA it wouldn’t bother me, easier house training!

 

[JBM]

8-10 weeks preferably
You want socialising to be started preferably by 3 months old after this everything is a bit scarier for longer but still doable!
Potty training can be harder as they get older depending on where you got them from

 

[AmyMay]

Thanks for all the replies so far. So for a bit more context, we’ve had our name down for a litter for a couple of months. The breeder is now trying to get us to take a 12 week old puppy from her partner/ friends Kennel (they often breed litters together etc) instead of one from the (younger) litter we were initially down for. I’m also a bit worried about how much they’ve done with either litter at this stage for various reasons and so I’m a bit worried the puppy may not be getting the human interaction it needs.

Would that change peoples opinions on needing to have the puppy younger or would you be happy to have one of the 12 week old pups? Or should we just walk away?

What’s the reason for them wanting you to get the puppy from the other litter?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Bit odd, so her friend’s litter hasn’t sold and she’s trying to help get rid? Interesting. Are they similar breeding? If I’d chosen my lines, I’d not be thrilled to be asked to swap. Has she overcommitted to buyers?

My first pair were 7 weeks, the breeder said mum was fed up of them (she was lush!) and I can see why, 10 of them pelting round, eating solid food, I can well imagine the poor bitch being fed up. Current pair were 11 weeks, I thought that was a bit old, I was worried about the socialisation window and why 2/9 well bred pups hadn’t been snapped up, dunno about Mitch, but Goose had a heart murmur which had disappeared by the time we got him. Best pair so far, imo.

The only issue was the 2nd set of vaccines, at 11 weeks, you’d want the puppies out for walks, plus we struggled to find the right one, didn’t want to re-start the jabs. However, we got there and were quite glad it took a while so they were a bit more grown when meeting other dogs and had had Bear/us reinforcing manners for a while.

 

[Clodagh]

Deleted.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Deleted.

No, go on as it was my post you quoted.

 

[Clodagh]

No, go on as it was my post you quoted.

I read you got yours at 7 weeks, and said rather 12 than 7. Then realised you were talking about an old pair.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I read you got yours at 7 weeks, and said rather 12 than 7. Then realised you were talking about an old pair.

Jake and Brig, almost 20 years ago. I can understand breeders wanting them gone or at least separated from mum, who was possibly feeling harassed. I suppose bite inhibition is improved by siblings objecting (clearly I’m no expert) but those 2 were stunningly well behaved, dog neutral, never biters, compared to Bear, got him at 9 weeks and he has always been mouthy.

 

[Chucho]

Depends on how the pup is kept. We've got the last 3 at 11 weeks (same breeder). First one was not deliberately so, the last 2 absolutely by choice because in weeks 8-11 they hang out with our breeders gang of 8 who are v well socialized and a real mix of ages from cocky teenagers to venerable oldies so their social skills are incredible by the time they get to us. They live in her home and are treated as her own.

I can teach the confidence in interacting with people/the big wide world bit no issues, but the social skills they get from those extra few weeks are invaluable. But we know (and love) our breeder.

Edited to add: bite inhibition gets dealt with through this and by our other dogs in the home so it's just not a thing. House training has varied by individual.

 

[druid]

As title, what is the ideal age to get a puppy from a breeder? Is 8 weeks still the norm? What are the disadvantages of getting an older puppy?

We're happy to wait to get it right and put our name down for a puppy rather than needing to find one that is available so in an ideal world what should we be aiming for?

With a decent breeder it doesn't matter. 2 of my current litter are here to 15 weeks due to export restrictions. They've been to coffee shops, ring craft, pet stores, grocery store car park etc. A good breeder will make time to socialise them.

 

[druid]

Bit odd, so her friend’s litter hasn’t sold and she’s trying to help get rid? Interesting. Are they similar breeding? If I’d chosen my lines, I’d not be thrilled to be asked to swap. Has she overcommitted to buyers?

My first pair were 7 weeks, the breeder said mum was fed up of them (she was lush!) and I can see why, 10 of them pelting round, eating solid food, I can well imagine the poor bitch being fed up. Current pair were 11 weeks, I thought that was a bit old, I was worried about the socialisation window and why 2/9 well bred pups hadn’t been snapped up, dunno about Mitch, but Goose had a heart murmur which had disappeared by the time we got him. Best pair so far, imo.

The only issue was the 2nd set of vaccines, at 11 weeks, you’d want the puppies out for walks, plus we struggled to find the right one, didn’t want to re-start the jabs. However, we got there and were quite glad it took a while so they were a bit more grown when meeting other dogs and had had Bear/us reinforcing manners for a while.

No decent breeder would allow pups to be harrasing the bitch, by 3/4 weeks they should either a raised bed or area behind a puppy proof barrier to escape from their pups.

 

[CorvusCorax]

8-9 weeks. I don't like to see pups going at 7 weeks and I've even seen people offload at six, it's usually because they CBA/want to save money on feeding them.
I got my most recent bitch way too young for my liking, they said the bitch was fed up with ten pups also.
I see a lot of developmental holes in dogs which leave too early. And I'm talking dogs which are not just my own.

Anyone who imports will have to wait up to 15 weeks, I got what I consider to be my best dog second hand at 14 weeks, nothing unusual about it in the circles I move in. Lots of breeders run on dogs to decide which one they might or might not keep.

I think bite inhibition involves lots of factors, not just the age they leave.

 

[Squeak]

Thank you for the reassurance everyone. I won’t say a hard no to the 12 week old pups but will see what the breeder says.

The breeder has been in and out of hospital and hence everything has (understandably) ended up disorganised and I’m worried it seems that the pups haven’t had that much done with them. Potentially though if they’ve been with the rest of the litter and their other dogs then from what everyone is saying this might not actually matter too much.

I’m hopefully speaking to the breeder in the next couple of days so I’ll see what they say about it. It’s been really useful to get some opinions and experiences though, thank you.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Not before 8 weeks, older would depend on the breeder. I got my GSD at 4 months from a breeder who had run 2 on to pick for show, my girl was the reject . She was fully crate and house trained, had been socialised round towns and had been to puppy classes. If she had just been kept in a kennel with her litter mate until that age I may have reconsidered, certainly she would have been hard work.

 

[MurphysMinder]

With a decent breeder it doesn't matter. 2 of my current litter are here to 15 weeks due to export restrictions. They've been to coffee shops, ring craft, pet stores, grocery store car park etc. A good breeder will make time to socialise them.

One of my last litter went to Spain so I kept her to the same age. I did all normal socialisation with her, I kept her sister so it was hard work, 9 week old gsd pups are heavy to carry round places , but I wanted to make sure she was confident before she faced a long car and ferry journey.

 

[Moobli]

What is the breed, if you don’t mind me asking? I would want to know the reasons for the breeder pushing you towards a friend’s older litter. Why do they breed litters together? Are the pups a similar way bred? The whole set up is ringing alarm bells for me but that could just be because I don’t know the full circumstances.
Caveat emptor springs to mind, so do lots of research on both breeders and ask questions - are both litters parents as comprehensively health tested, how have the older pups been raised as opposed to the younger litter, has any early training/socialisation been done with the older litter etc etc. Have you met the parents of the younger litter already? Is it possible to meet the parents of the other litter too?

Having said all that, two of my “easiest” dogs with the best temperaments were bought as older pups/dogs from kennel situations, and one even bought unseen (but with the agreement to return if he didn’t suit me) so older pups shouldn’t always be ruled out.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

No decent breeder would allow pups to be harrasing the bitch, by 3/4 weeks they should either a raised bed or area behind a puppy proof barrier to escape from their pups.

Brig and Jake’s mum was not in with the pups, nor was Zak and Bear’s mum. Current pair‘s sire and dam were in crates when my OH went down. I remember when we went to collect the childhood dog, there were 3 different breed litters wandering the downstairs with the dams too, bit chaotic! Breeder is (was?) northern secretary for the breed.

 

[Squeak]

What is the breed, if you don’t mind me asking? I would want to know the reasons for the breeder pushing you towards a friend’s older litter. Why do they breed litters together? Are the pups a similar way bred? The whole set up is ringing alarm bells for me but that could just be because I don’t know the full circumstances.
Caveat emptor springs to mind, so do lots of research on both breeders and ask questions - are both litters parents as comprehensively health tested, how have the older pups been raised as opposed to the younger litter, has any early training/socialisation been done with the older litter etc etc. Have you met the parents of the younger litter already? Is it possible to meet the parents of the other litter too?

Having said all that, two of my “easiest” dogs with the best temperaments were bought as older pups/dogs from kennel situations, and one even bought unseen (but with the agreement to return if he didn’t suit me) so older pups shouldn’t always be ruled out.

I’ll pm you

 

[irishdraft]

My terrier was nearly 12 weeks when I picked him up. He was living with mum & a couple of siblings in outside kennels so hadn't been in a house but they were let out into the garden etc and all seemed happy well adjusted pups. I didn't have any trouble with him with house training etc .

 

[Squeak]

Thanks all it’s really reassuring to hear that older pups are ok and possibly even a bit easier. My friend had one at 9 weeks that hadn’t had much done with it by the breeder and it was always a really difficult dog and I was worried about how much of that was due to it’s early experiences. It’s sounding like it may have just been that dog though, which is very plausible.

I’m hoping I’ll hear from the breeder with more information in the next couple of days so hopefully they’ll either put my mind at rest about what they’ve had done with them or I’ll be back here with loads more questions!!

 

[AmyMay]

Good luck with whatever you decide.