8weeks vs 10weeks
The breeder said she sends puppies home between 10 and 15 weeks. I am not certain but I believe the latter would be to further test personality and conformation as breeder plans to keep one or two from the litter.
Anyhow, I was talking to my boss (she is a behaviorist and does positive reinforcement training) and she said I should try to get the puppy at 8 weeks, or even sooner. She has seen a lot of puppies with modification issues lately (from breeders even) and suggests this to make sure puppy is properly socialized. That time period, 8-12 weeks, is very important.
I know it's great if puppy can stay as long as possible with mom and siblings for socialization and bite inhibition. I get to meet puppies at 6 weeks. I really like this breeder so far, but am worried if puppies are getting enough positive socialization. I am simply worried because I'm a worrier though, and this is my first puppy. I have met and worked with quite a few troublesome puppies, a lot of them need constant work and behavior modification for the rest of their lives. I don't want my puppy to be like this, as my current dog has issues that limit what I can do with him.
So anyhow, I was wondering what you all thought from experience??
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Is it a Pem? If so, breed club rules say they can't leave before 10 weeks. Remember, socialization with the litter is important too.
I would try to get the pup as close to 10 weeks as possible. If you wait til 15, you can't really socialize the pup the way YOU want to. I understand the breeder may keep some to evaluate, but unless she gets outside help it's not easy to start the pup properly.
You will also miss out on the window to teach recall while the pup still wants to come to you every chance he gets. By 15 weeks they are quite independent and can be getting argumentative.
Some breeders are keeping pups later and later. With the possible exception of tiny toy dogs, the behavioral science does not support this.
At 15 weeks, the breeder has shaped the pup's personality, and you have not. For some owners this might be ok. But if I want a puppy, I want more say in how it comes out. And if I want a dog shaped by someone else, I want an adult so I don't need to deal with puppy shenanigans.
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Permalink Reply by Grace on
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Thanks so much for the insight! I wasn't aware of the club standards, yes it is a pembroke.
I was quite happy with the 10 week mark, I just wasn't sure if I was missing something when my boss suggested 8 weeks. I know lately breeders have been keeping puppies up til 10 weeks and later.
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Well, it is one of those grey areas. Many breed clubs of larger breeds recommend 8 weeks. Indeed, Cardigan breeders frequently send home at 8. I don't think 10 is a magic number, but with the size of the pups it does allow them to grow a little. Theoretically, it gives them more time with the litter to learn bite inhibition. But if the litter is very rough and tumble, it can just give them more time to become little wild things and Jack had almost no bite inhibition when he came home at 10 weeks; his litter was a little rough.
But I would never bring home before 8 weeks, personally. I'm sure your behaviorist has her reasons, but the pups do need to stay with the litter for awhile. Not only do they get further socialization with the litter, but by that age mom starts giving them corrections more routinely, it gives the breeder time to start vaccinations so you don't have a pup with 0 vaccinations coming home, it gives the breeder more time to learn the personalities, and it gives the pups more chances to be introduced to novel experiences while stil having the support of the littermates.
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Here's a good article. I have read other sources that say that the window extends to 16 weeks if socialization is started at the normal time.
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_SocializationPup.php
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Thanks for the website, I will be sure to look over it! I have heard that at the max, socilization experiences can continue to 16 weeks. Which makes me a feel better. Otherwise it would be hectic to fit in so many experiences into the 2 weeks, should I get my puppy at 10.
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Permalink Reply by Sirius_Blaidd_Cardis on
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Oh... That makes sense. We have always had a TERRIBLE time with recall. We didn't get to take Blaidd home till he was 14 weeks (not the fault of the breeder though) so maybe that has something to do with it.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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10 weeks is a very good time. They get an extra 2 weeks and learn so much from mom and litter mates as well as people providing they are raised in the home and then will be socialized to many noises and movements around the house and hopefully people. I also would try to keep to as close as that as possible. I would take a pup that is older vs younger if I had to make a decision.
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Thanks for your insight! I believe the breeder will be having friends over to handle the puppies once they are a little older. She handles them at least daily, and her grand kids visit often as well.
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Permalink Reply by Linda on
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I have never had a corgi puppy so I would go with what those in the know say. I know when I got my Irish wolfhound they tested for termperment by 8 weeks for the breeder to know which pups were going to homes and which she wanted to keep. We brought Duffy home at 8 weeks and the giant breeds mature a whole lot slower.
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I figured that most breeders begin to know which puppies they may keep from early on. Especially the ones who have been doing it a long time. Although some dogs that would be perfect for the show ring, can eventually mature into a dog who really just wants to cuddle on the couch, not strut their stuff on the weekends. I suppose that is why she sometimes waits a little longer to release some puppies.
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I should add there are breeders I would gladly take an older puppy from, if they had one that didn't mature out for show and I'd already met the pup and knew its socialization history. But I would vet it like I'd vet an adult, since you no longer have very much chance to change the dog's approach to life. And if I lived in a bad parvovirus area I might want an older pup.
But I would not want to commit to a litter if the pups were being kept til 15 weeks.
There's the difference.
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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10 weeks IMO is the best age to get a puppy, unless the conditions in which the pups are being raised is so poor that they are getting NO socialization to people. I would not wait beyond 12 weeks. Temperament testing is generally done around 7 weeks. The delay benefits the breeder, but not you, so find a reasonable compromise.....
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