is my doggy too little?

[bubbatd]

Julie... you've got a wonderful dog . She's yours and you love her. Your pup is not pure bred if she was mixed ...regardless, love her , spay her and have a great life with her!!

[BagelDog]

6 weeks is an okay age to take them from the mother though, any younger is too young. 8 is the best, but 6 isnt too young.

[Fran27]

I believe they learn important things from their mother between 6 and 8 weeks though.. I would trust the more experience people of the forums about it personally.

Tips was probably taken from his mom way before 7 weeks too though, but he's a rescue and he needed a home. I wish I knew the owners though so I could tell them what I think...

[blue]

From my experience I would not purposely get a pup under 8 weeks unless it was a rescue. Blue was alot of work and still is, he was taken from mom and the litter at or before 5 weeks.

Edit: Im only chiming in, so my info and expirience is posted, again.

[Fran27]

I'm worried sometimes with Tips too, but he doesn't seem to be more work than Boris, all things considered. And he's so food orientated that he will do anything for you once you have some, which helps.

[smkie]

6 weeks is not ok..there are a great many reasons for this..
health..the longer a pup nurses the healthier it is period
social..all that nipping and chewing on each other is normal..and this is the time for MOM dog to do her thing in teaching order and what is too hard and not to hard. They need this time to ruff and tumble and sleep in piles of the brothers and sisters..having the warmth of the litter to sustain them for the rest of their lives..
Mom needs to keep them at least until 8 weeks..it is best for her, in fact my old boss always kept one to train so mom could have her pup a little longer for her joy.
8 weeks is the absolute earliest a pup should ever but ever leave the litter.
Each week is critical.

[Athe]

I believe they learn important things from their mother between 6 and 8 weeks though.. I would trust the more experience people of the forums about it personally.

Fran27, The breeder of my Newfoundland dogs. She has large breed dogs (Newfoundland dogs), she takes the mother away from the pups at the age of 3 1/2 weeks. This is due to the mother being large and the breeder having to stay with the mom and pups to constantly supervise that the pups are not stepped on in error. the pups begin being weaned at about 3 weeks and mom is just brought back for nursing while they are being put on solid food at around 4 weeks. These pups turn out fantastic and are more focused on human companionship, they have no shyness or fears because they have been properly socilaized by the breeder. I also have a female Newf that was kept with the mother, she is a nervous wreck and it took me years to overcome her fearfulness etc. her problem is probably more genetic, but, the breeding was repeated and all the pups were taken away earlier than my fearful Newf and they turned out wonderful. BTW, my fearful Newf is a champion in USA and Canada.

When I was growing up all of our pups were given to us at the age of about 5 - 6 weeks. We took the pup's every were and they got the socialization they required, they were the best dogs a child could have owned. One being a Shepherd/Husky mix the other a Border Collie/Lab mix...they were trustworthy, and could handle themselves in any situation. The age we adopted them did not affect thier future manners. I have seen just as many freaky and fearful pups that were kept with the mother and other pups, perhaps more. And I see it A LOT more in inbred mixed breeds (purebred dogs) than I have seen in natural breeds or mixed breeds...although I have seen my fair share in the latter as well.
I believe a lot has to do with the new owner of the pup and how well they do socializing the pup. you can always find puppy play groups for your pup to join. At least in my area we have little groups for young pups after their first jab where there is an obedience instructer there just to over see every thing and help the puppy owners.
As far as genetic testing, I have seen the best dogs get all cert's and still produce pups that have HD and other genetic disorder. Genetic disease are caused by purebred breeding and even in clean tested lines you can still produce genetic disasters, I see it all the time. One litter of Bull Mastiff's from genetically clean lines (tested for every thing) were so bad off the breeder had to euthanize the whole litter. So, genetic testing is no garantee, and even a dog that clears at 2 years of age can still get HD or ED latter in life.
Many reputable breeders are saving themselves from refunds etc. by writing in the gaurantee "so long as the dog can still function as a pet".
Good luck with your new pup.

[bubbatd]

My pups would go to their homes the closest Saturday morning to their 8th week. From my " Bible"...." 5 to 7th week : weaning begins,curious,little sense of fear,participates in group activites and sexual play, dominance orderis beginning.This is an extremely important time in the puppy's life. It is the period when the pup is totally dependent on the envirment that you provide for him to stimulate and develophis genetic qualities." ...There's a whole chapter on this it's so important..........." Pups that don't go through these two periods of learning ( having been isolated or over protected) tend to become hyperactive adults." ..............." socialization reaches a peak by the 49th day........In other words,the amount of individual attention that a puppy has received by the 49th day can never be made upwithout a proportionately larger expenditure of time and effort " ......

[poeluvr]

Originally Posted by SandStone_Kennels

She calls herself a breeder?? With that i don't think so. I would'nt get the pup JUST because its cute. ALL puppies are cute. Even coatless pups are. Think about it. Really. You'll have problems in the future. Definately. Most probably with other dogs and strangers. Think about it

she doesnt call herself a breeder i did, didnt know what else to call her! she did by accident, i dont know her im not saying shes a good person im saying they were already born and needed a home, i could provide a good one. i also got the impreesion if i didnt take it it would be put in a pound! i did not get it because it was cute. i wanted a pom, the most, a jack russell was also high on my list. so i got him he needed a home. i didnt ask her to breed him, or tell her she should, i got what was already there.
i have him already since last i wrote hes being much better, he doesnt nip now, knows some commands and you dont even need a leash to walk him for 11 weeks old i say thats **** good!

[caseyolee]

I have bought 6 week old pups before. I don't do it regularly, but with Border Collies, the younger you get them the better they will turn out (from my experience). I PA is't illegal to sell/buy a pup under 7 weeks, but I buy mine from out of state. Each state is different. I myself don't sell pups till 8 weeks.