bring home timeframe

[Rosalyn Ancrum]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone give me at what age does a reputable breeder allow pups to go to their forever homes?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Never before 8 weeks of age. In fact, it's against the law in 25 states to let them go earlier. 

[Rosalyn Ancrum]

Thanks for the response.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If the breeder suggests anything earlier than the 8 weeks, you might want question how reputable the breeder is.  Puppies get an important part of their socialization that last week or two before they go to there forever homes. The mother and the other puppies teach limits in ways only dogs can do.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And most importantly, puppies learn bite inhibition from their mothers & littermates between 6-8 weeks, and that's crucial if you have kids, or even if you don't. The crappy breeders will tell you :"Oh the pups are weaned, they don;t need their mom any more", or something similar. Don't be fooled, they need to be with their mom and their littermates until at least 8 weeks. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Rosalyn, it occurs to me that you may not have seen our wonderful DK guideline on what to look for in a breeder. Please read through it and take it to heart. If the breeder you are considering cannot match up on every single item, as hard as it might be, walk away. There is nothing more heartwrenching than watching an animal you love suffer for years from some genetic health issue; trust me on that. And there is nothing harder than watching your child cry over the dog you must rehome because of some issue that just doesn;t work for your family. 
What To Look For In a Breeder