Did we get Huff too early?

[Taylor & Huff]

With all the new puppies here on dk i was just thinking about when we got Huff (8 weeks old) many people here got their doodle(s) at 9 weeks - 11 weeks.

We called his breeder and they said we could pick him up the next week when the pups turned 8 weeks.

We actually picked him up the day after he turned 8 weeks. I relize that some peoples doodles are fixed before they get them (Huff wasn't).

 

I could barely wait a week to get him I was so exited. I have no idea how any of you could wait up to 11 months to get a puppy that wasn't even born when you put down the deposite.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

We got Gracie Doodle at 6 weeks old.  She was completely weaned and had been socialized by 3 small children at the breeders.  I know everyone says that 6 weeks is too young, but in our case it worked out just fine.  The bonding time was wonderful and it really shows now after 4 years.  Gracie has never had any socialization problems, is not an Alpha dog, is very gentle, outgoing and friendly, loving and has no fears, anxiety or hang ups whatsoever!  We spayed at 4 months.  She is one HAPPY Doodle!

[Taylor & Huff]

We spayed Huff at 6 months.

[Taylor & Huff]

I mean neutered sorry haha:)

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

I got Coco at 9 weeks. She was the last of her litter because I was the only one out of state waiting for her to be delivered!! I could have gotten her the week before if I lived closed.

[Taylor & Huff]

We were gonna get a puppy out of state but we figured it would be too much hassel.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

We got Myla at 8 weeks. I believe that is the youngest that most recommend. Huff is fine!!!

[cheryl & oliver]

We got Oliver at 8 weeks, and he was fine, we got Renny at 12 weeks and he was fine too, so I don't know, but I agree with Adina, before 8 weeks is too early...that is what I have always been told, but I know people that got them earlier and had no problems, and then my good friend got her puppy at 6 weeks and had all kinds of behavioral problems, nipping, growling and social problems...

[Adina P]

It seems the potential for problems is increased when pups are removed from littermates at 6 weeks.  I'm guessing a great pup with a great temperament and great genetic potential would do fine regardless.  But when things are iffy (which you can't know in advance) then that 'wait till 8 weeks' advice is more important.  Just like people get lucky with GREAT and healthy dogs from puppy mills...the same thing can happen to someone who basically raised a single pup from birth after weaning.  Most moms are done weaning by 5 weeks or so...so it's not about them not getting milk or sustenance.  And a lot of moms basically ignore their pups after weaning. But it is more about that daily interaction with littermates and a little bit with mom that helps them learn dog-dog appropriate behaviors.  At least that is my understanding.  The one dog I knew that was obtained at 5 weeks was TERRIFIED of most other dogs--at least any dog that ever wanted to meet her.  It was ugly when she met Rosco and Thule.  Hid the whole time and she was 4-6 months old by then.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper was just over 9 weeks. id say 8 weeks is fine, but i would not get a puppy younger than 8 weeks. i have seen many puppies in the pet food store I work at who have major issues who were homed at a younger age. i think it is very irresponsible of the breeder to let them go early (I get the impression these are the "breeders" who are just trying to make some quick cash. The most common reason Im told by customers is that the Mom was no longer interested. I believe that pups still have lots to learn in a litter even if Mom is not interested anymore

[Richard Crowe]

I picked up Holly from the breeder in Texas at 7-weeks old.  We decided at 7-weeks because I flew to Texas from California to pick her up and she would have been too large to fit beneath the seat in the plane at 8 weeks.  Holly was 7 3/4 pounds when we got her and she gained anywhere from a half to a full pound a day for the first couple of weeks.  I would estimate that she whould have been pretty close to fifteen pounds at eight weeks - too big to fly in the cabin and we would not have shipped her in cargo....

 

We have had absolutely no problems with Holly.  Of course, she transferred from her own litter to a home where there were several dogs of her own size, our Maltese.  Holly still thinks that she is a seven pound Maltese and will happily jump into my lap when I am on the couch.

 

This is Holly soon after we got her with Dandy who is still her best friend. Dandy was five pounds and three years old when we got Holly.  Holly also had a cat to play with.  I will admit, however  that Holly loved Felix more than the cat loved the pesky pyppy!

Typical behavior of a Maltese Mom after the pups develop teeth...  Sweetie would climb into the puppy pen to feed her pair and then decide to leave when those sharp puppy teeth started clamping down...

 However, Holly nurtures the pups the Maltese pups now after their mom's no longer pay attention to them

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Mitzi was 6 months old, had been kept in a small crate with her sister.  She really was a sweet dog considering the lack of training, and socializing.  We have had minor issues with her with mouthing and not sharing as well as we would like.  She does get along well with other dogs but I still see a difference in her and the other dogs we got at 8 weeks of age.  I would prefer an 8 week old pup to train as it grew if there were a choice, but she was meant to be with us and we wouldn't have it any other way; even Sgt Pepper has some shyness problems, again, he was a year old when he joined our family, but he had several siblings he was with during that time. 

 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

8 weeks is common practice, I think it's okay, we got Daisy at 9 weeks but I don't think she was still with her mother and all her sibs were gone so really what was the point?