How old was your puppy when you first met them?

[Celledora]

At what age is a puppy developed enough to show a hint of its character?

We have been wanting a dog for years and circumstances finally allow it (permanently working from home, child is old enough). We can’t adopt a rescue as my DS is primary age, so are getting a puppy.

We’ve been in contact with a dog owner for almost 12 months, her girl has now had a litter and we have ‘1st pick’!

I’ve researched all the usual things to check health and well-being wise and everything is good so far but rather than choose from the litter based on the sex/colour, want the one that is the best fit - ‘let the pup pick us’ as they say.

We had rescues in my family so were able to go on character/behaviour but I’m aware that’s not really possible with newborns! They’re only 2 weeks old now, we’re wondering when would be a good time to meet them and ‘pick’ the one we want.

Ideally we’d leave it to 8 weeks but I’m aware the owner has a few people interested and it’d be unrealistic to leave it to the last minute when the pups will be ready to be homed.

If anyone has advice on what week would be best to visit to get an idea of their characters, I’d be so grateful!

[ineedaholidaynow]

Don’t you normally pick up your puppy at 8 weeks.

[SingSoftKitty]

I first met ours at 8 weeks. He was the most timid little thing, came for a cuddle but was very scared. As soon as he saw his brother all over me, he gave my ear the tiniest little lick and nestled into my shoulder and started to fall asleep. Fell in love with him right then! 2 years on and he’s still the most adorable boy ever, loving, loyal and playful! Even now when he gets very tired he gives my ear a little lick to let me know it’s sleep time!

[MinnieJackson]

I met my dogs when they were 6 weeks old I think. We were only supposed to get the smallest one (8 pups from a lab cross) and 11 years later he's still my heart and soul. We got a phone call saying someone had backed out of having his sister so we took her too. It was weird, we were the first to collect and both puppies we're waiting for us at the gate.

[Celledora]

@ineedaholidaynow yes, we’ll be picking the puppy up at 8 weeks all being well. But there are 5 and we can pick first, so have been invited to go meet the litter before then, to see which one we like best. Then the owner knows which she can ‘reserve’ for other people who are happy to just pick now based on sex/appearance. Just trying to figure out when to go.

[Celledora]

@SingSoftKitty I’m so looking forward to having that beautiful dog-bond in my life again, and watching it develop for my son for the first time! I keep reading that we shouldn’t go for the timid pups (though I’m likely to!) in case they never come out of their shell. Not the case for you!

[Celledora]

@MinnieJackson kismet! Maybe I’ll see if the owner is happy to wait until 6 weeks to let us visit and choose. I may be overthinking things, just want to get it as right as possible!

[ineedaholidaynow]

The breeder will let you know I would have thought when you can first visit

[Happytentoes]

We picked ours at 4 weeks. Or rather he picked us. There were a few prospective owners there on the day. We saw all the puppies. Our wee man was quite shy of the whole crowd but very interested in us when we approached him.
We were there for about an hour, by which time I was in love.❤️

[Chasingsquirrels]

4 weeks, we went to look at the available batch and ended up choosing our boy.

[JazzTheDog]

We picked at 5 weeks, we also had first pick. I went hoping for a wee girl, but our wee boy melted my heart!

[mynameisnotmichaelcaine]

We are meeting ours on Saturday when we pick her up (good old Covid). We picked the smallest one of eight cocker pups because she has such a waggy tail. The breeder says they are all really similar!

[Chasingsquirrels]

@Chasingsquirrels

4 weeks, we went to look at the available batch and ended up choosing our boy.

That should say bitch not batch.

[Sprockerdilerock]

4 weeks. I still look back on the day we went to meet the litter and chose him so fondly! I sat on the floor with them and he crawled into my lap, did a big wee and then fell asleep!

[womaninatightspot]

5 weeks there were two available puppies left. A bitch and a boy, when she came to say hello her brother jumped climbed over her and attempted to sit on her head to get in front. She's a fab dog.

[mn81987]

I very much think that they pick you.

[reginafalange2020]

You can usually go in from 4 weeks to meet the litter. Let the puppy choose you 😍

I know you'll be mega excited to bring puppy home but Can I recommend you hold off until 9 or 10 weeks as I think it helps the puppy wean from the mum and you'll find it may help with the transition. Good luck finding your new pal!

[DoubleTweenQueen]

First met ours at 5wks. Her sisters were barelling around being minxes and she came over and plonked herself on my dad's lap, stick her snout in the crook of her elbow and fell asleep :) Her owner (friend of a friend, so really trusted him) kept an eye on temperaments over the next few weeks, and we saw them again a couple of weeks later - she still looked good for us, and we confirmed our choice then - and brought her home at 8.5wks.
She's 7 months now and still very loving and lovely character - not fearful, takes things in her stride

There are guides online for seeing puppies and how to handle gently to get an idea of temperament/health?

[DoubleTweenQueen]

*dd's, not dads

[alpinia]

We met our last pup very young, perhaps at 2 weeks, and again at 4/5 weeks but we didn't pick until 7 weeks when they were all up and about and you could see a bit more personality.

Unless you are choosing specifically for colour (which I wouldn't recommend anyway) there isn't much point very early. They are just little wiggly sausages

[Petalpup]

I chose ours at just under 3 weeks. Tbh they were so little there was nothing that really distinguished her from the rest so I just went on sex and colour!
I was actually really drawn to one of the boys but we wanted a girl.
Met her again at about 5 weeks and there still wasn’t much to go on personality wise although it made me laugh that she was the last one to leave the feeding bowl
Collected her at 8 weeks and couldn’t believe how much she’d grown in those few weeks-much more personality then.
We got lucky with her anyway as she’s great-everything we’d hoped for and more.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

I've chosen two.

One was about 5 weeks. She basically came to greet us and followed us around. She was a great fit for us.

The other, 3 weeks. She wasn't the colour we were looking for, but she was very confident, settled on DD's lap, and fell asleep. She's a fabulous dog and a great fit too.

[StillAliveish]

We picked ours at 6 weeks. Two had already been reserved. Our boy was the first to come over to us and kept following us around. The others were interested but not quite as keen so we went with him!

[Theoscargoesto]

I went to see a litter at about 5 weeks I think and had the choice of 2 that fit my criteria, sex, colour. One was given to me and just sat and shook, and I wondered what on earth I was doing there, was it ridiculous to get a dog and so on. Then the other was handed over and immediately was inquisitive and snuggly. She chose me, not the other way around!

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

We chose our boy at 4 weeks but he didnt come home with us till he was 9 weeks

[landofgiants]

9 weeks. I had a choice between 4 puppies but I found it overwhelming so I let the breeder (who I know) choose for me.