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Original poster

Is it safe to bring my puppy home at 6 weeks?

45 replies

ChelseaH13 · 29/10/2020 09:52

I've adopted a puppy who was going to be rehomed at 8 weeks after vaccination but now the owner wants them rehomed at 6 weeks without their jabs.

Does anyone know if it's safe to rehome them this early without having their vaccinations yet? I have no other pets but have had my sisters vaccinated dogs in the house so I don't know if this would be dangerous for a new puppy.

I've been trying to contact vets in my area to ask too but I'm not getting through. 😩

OP posts:
CodenameVillanelle · 29/10/2020 09:54

Why are you buying a puppy from an exploitative puppy farmer?

nimbuscloud · 29/10/2020 09:56

Why does the owner want the pup gone at 6 weeks? Have you handed over any money?

AriettyHomily · 29/10/2020 09:56

What do you mean adopted? You mean buying from a puppy farm?

You can't take a puppy at 6 weeks.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 29/10/2020 09:56

No, six weeks is too early and to be brutally honest I’d consider this a red flag. No reputable breeder would let a puppy leave its mother before eight weeks, it’s too soon.

SoThisisMe · 29/10/2020 09:57

If you're in the UK the legal minimum is 8 weeks. No good breeder would deliberately remove puppies from the mother at 6 weeks.

Thisisnotnormal69 · 29/10/2020 09:58

Absolutely not but then the owner is obviously a wrong’un anyway. Have you seen the puppy with its mother?

vodkaredbullgirl · 29/10/2020 09:59

Red flag, definately not at 6 wks old.

Original poster
ChelseaH13 · 29/10/2020 09:59

For clarification the puppy isn't from a breeder, she's from someone I know whose dogs have had a litter of puppies. No money has been handed over.

OP posts:
EmmaGellerGreen · 29/10/2020 10:00

Definitely not. This is not a reputable breeder.

Original poster
ChelseaH13 · 29/10/2020 10:04

Hey,

Do you have a source to say that it's a legal requirement? All the information I've found online has been inconsistent

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 29/10/2020 10:04

It’s better for the puppy to be with mother and siblings for longer than 6 weeks, they learn from mum how to behave, so 8/9 weeks is better. The breeder should do first vaccinations, worming and micro chipping before you collect puppy, if not get a vets appointment asap after you bring puppy home.

SoThisisMe · 29/10/2020 10:06

It's still wrong, and illegal in the UK. How can you not see that, did you not do any research at all? Why are you more concerned about vaccinations than you are about the puppy being taken from it's mother too soon? Jabs can be done later but being taken at 6 weeks will likely have a lasting effect. Were the parents health tested or is this one of those 'let her have one litter, but I have no clue what I am doing' situations?

BeepBoopBop · 29/10/2020 10:06

Could you explain nicely to her that it should be 8 weeks? If it was an accidental mating and she has found herself with puppies she had no intention of breeding, she may just not know. Also, the cost of the jabs will be considerable. Are you paying for the pup and the inoculations?
If she is adamant, make a vets appointment and drive him straight there for a check up and first inoculation, but you should really keep him away from the other dogs.

wetotter · 29/10/2020 10:08

So your breeder is an unregistered one, who has bred from the family pet and now wants to sell the puppies two weeks before the recommended minimum age at which they should be leaving their mothers?

I do not think this is remotely in the puppies' best interests.

www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/microchipping/dogs

Puppies should not be sold before 8 weeks and must be microchipped by that point.

SoddingWeddings · 29/10/2020 10:11

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/486/contents/made
Unfortunately its only applicable to licensed breeders however I'd call her bluff on this.

Schedule 5, para 5 says:
"No puppy aged under 8 weeks may be sold or permanently separated from its biological mother."

sm40 · 29/10/2020 10:13

The vaccination bit is ok. Vets prefer it as your own vet can give the same batch/make to the dog. But it's meant to be 8 or more weeks. Puppy socialisation. I met a dog in the park and the owner admitted he had had issues and she got him at 6 weeks. I'm getting an 8 week old pup this weekend so have been reading up a lot.

Beagledbybeagle · 29/10/2020 10:13

Poor puppies, i hope she is going to get her dog spayed now. What is wrong with people Angry.

Original poster
ChelseaH13 · 29/10/2020 10:14

@BeepBoopBop

Could you explain nicely to her that it should be 8 weeks? If it was an accidental mating and she has found herself with puppies she had no intention of breeding, she may just not know. Also, the cost of the jabs will be considerable. Are you paying for the pup and the inoculations? If she is adamant, make a vets appointment and drive him straight there for a check up and first inoculation, but you should really keep him away from the other dogs.
Yes it was an accidental mating and I know the owner, it's not an exploitation of puppies as some people are suggesting here. She was going to have people collect the puppies after vaccination but she seems to think 6 weeks is OK. Some sources say this is fine but others don't! The puppies aren't feeding from their mum anymore but I still feel uncertain. Just hoping I can contact the vets ASAP for some concrete information.
OP posts:
ShalomToYouJackie · 29/10/2020 10:14

Poor puppy :( ps I wouldn't consider buying a puppy from a dogs litter adopting.

CooperLooper · 29/10/2020 10:16

Jabs and micro chipping side (which are absolutely crucial) those last 2 weeks of puppy being with mum are so important. They will learn social skills, mouthing/biting inhibition to an extent, more toilet training etc.

This would be a huge red flag for me. Has your friend done any preparation for puppies? Will they be health checked and has mum/dad been health screened? Does she know how to support weaning them properly from 4 weeks onwards? Are they being handled and socialised well enough?

Sounds like she can't be arsed and just wants to make some quick cash to me which is just appalling. Shame on them.

And yes I echo what everybody else says. It's illegal to sell puppies before 8 weeks and without being microchipped.

VimFuego101 · 29/10/2020 10:17

I wonder if she's found out there's a health issue with the puppy and she wants it gone ASAP to avoid vets bills. I'd run a mile from this situation.

CooperLooper · 29/10/2020 10:17

She clearly doesn't want to pay for the vaccinations!

HermioneKipper · 29/10/2020 10:18

This isn’t adopting. Have you called it that to make yourself sound better?

Poor little puppy being taken away from its mum so young.

Why don’t these people spay their dogs? The world is filled with far too many stupid people

SoThisisMe · 29/10/2020 10:18

It's not fine. Even if they are weaned It's important that they stay with their littermates. A quick Google will tell you that. Every answer on here has told you that. Do you honestly think a Vet is going to disagree with legal guidelines?

MiddleClassProblem · 29/10/2020 10:21

What is her reasoning? If she is giving you the puppy for free is it about paying for the vacs?