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Original poster

Best way to manage a 13 week old puppy if need to go away for a weekend?

32 replies

Meeko505 · 11/04/2023 17:29

Hi everyone, hope you can put me in the right direction. I've been planning on a puppy for sometime, and finally got onto the waiting list for a pup of the breed we want (samoyed). The puppies are due on the 10th May, and if I don't stick with this one we could be waiting a long time to get onto another waiting list for pups from a good breeder this side of the country.

HOWEVER, we have a cousin's wedding to attend in Ireland in August, around the 10th. Options would be, I guess: try and bring the puppy (not sure this would work very well), or try and find a very good pupsitter for a couple of nights with experience of young puppies. I think we could have all vaccinations done by 12 weeks if we're on the ball.

Do you think option 2 is OK for a puppy this young? Will they be OK? Will there be plenty of puppy sitters who know how to handle puppy stuff at this age? I would obviously shorten the trip as much as possible but because it's Ireland I think 2 nights is likely. I really do not want to have to put off this puppy for a wedding, but also don't to be a bad puppy owner!

OP posts:

QueenOfWeeds · 11/04/2023 17:32

Would the breeder take them back for a short stay?

Frenchfancy · 11/04/2023 17:32

Find a pup sitter. Make sure they have experience with young puppies.

Alternatively talk to the breeder about delaying the pickup date.

Option 1 is not feasible.

Original poster

Meeko505 · 11/04/2023 17:34

I can certainly ask the breeder if they will do that, though they're 3 hours drive away from us so a puppy sitter would be a ton more convenient. I also don't mind paying £££ for a good sitter if there is one locally with plenty of experience.

OP posts:

liveforsummer · 11/04/2023 17:35

Don't you have any friends/family who coins look after it. Any dog lover would jump at the chance of a puppy for a couple of days. Also the suggestion to ask the breeder to have it back - my friend did this

Original poster

Meeko505 · 11/04/2023 17:35

And yeah, I agree that bringing the puppy sounds totally infeasible - I just mentioned it because I wanted to point out that I didn't think it would work!

OP posts:

QuintanaRoo · 11/04/2023 17:37

Could you have someone come to your house? Either a friend, a friends older teenage trustworthy kid? Or maybe even a paid for trusted house sitter.

Original poster

Meeko505 · 11/04/2023 17:38

We live in Bristol and most of my close friends live in London, but it might be doable to ask someone either to stay for a weekend or take the puppy, yeah. I just felt like maybe it's a lot to ask!

OP posts:

Welshgirl10 · 11/04/2023 17:40

I don't think you can leave a 13 week old puppy to be honest unless its with someone totally experienced- they are a lot fun but also so much energy! All the house training to be done and interrupted sleep and zoomies- a bit much for just a friend I think!

twistyizzy · 11/04/2023 17:43

Ask the breeder to delay pick up, it it isn't fair on a very young pup to be left as it will be confusing. Sorry but you commit to a puppy then this means making some sacrifices in your own life for the first few months of bringing it home.

Mrsjayy · 11/04/2023 17:44

We are similar we have a thing a few weeks after pup comes home breeder has kindly agreed to puppy sit. Either ask them or book a puppy sitter now for then.

Raininspring · 11/04/2023 17:49

You need to be careful what they experience at this age…….

Puppies are cute for 5 minutes, then they piss everywhere, bite you (hard), get into things they shouldn’t, can’t be left etc, get you up through the night to toilet. They are not really that fun.

I’m wouldn’t trust anyone with my puppy at that age unless they were very experienced as you don’t want your puppy told off for accidents etc.
I’d get the puppy after the wedding or accept this isn’t the right time for a puppy

CatOnTheChair · 11/04/2023 17:56

Can puppy not stay with his Mum until you get back from Ireland?
Or just you go to the wedding, and your partner/husband (you say we) look after puppy.

Costacoffeeplease · 11/04/2023 18:03

I also wouldn’t leave a puppy that young with just anyone. They are into everything and need constant watching and consistent training eg house training. They are also a danger to themselves if they chew wires or get to food that’s dangerous for them like chocolate. I would delay picking it up from the breeder

tatteddear · 11/04/2023 18:05

I'm a dog sitter and I would take a puppy that age but I would be candid g you day care as well as its quite Labour intensive-you can't leave s dog that she for long to it's one devices (older dogs I can leave for an hour or two whilst I walk other ones for example-you can't really do that with a very young dog)

Namechange1345677 · 11/04/2023 18:08

Option one is impossible...

Option 2 you need an amazing sitter

Option 3 this dog isn't for you.

shutthewindownow · 11/04/2023 18:08

Meeko505 · 11/04/2023 17:38

We live in Bristol and most of my close friends live in London, but it might be doable to ask someone either to stay for a weekend or take the puppy, yeah. I just felt like maybe it's a lot to ask!

The puppy needs to stay in its own home or it will be way too confusing for it If it was me I wouldn't be going I think the puppy has to come first

Iwantthepenthouse · 11/04/2023 18:10

I would ask the breeder or someone really experienced to come and dog sit at your house.

I wouldn't send them to a sitter at that age and I wouldn't ask a random friend or relative.

I'm confused why people think delaying having the puppy by 3 months would be a realistic option.

twistyizzy · 11/04/2023 18:12

@Iwantthepenthouse probably because it is a politer way of saying that they either shouldn't go or shouldn't get a puppy! If they were thinking of the best interests of a puppy, and not their own needs and wants, then they wouldn't be contemplating leaving such a young puppy.

Marinapeppina · 11/04/2023 18:20

I would ask the breeder to look after them and factor in the long trip to your plans. Unless you have someone very trusted to look after them at home. I wouldn't trust a rando off the internet for a young puppy

Branleuse · 11/04/2023 18:27

Labracadabra · 11/04/2023 18:31

If you get the pup at 8 weeks then you'll have had her a month and she will be fine with an experienced dog sitter whilst you're away. I would have someone come and stay in your home, you can find one on Trusted Sitters website or also ask your local vets surgeries as quite often vet nurses will do pet sitting on the side.
Don't leave her at the breeders until after the trip as she'll be 12 weeks or more when you pick her up and much of the "golden window" for socialisation will be gone. You want to socialise her to your family, home and lifestyle not that of the breeder.
Fine for her to go back to the breeder for a few days if that works too.

liveforsummer · 11/04/2023 18:32

Iwantthepenthouse · 11/04/2023 18:10

I would ask the breeder or someone really experienced to come and dog sit at your house.

I wouldn't send them to a sitter at that age and I wouldn't ask a random friend or relative.

I'm confused why people think delaying having the puppy by 3 months would be a realistic option.

Why do you think it's 3 months? You don't collect puppies at birth. My friend breeds and lets the puppies go at minimum 10 weeks. She has keeps pups longer in these circumstances

Iwantthepenthouse · 11/04/2023 18:36

I see that I've misread the age of the puppies, sorry.

If they're collected at 8 weeks but preferably 10, you'll have only had the pup a few weeks so I think it's a hard no tbh.

It does make it less ridiculous to ask the breeder if you can collect later though, and maybe pay for care for the extra weeks.

Iwantthepenthouse · 11/04/2023 18:37

@liveforsummer yeah I misread the May 10th as the collection date.

Mindymomo · 11/04/2023 18:38

There’s no way you can take the puppy with you, we’ve looked at going to Ireland and it’s a ferry 5 hours and puppy/dog has to stay in car, which is the main reason we won’t go. I would ask breeder if you can collect puppy after your wedding.

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