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Original poster

Picking up puppy at 7 weeks old?

16 replies

Romanarama · 03/10/2009 09:45

My breeder says we should pick up our new Goldie (not yet born!) at 7 wks. Is this normal or a bit young? The breeder doesn't have kids so I'm keen to socialise the pup with mine as early as possible, but obviously not too early.

Grateful also for wisdom as to how many hours new pup will be able to go in the crate without a pee at night.

OP posts:

spugs · 03/10/2009 10:24

The kennel club says no earlier then 8 weeks but some people say 7 is fine. Small breed pups like Chihuahuas and papillons sometimes stay with their mams till their older.
I think part of the reason they say 8 weeks is best is that this give the pup more time to play with its siblings and develop bite inhibition. It may mean that you need to teach pup when its playing whats to hard and whats acceptable.

I was talking to a lab owner the other day whos puppy had been crated over night with no break since they brought it home. I would have thought the pup would need at least one break maybe if you take it out at bed time then at silly o clock in the morning then again at 6am . Where are you planning on putting your pups crate? If its in your room/landing then you will hear when it needs to go out.
My dogs are toy breed so they couldnt hold their bladders for longer the 30 mins when i first got them. Took my oldest dog (11lbs at 7 months) till 5 months to go through the night and my tiny 3 lb dog is 4 months and has a cat flap as she cant hold it at all

minimu · 03/10/2009 10:35

7/8 weeks is recommended but I would do 8 weeks myself.
I would put a pup in the cage 11.00 or midnight and let out again at 6.00am. Most pups can do this. You may have to review depending your pup. A bit like DC all different!

preciouslillywhite · 03/10/2009 10:44

I was told 6-8 weeks.

Picked one pup up at 6, and he was very shy and shaky, and he has turned into dear, wise, lovely and placid creature.

Picked another up (same breeder and mum) at 8 weeks (end of 8 weeks, if I remember rightly)- she was sooooo confident by the time she got here that she went upstairs - she is now, at 2, a proper handful and very, ve-ee-ery bouncy.

Make of that what you will!

Original poster

Romanarama · 03/10/2009 10:54

Precious I'll go for 7 as happy medium then!

I will also try crating 11-6 (in the kitchen by the back door). I want to ignore the cries the first nights so the pup gets used to it straight away, but I don't want to be cruel either.

How long would you leave a little pup at home alone in the crate in the day? I'm thinking 2 hours - is that OK? It's only when I go to exercise classes or the supermarket. Everywhere else he can come too. Or I could do supermarket at the weekend when dh is here.

OP posts:

preciouslillywhite · 03/10/2009 11:05

Romanarama I did that with dp (in this post have reclassified dp to mean "dear puppy"!)2, and as far as I can remember she was fine..

with dp1, I put him in kitchen while I slept in living room with baby monitor

...remember he only cried on the first night, and then only a handful of times, but we thought it was because he was terrified of being in the new place/of us, so didn't cry cos he didn't want to attract our attention...

...Oh, and a couple of hours should be fine, I would think, after the first day.

HarlotOTara · 03/10/2009 18:04

I got my first Golden retriever at 7 weeks and second at 8 - no difference.

My first barked most of the first night but then was fine. With second I gave the breeder a blanket before bringing him home so the blanket smelt familiar. He settled in his crate really well with a little wimper at some point during the night. I ignored it and he was fine. I slept downstairs however just in case.

2 hours in a crate would be ok as long as he has wee-ed and poo-ed beforehand. I always fed mine in their crate and they never messed it at all.

Original poster

Romanarama · 03/10/2009 18:22

Thanks, sounds like I'm on the right sort of track. The breeder is giving me a special pet blanket , so I'll make sure it's in with the litter.

We are picking names. What do you think of "Winston"?

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HKT · 04/10/2009 15:59

All registered breeders have to hang on to puppies until they're 8 weeks by law - I think this is also to deter puppy farmers, who'll sell puppies as soon as they can possibly wean them - sometimes at 4.5 weeks old!
Some books recommend 6 weeks as the best age, particularly if they're going to live with another dog, but most breeders won't let them go this young.
You can get something called a D.A.P (dog appeasing pheremone) plug in from vets, to help a new puppy settle into the new home (this is what the blanket'll do - it'll smell familiar to the puppy) - we did this and had quiet nights from the word go with our lab.
7 weeks should be fine! Winston is a lovely name

tibni · 04/10/2009 20:20

We had our lab at 8 weeks (now a grand old 10 weeks) and he has been fine in his crate from 10.30pm - 6am. We have the issue that he refuses to wee after his 10pm supper - really doesn't like going out in the dark even though we have all the lights out and go out with him.

We have paper in the crate for night but he doesn't mess in his crate at all.

When we need to pop out in the day Alfie goes into his crate and sleeps.

Original poster

Romanarama · 05/10/2009 07:27

Thanks everyone. I live in Belgium HKT and the Kennel club equivalent here has a 7 week minimum rule.

Tibni - that's very encouraging

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Original poster

Romanarama · 09/10/2009 19:25

Hooray! He was born today!

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Slambang · 09/10/2009 19:45

Wait til 8 weeks please .
7 weeks is too young to be taken from mum. She is still teaching them important stuff about dog manners and they are learning loads from their siblings about dog interaction. Mum is still feeding them at 7 weeks too.

Even 8 weeks is quite young. Missing out on a week of your puppy at home is worth it for a lifetime of a better socialised, healthier dog.

Original poster

Romanarama · 09/10/2009 19:51

Slambang, I really don't mind at all, as long as it's the best thing for the health and happiness of the dog. I think I will get a second opinion from the trainer and a 3rd from the vet, and then decide. I'm taking my lead from the breeder - a serious breeder of 25 years experience - at the moment.

OP posts:

Slambang · 09/10/2009 20:02

excellent idea to go with your vet's opinion.

Congrats on your puppy's birth!

Make sure you take lots of photos when you first meet your pup. We forgot to take photos of our dog's mum so can't compare family resemblance now she's older.

LittleRedCar · 09/10/2009 20:10

It is not illegal to sell pups below 8 weeks - the Kennel Club themselves recommend pups are bought between 7 and 8 weeks:

here

There is a great deal of misinformation on this thread.

spugs · 09/10/2009 22:12

Congrats on the birth of your puppy

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