Time away from new pup - how damaging will it be?

[PawprintsOnMyHeart]

I have a puppy dilemma, please help!

I recently registered with a breed specialist rescue having lost my beloved boy almost a year ago. I told them I wanted a young dog, just to allow me to enjoy as long as possible with him.

I have been planning a trip away - a working holiday - for some time, and told the rescue that I wouldn't start looking for a dog until my trip was over. But then they rescued a pregnant bitch... and offered one of the pups to me.... a new puppy from the rescue is like gold dust, something I hadn't dared hope for.

The pups will be 8 weeks i.e. ready to rehome about 2 weeks before I go away. My best friend, and my sister, have offered to take the pup while I'm away. Best friend has a young pup and other dogs herself, and takes it all in her stride so he would get loads of good experiences with her. Sister has 2 kids who would be a big part of the dog's life growing up (we're very close) so it would have an opportunity to bond with them. So I've no doubt that it would be well looked after and would get lots of positive socialising and bonding with my wider family.

BUT, I'm worried that it's a lot of disruption in a young pup's life - to leave its Mum, live with me for 2 weeks, then live with BF/Sister for 3 before coming back to me. I've been warned it could seriously impact my relationship with the dog. The last thing I want to do is make life difficult for him.

On the other hand - he'll be just 13 weeks when I return home. If I were offered a 13 wk old pup with unknown history, I wouldn't hesitate - so at least I'll know this pup will have had a good history and no issues before I come back into his life.

My heart is ruling my head at the moment - I desperately want him, I would love him to pieces for his whole life... is 3 weeks away early on such a bad thing?

I wouldn't worry about it having any impact on your relationship with the puppy. As you say, you'd be happy to take on a 13 week old and wouldn't think twice about your relationship with them not being as strong.

I'd be more concerned about consistency of training and being confident that the appropriate socialisation, etc. would be done but if you trust them to do that I don't see why it would be an issue.

I probably wouldn't send the pup to your friend if she also has a puppy. Three weeks isn't very long in the grand scheme of things but that is a very formative period in a puppy's development and it's not really ideal for them to still be with similarly aged dogs (even if there are several months or more between them) during it.

Thank you for replying. I've talked to my vet, and she said similar things - that it shouldn't be an issue of my relationship with the pup, but the most important concern would be consistency of training. On the plus side, she said it would be good for it to get loads of socialisation, new experiences, new people, other animals etc. I'll ask her opinion on being around the pup, that's a good point.

I'm still swaying between thinking I'll go for it, and letting the pup go to someone who can give him a more stable first few weeks.

It's looking like the rescue are still not 100% sure but they're leaning towards letting me have the pup.

In terms of consistency of training etc, what are the basics that I should ensure are kept the same between being with me and being with my friend? Any tips?

It's a while since I had a pup, and I found him so easy and just trained him instinctively. He was never a problem. But i've forgotten what they'll be like aged 10-14 weeks!