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The doghouse

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Original poster

how long can i leave my 7 week old puppy?

41 replies

Captainladder · 13/07/2017 09:42

Hello

New puppy, been with us a week, settling in really well. Sports day today... will be 2.5 hours... is it ok to leave him that long? he will be in a play pen with his crate open. I was hoping to tire him out this morning and then put him in while he was sleeping (can sleep a good few hours) but hes fallen asleep already.

school have said I can take him in a sling but are not wild about the idea.

so if i leave him in an hour and he is still asleep... will it feel like i've been gone for hours to him?!

kids will be very dissapointed if i dont show up...

WWYD?

OP posts:
BLUEsNewSpringWatch · 13/07/2017 10:07

Since he is of an age where he most definitely should not have been completely separated from his mother and siblings, there is no way I'd leave him alone. So sling but you'll have to be careful loads of DC don't crowd or frighten him.

LilCamper · 13/07/2017 10:18

What BLUE said.

AnUtterIdiot · 13/07/2017 10:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fannydaggerz · 13/07/2017 10:29

Why was he sold at 6 weeks? I'm guessing it wasn't a reputable breeder.

jellyandsoup · 13/07/2017 10:32

How come you got him at 6 weeks. I thoughts puppys are supposed to stay with their mother until 8 weeks?

roundtable · 13/07/2017 10:34

Sling - he's too young to leave

ImAFurchester · 13/07/2017 10:38

He's so tiny! Where did you get him from? He's way too young to be away from his mother already.

Crushsick · 13/07/2017 10:49
Hmm
Crushsick · 13/07/2017 10:50

Oops..

Hmm So he was away from the mother at 6 weeks? Where is he from?

GooodMythicalMorning · 13/07/2017 12:34

Usually puppies don't leave til 8 weeks at least. I wouldn't be leaving it long at all.

mummabubs · 13/07/2017 12:45

Gosh that's sad to read. As others have said pups should never leave their mums before 8 weeks, a breeder/seller saying they'd give me the puppy sooner would be enough for me not to buy from them (for future reference!) As for taking them to sports day that's another big no-no as they shouldn't be in public spaces until they've received their second lot of vaccinations at 10 weeks- do you definitely know that they've had their first health check before coming to you OP? Personally I would say definitely too young to leave on their own and even when they are old enough it's best to build up very slowly- so 15 mins to the shop for a few times and then gradually progress to an hour+. I'd never start by leaving any new dog for 2.5 hours xx

Hoppinggreen · 13/07/2017 12:48

Well firstly he should still be with his mum
Secondly no you can't take him to sports day for 2.5 hours in a sling, he's not a human baby!!
If you are even thinking about doing this I suggest you have a rethink about dog ownership - harsh I know but your life has just changed enormously and you need to accept that you can't do everything you didn't before ( or you can but it takes some arranging)

DixieNormas · 13/07/2017 12:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GooodMythicalMorning · 13/07/2017 12:51

Mine didn't have his first jabs til 6.5/7 weeks

Huffletuff · 13/07/2017 12:51

Why have you got a 7 week old puppy?

HarrietKettleWasHere · 13/07/2017 12:52

No no no. You have to get someone to sit with him if you can't, poor baby, he should still be with his mum and siblings.

He'd be frightened at sports day, everyone crowding round to have a look and all the noises he won't be used to yet.

Why on earth did you get a puppy at only six weeks old?!!

CalmItKermitt · 13/07/2017 12:53

Bloody back yard breeders 😡

InfiniteSheldon · 13/07/2017 12:55

Firstly I got my last puppy at 7 wks he was the runt of the litter and was pushed out by mum and not being fed. Let's not start abusing the OP.

I would use the sling he really can't be left that long sling will be fine just swop to carrying him/having him on your lap when you can and perhaps take a puppy pad to pop him down on if you get a chance to leave the field for a bit. I have a new puppy and a 2 year old ddog I take dpuppy out tucked in my cleavage or just carry her.

furlinedsheepskinjacket · 13/07/2017 12:57

just go for an hour to sports day but yes he is to young to even be with you

furlinedsheepskinjacket · 13/07/2017 12:59

too

TheFaerieQueene · 13/07/2017 13:01

Poor little pup. Too young to be away from mum. You can leave him for as long as you would leave a human baby.

CornflakeHomunculus · 13/07/2017 13:15

Firstly I got my last puppy at 7 wks he was the runt of the litter and was pushed out by mum and not being fed.

It's totally normal for weaning to be complete by seven weeks of age, at that age the bitch will be starting to discourage the pups from feeding. This is totally fine and doesn't mean she's pushing them out or rejecting them. Those are lines usually trotted out by either BYBs who want rid of the litter asap once they get too expensive/needy or people who haven't even done the most basic research and think puppies need milk right up until the day they leave.

Weaning isn't the issue here, puppies learn a great deal from staying with their dam and litter mates until eight weeks of age. Bite inhibition especially is something they start learning during that stage but leaving the litter too soon can have all sorts of consequences later on. Captain I'd recommend having a read up on the issues they can suffer so you can do everything possible to minimise them. This article is quite a good breakdown of a study that was done on the subject and makes a good starting point.

DDog2 came to us at about five weeks old (from a well meaning but utterly clueless rescue) and she's had difficulties which a likely to result from that. It took a long time to crack her play biting and she's still not terribly careful with her teeth even as an adult. She took a very long time to get house training (I'm not kidding, she was two years old before she was remotely reliable) and she still needs reminding to go out on a very regular basis. Thankfully she she's never had any fear related issues but she does develop obsessive behaviours (like tail chasing, spinning and circling) at the drop of a hat.

I agree with previous posters who are saying you really can't just leave him for two and a half hours at this age. It's also far from ideal to take him as he'll no doubt get lots of attention which could very well be overwhelming for him, especially as pups removed from their litter too soon can be quite fearful. Although it may seem like a great socialisation opportunity it's important to remember that socialisation is about quality and not quantity, even for puppies who have had the best possible start in life. It's far, far better for your puppy to have a few great experiences than loads where he's not entirely comfortable.

WaitrosePigeon · 13/07/2017 13:17

He shouldn't even be with you. He should be with his mother!

ToothTrauma · 13/07/2017 13:21

Christ, NO. You shouldn't even have him yet, he's far too young Angry

InfiniteSheldon · 13/07/2017 13:26

I've had dogs for over thirty years I'm well aware of the difference between weaning and being pushed out. My last puppy (now ddog) has a fanny keg and mum literally pushed him out. She had a big litter and couldn't cope. My point, made briefly, us that it is possible to get pups early!
Honestly the judgemental nastiness on MN these days means anyone posting for advice needs a flame retardant suit.