Six week old puppy

[EmmaGellerGreen]

A usually very sensible friend has just bought a pedigree puppy at just six weeks old. I’m really struggling to think of any way that this can be ok and that it’s not puppy farmed. Can anyone rationalise this? So sad for the poor little mite.

Oh crap. Has it seen a vet? I would guess a puppy farmer who wants the cash without vaccinating and microchipping. Poor bloody animal. Maybe ask what she’s feeding it?

Good points. I will ask. Also insurance. She’s a gorgeous little creature but so tiny. 😢

Definitely 6 weeks? KC reg? (Should have DOB on)

No reputable breeder would sell a puppy under 8 weeks.

She said 6 weeks and knows it’s a bit early but the breeder said it was ok. And of course it’s not a reputable breeder.

Well then...
Puppy farmers don't give a shit about dogs. Didn't you know that?

Could be others in the litter have died and they are looking to maximise profits.

No decent breeder is going to be letting their pups go to their new homes at six weeks old so the pup is going to be from a puppy farm/BYB type situation.

I'd point your friend towards the Puppy Plan it details the developmental stages of puppies from birth onwards and lists what should be done during each by either the breeder or new owner.

Two weeks is quite a long time for such a young animal and there's a lot they would usually learn during that period whilst they're still with their mum and siblings. It's no unusual for pups separated early (i.e. before eight weeks) to have behavioural issues. This article is about a study into the prevalence and types of problems such puppies have compared to those who spent the optimum time with their mum/littermates. If your friend knows what issues are more likely to arise she can do more to avoid or at least minimise them.

One of my dogs came to me at about five weeks old (from a well meaning but ultimately rather out of their depth rescue) and she's had quite a few issues which could potentially be put down to leaving her mum too young. In her case the big problems were bite inhibition, toilet training and a tendency to develop obsessive behaviours. She was my first puppy (plus only my second dog) and I definitely wish I'd been forewarned about the issues she was at risk of developing so I could have done more about it at the time.

Not OK and the puppy may well have problems because of it.

I have a dog that came to me as a puppy at 6 weeks (rescue situation, not by choice) and luckily he’s OK but it took quite a bit of work. I had him with me a lot at first, even sleeping in bed with me to try to avoid separation anxiety problems and I had three other dogs, one of which took him under his wing which also helped a lot.

The review of the article above is incorrect. The original article only found issues with the shop bought puppies not all the puppies.

Most puppies will not have much to do with their mother after the age of 5 weeks.

I would always pick up any puppy I had at 7 weeks of age so the outlook for this puppy is not all doom and gloom but the they way it was obtained is worrying eg no research into breeder etc

The problems are not due to leaving the mother at 6 weeks but what happened to them before the 6 weeks.

Thank you. Little I can do but encourage a visit to the vet and lots of tlc for her.