Leaving a 10 week old pup with my trusted, professional dog walker for a weekend

[LimitIsUp]

In January I booked a weekend at centreparcs in a treehouse - at the time the teens were very glum and complaining there was not much to look forward to. I took a punt that it would be okay by the last weekend of May (and it looks like it will be). Since then the breeder of one of my dogs (a breed I particularly like) has bred her bitch which has had a litter of puppies. I was on the breeders waiting list for a pup and so she contacted me to see if I was keen. Naturally I am - I have been waiting a couple of years for her to breed a litter. Only problem is that the pup will be 8 weeks old and needs to be collected two weeks before we go on our Centreparcs weekend.

Ooops posted to soon - more in next post

So its not ideal to leave the pup at home only two weeks after he has arrived. However I am wondering if it will be traumatising to the pup or whether I am overthinking it. My dog walker would stay the weekend so the pup would remain in the same environment, with the three other dogs that I have which hopefully pup will have started to become more familiar with, and following the routine that I would have put in place

Is it reasonable?

Treehouse is costing us a lot of £'sssss. CP overs free cancellation for covid but not for new puppies

Staying in their own home with a trusted person! Totally fine!
Go and have fun.

Would the breeder not be willing to keep the pup until you get back? I think that would be less disruptive for him/her.

I think that sounds ok tbh. In many ways it’s the environment rather than the personal attachment to a particular person that will impact the pup the most at that stage as he will not really have had enough time to closely form that bond with you.

I wouldn’t want to go personally, but that’s because I’m soft and would miss the puppy rather than I thought it would do harm

Sounds fine, alternatively, would the breeder take the pup back for the weekend? Many would if it’s not too far and they may charge.

I would just ask to pick the pup up after the trip away!!

I've asked the breeder if I could collect at 10 weeks and she was not keen, similarly re having pup back for a weekend. She said she will need a break after helping to raise a large litter

I'm thinking its okay (although definitely not ideal). Pup will have a familiar environment and familiar dog pack.... (as familiar as you can get in two weeks). Just wish i hadn't booked and paid for the weekend!

In their own home environment with your other dogs I wouldn't say is an issue tbh. By then they'll have settled in your home and hopefully built up a relationship with your current dogs.

The pup will be ok I reckon it will be more bonded with the other dogs than you possibly anyway!

Sounds fine as long as the puppy stays in its' own environment.

We did this - went on holiday for 2 weeks when puppy was 10 weeks old. In laws moved in and looked after her. It was all fine. Remarkably lovely of them to do that - I think they'd forgotten what having a puppy was like.

Thanks for the feedback folks - reassuring that this seems okay