Right time to visit a new puppy

[Rzim]

Hoping to go and visit a potential new puppy in the next few weeks - the puppies are 4 weeks old now - is there a suitable time to visit the new pups ie at 5/6/7 weeks or is it dependent on how the mother/pups are doing etc? Thx x

We picked our puppy at 2 weeks old & visited her every week til we brought her home. When she had puppies we did the same with her pups x

We visited ours at 3 weeks, then again at 6. It really should be breeder led I think they will let you know.

I think we did it at six weeks, when their personalities were coming out. Collected at ten weeks I believe.

Many thx that's what I thought x

Most good breeders would not be keen for visitors before the puppies are 5 or 6 weeks. It can really stress the bitch out and isn’t kind.

6 weeks is perfect, you can handle them gently and see personalities. Ask the breeder to send videos if they’re happy to, as it’s lovely to have those when your dog is grown up.

I picked mine at 3 weeks, visited him every weekend. The breeder was happy with that, in fact she suggested lots of visits, if possible. We felt like we knew his personality a bit by the time he came home. Hopefully he recognised our smell a bit too and it was a tiny bit less stressful for him.

Oh we didn't touch ours at 3 weeks just for a sneaky peek.

Agree with this. TBH I would consider it a red flag if a breeder let that many strangers that close to the pups so early.

IME most good breeders don't even let you visit the puppy until they have decided they want you to have a dog and they've vetted you as much as possible. Otherwise they risk having dozens of people knowing where a vulnerable bitch and her puppies are who they then decide aren't the right people etc.

Thank you Devilhands - I think I have been approved by the breeder (well as much as I can be until she's actually met me!) x

I know this isn’t really much fun to hear when you’re so looking forward to a new puppy - and I don’t want to put a downer because there are great breeders out there - but it’s as important for you to meet HER as the other way around.

Nothing beats a face to face meeting. You can see where the dogs are raised, how they’re socialised, how they interact with the breeder and with each other.

she should also be asking you a lot of questions. Ones you find rather nosy.

I’ve met breeders with all the right paperwork and realised they’re pretty close to a puppy farm. Ones with a licence, on the breed club website, lots of Facebook reviews (I’m starting to see this as a bit of a red flag now).

You must meet her and hope she grills you like a a kipper.

The last time I got a puppy (in the 90s… all my dogs since have been rescues) we went round at 4 weeks, we were not allowed near the puppies or the bitch but could look just to see she was healthy, the breeder showed us another bitch she had kept from a previous litter from similar lines so we could see that the dogs she was breeder were true to type (we were looking for a dog we could show so this was important), and we got GRILLED, about our home, hours we were at home, experience with dogs, expectations etc etc.

Went back at 6 weeks, we had a puppy in mind but she asked us to come back and confirm we were sure as their personalities were coming out, we actually changed our mind at this stage.

Picked him up at 9 weeks, he was perfect. Dog of a lifetime! I still miss him and he died about 15 years ago.

Absolutely agree with you trixiebella - I am prepared for anything! Also if she thinks I'm not suitable so be it! X