Advice please: does it make any difference…

[Hawknotdove]

… whether I pick our puppy up at 10.5weeks or 11.5weeks? The later date would be more practical… but I keep reading about the socialisation window closing at 12 weeks (though some sources say 16?) and don’t want to leave it too late for her to be exposed to our children / household?! Will the extra week make any difference???

She’s a border terrier, in case that’s relevant.

The breeders are an older couple. Busy household with other dogs and visitors (including some children). Pups living in kitchen.

It makes no difference.

But I wouldn’t be buying from someone who has pups that young in the kitchen - they should have a designated space for pups and mum so they can get rest etc. plus it’s just unhygienic.

Other dogs? Other dog breeds or do you mean grandma and dad etc?

Conscious that’s not the point of your thread but my spidey senses have tingled

very common for dogs to live in the kitchen.

Not puppies that young. At least not from a good breeder. They should have somewhere separate so mum isn’t bothered by comings and goings etc.

OP doesn't say how old the puppies are - and IME lots of litters are brought up in the kitchen and do just fine.

As for age at collection, our JRT puppy came from a litter (reared in a space just off a farm kitchen) at 12 weeks and was an utter star with the DC and grew into a well-socialised and happy dog.

I picked up our border terrier at 10 weeks. They were in the conservatory and came and went through the sitting room so they were accustomed to the noise and bustle of family life with children.

The time for all the experiences is all the way up to 16 weeks - the only one I got wrong was meeting a horse on a very narrow path when he was about 20 weeks so he's a bit scared of them - otherwise he is PERFECT.

Good luck OP, I'd love a 2nd border and I'm envious of you getting a puppy!

We got our beagle at 12 weeks and honestly I think it was better - he was mostly toilet trained, used to the car, the vets, wearing a collar and being handled etc.

But a lot of that's down to having a good breeder rather than his age specifically.

Sorry, not directly in the kitchen! They are in a small gated space next to it at the moment. They will have access to a larger space at the non-working end of the kitchen area as they grow. (Im very happy with the breeder, who I’ve vetted thoroughly). I mentioned the kitchen as I was trying to convey that they are in a home and getting used to some sights/smells and visitors.

The other dogs are two family pets of different breeds, so they are getting some (limited) familiarity with other dogs.

I don’t think the breeder will take them out in the car, for example, though and I don’t want to leave it too late for these experiences.

Thanks for the replies so far re getting your pups at 12 weeks. Reassuring!

Phew! Had me worried, OP! Last time someone posted about puppies in a kitchen it was a puppy farmer who had several litters on the go at once and basically no space for them!

But yes, anything is fine really! People get very het up on ‘8 week’ but tbh it makes little difference

How many pups and what ages would the others be leaving?

I picked up my border at 10 weeks but one of her sisters was picked up at 13 weeks as the new owners were away. It was fine, didn't make any difference to bonding, socialisation etc.

Borders are amazing dogs, I would love another if I could get away with taking two to work!!

It’s not you and the children it needs to be socialised with - it’s the outside world, so it depends a bit on what the breeder does to socialise them.

Why are they the options anyway? I know some toy and giant breed people keep them a bit longer, but 8 weeks is normal with most breeds.

my terrier was 9 weeks,
she is a fantastic dog, loves people

Will it make any difference to the vaccination schedule? As in, will puppy have an extra week before being able to go out properly?

I got my puppy at nearly 11 weeks from a rescue centre. She's a perfect dog at home, but dog fixated when out to the point that I consider it a problem, and I'll always wonder if it's because she had to wait so long to go on walks. Though you have a terrier so will be able to carry it about pretty easily. I had a deer masquerading as a dog who could be carried for two minutes max.

i know of two people who got their puppies at 4 months. due to timing.
no problems whatsoever

I have giant pups. My last pup was brought home at 11 weeks. She had been in the van. She had met kids and was used to all household noises. The breeder works hard to socialise the pups. Never had a problem.

We picked ours up a little later as she became available when her original buyers pulled out. The breeder had begun socialisation with her though so she didn’t miss anything. It was fine. Really the critical window is touch, people, household noises, smells, sights and maybe some short car trips. The bigger stuff comes later.

She is a border, nearly 2 and although still has some growing up to do is a wonderful dog with people and fine with other dogs. They can be very difficult puppies and do need understanding to avoid common problems like reactivity and building a good bond before independence sets in.