in the Dailymail today

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2029876/Taking-dogs-litter-young-makes-aggressive.html

That was interesting reading. I think that 8-9 weeks is a good age for adoption.

I would be interested to see if there was anything out there about potential benefits of leaving them with the litter even longer.

I agree. A puppy or kitten should not leave its mother and litter mates until it is AT LEAST 8 weeks old (unless there is a problem). They learn very important things from their mother at a young age.

It a very basic article without much information, and the headline is pretty stupid, of course all dogs which are taken from their mothers young are'nt going to be aggressive. It just makes it more likely they will have difficulty socialising! I just like that fact that this is a national newspaper and they are going some way to educating the public

But seriously, isn't it commen sense, and if its not, then you probably should think again before getting a dog from that breeder! (Unless reason too).

Thanks for sharing Xx

Some people advised me not to take Kayla at 8 weeks, im really glad I took her that young as we bonded so well and she seems to have learnt things a lot younger that adverage.

It may just be her but I put it down to being a part of our family from such a young age

mmmm i have experience here my first dog appollo was with me from 4 weeks old as the people who owned his parents were using the puppy's as footballs
so i got my little man out of there. he only ever showed ant aggression when protecting me or my neice's and nephews and when he arrived my own son. i never left him alone with the kids but he was big softee he lived to be 18 and half and would of lasted longer i'm sure if cancer hadn't got him im not advocating it but its not always the case.

CatStina wrote:I agree. A puppy or kitten should not leave its mother and litter mates until it is AT LEAST 8 weeks old (unless there is a problem). They learn very important things from their mother at a young age.

I got Bruno at 7 weeks 2 days but then Bruno Mum died when he was 5 weeks old.

I got my kitten at 11 weeks which i thought was late for a cat but then i read it was the norm.
Just worked out that Romeo was eight weeks when we got him. The litter was only availiable when the pups hit seven and a half weeks, he was the first to sell and pick of the litter as they say. Hes a very well adjusted, happy little dog and has never been scared of anything.

didnt see that. but im sure it not any of the resson....

i got stich beetwen 6or 8 week he is turned out fine....
and lelo at 12 weeks and she turned out fine....

Bruno311210 wrote:

CatStina wrote:I agree. A puppy or kitten should not leave its mother and litter mates until it is AT LEAST 8 weeks old (unless there is a problem). They learn very important things from their mother at a young age.

I got Bruno at 7 weeks 2 days but then Bruno Mum died when he was 5 weeks old.

Hence the "unless there is a problem."

Charlie's brothers and sisters had all died by the time he was a month old. He left his mum at 6 weeks and is honestly one of the most well adjusted, happy and well trained pups i've ever met. He's amazing around people and dogs and I really cant fault him. Yes, he missed out on alot when his brothers and sisters died, and maybe he should have stayed with his mum a couple more weeks, but I've worked hard to raise him well and he is a real credit to me. Imo, if you raise a dog in the right way, you'll be rewarded with a happy, well trained and well behaved dog, even if it has left the litter a little earlier than it should.

To all the people with examples of dogs who have turned out fine when they were taken too young:

That does not mean that every puppy taken too young is going to be ok! There are examples of people who survived car accidents without wearing their seat belts/safety belts, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't wear yours when you drive. Just like the few examples of puppies taken to young turning out ok doesn't mean that puppies should be taken earlier than 8 weeks if it can be helped.

I agree. Ideally, a pup should stay with mum and litter mates until 8 weeks at least. But my point was that leaving the litter early does not mean that the dog will be guaranteed to be aggressive. Charlie had no siblings from the age of 4 weeks, and I was initially worried about that, and I worked hard with him cos of that, and he is the best dog I could ever have asked for. I'm not saying that it isn't a possibility that a dog will turn aggressive if it leaves the litter early, i'm just saying that it's not guaranteed either and I believe that how the pup is raised has more to do with how it turns out than whether or not it left the litter a week or 2 early.