Young Pups!?

In many US States (hopefully the number of States will continue to grow) it is illegal to buy or sell a pup under 8 weeks of age (source) and some breeders here even wait until they are 12 weeks.

I keep seeing posts with people who have 5, 6 or 7 week old pups (and the one 4 week old pup Poor little girl) on this board. It breaks my heart that is appears to be common practice breeders/people to sell their pups young. The time they spend with their mom and siblings early on is essential and they should not be separated from them early except under extreme circumstances. How common is this in the UK and elsewhere? Why would anyone even want their pup so young?

It never used to be common, but it seems to be the 'thing' with some breeders - get em off their hands before they start costing money!

I hate seeing it. Seven weeks is ok, although 8 or more weeks is far better. Anything less than 7 weeks is very bad for the pup, though.

It is really painful to see how young pups are sent into the world on their own too young.. 7 weeks is the actual limit here, but don't think anyone are actually sold until 8 weeks old, in Sweden it's 8 weeks as well.

A few States here have 7 weeks as the law. I guess there isn't that big of a difference. If I were to get a 7 week old, I would definitely want the pup to be closer to 8 weeks than 6, though.

i dont think its actualy law but vets and common sense tell you not before AT LEAST 8 weeks but longer if possible. in exptreme circunstances is the only time they should be parted earlier.

in South Africa their is no law about when you are to pick up your puppy, but everyone works from the six week minimum time period, i was not aware that you had to wait longer, the owners of Rusty said i could pick him up last week but i insisted on the six week rule...... will rusty have any problems being with me from six weeks? yesterday he was tired and just slept the entire day, as well as during the day today, but he played for about an hour a while ago, sleeping now next to my feet, think tug of war took it out of him as well as his injections at the vet... got his shots as well today

He should be fine, but studies have shown that removing a pup from it's mother and litter mates too early may cause behavioral issues later in life.

You may have no problems at all, but statistics prove that it is more likely that there will be behavioural problems.

It's amazing what a pup can learn from its mother & siblings during the six to eight week period. They learn restraint, play manners even pain (from biting too hard in play)!

If you can socialise a 6 week old pup with other pups the same age (or very close) then you can avoid a lot of future problems that might otherwise occur, but it isn't easy to find vaccinated pups for them to play with.

its not ideal to take young from mother before eight weeks at least
in my opinion, BUT lol my old dog appollo i had from 4 weeks because the
people i got him from were using him and his brother n sisters as footballs
i took appollo and reportedd them to rspca thinking they would take the mother and pups into care and then i would return him to the litter, but
by the time they got there arses into gear over a week later and took the mother and other three pups they were dead in 24 hours appollo survived and lived to be 18 and half years old

ethan dark hair nephew james appollo was there constant shadow

ethans first day home from hospital never looked back he had a shadow for 10 years


this last pic of my baby two months before cancer took him

what a sad story but at least you saved one you can be proud of yourself for that and for giving that pup a great life in a loving home.

i was so angry at rspca i took appollo to show them state he was in
he was covered in sh*t soaked in urine because they were locked in a 4x4
shed most of day took them a week 4 lives wasted they said they have to go through correct channels so if i came across same situation i would take mother myself and all pups to our local rescue sod rspca

I think thats great what you did for appollo, gave him a loving home and a beautiful life.

As for the law, I got my pup at 8 weeks, and when I went to pick her up she was 1 of 2 puppys left and only saw her parents in the mornings. I suppose she is a blue staffy, and every pup had a "to-be" owner before they were even born! theres apparently only 3 people in the entire of australia who breed them. So my precious pup did send me broke! Shes done well but, adjusted into our home perfectly. I do wish she had a play mate though.

That is a very beautiful story about Appollo. Thank you for saving him from that horrible situation.

As I said "(puppies) should not be separated from them (mom and litter mates) early except under extreme circumstances." Behind every puppy that left the litter early and turned out fine there is a family that worked d**n hard to make sure that happened. Just like the person that survives a horrific car accident despite not wearing their safety belt, one (or a few) examples(s) of a puppy that left the parents/litter mates early and turned out fine does not mean that you should get your next puppy at 4 weeks (or ride around in a car without your safety belt).

Your right Caryll it didnt used to be common atall. I even kept a pup til 12 weeks last time becuase his new owner couldnt take him until after xmas! The last year I have seen tons of pups going way before they are supposed to, think its just because people can get their money quicker. I loved the story about Appollo, he was gorgeous!

I think its poor breeding and people who simply dont care who allow pups to leave before 8 weeks there is no excuse for me they are in it for the money