Optimum time for a puppy to go home...

Ocean's Edge

New member
I've always been curious - the potential difficulties of sending a pup to a home too early have been well researched, documented, understood, and discussed, but I've not in my studies seen any information about when it's 'late' to send a puppy to his family.

Is there any advantage / disadvantages to say keeping a puppy past the 10 or 12 weeks. Would keeping a puppy till he's 4, 5 or 6 months old affect his bonding with his family? Would it be advantageous as a breeder to keep the puppy ... oh say till he/she's finished her first "Puppy Obedience Classes"?

No particular reason for asking - I'm really just vary curious about this developmental stage - and I've not seen a lot of information on keeping a puppy longer.
 

ardeagold

New member
I don't know about Newfs, but I do know that often field retrievers go to their homes "started" if they're going to a working/hunt test/competitive home. Started means they've begun training and have reached a certain level...which could be varying stages depending on the age of the dog.

I don't think there's a "too late". Dogs adjust well to new situations and experiences. As long as they're going to a good, loving home that makes them a part of the family, they can be "rehomed" at any age.

Often breeders keep a potential show puppy for several months (or longer) to see how it will "grow out", and if it appears that for some reason it turns out that the pup isn't right for the ring, the breeder will place that puppy.
 
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Sun Valley

New member
I have to agree with Donna....The only disadvantage of taking an older puppy would be if the puppy were kept/raised only in a kennel run, never brought into a house, taught basic manners or socialized at all.

I have found most Newfs at any age adapt quite well.

Lou Ann
 

R Taft

Active member
If you are into dog training, a lot of the new studies for dogs in general suggest eight weeks and for the new owners to socialize the puppy really well from then on. But some Breeders make the same effort and it would make no difference as to who does it. If your puppy came from a place where they were just held in a kennel environment with very little other human interaction, such as different types of people(old, small, young, loud and such) and environments, environmental noises and different animals. This would make a difference. It is very important to do all of this before the age of 14-16 weeks. The new studies are now thinking the early weeks are very critical.
I am very lucky in that my Breeder makes a great effort from week one and even more so after four weeks. So I think if she kept her puppies longer, it would not matter. So in my eyes it is dependent on how much time is put into the puppy.
 
Our pups are always at least 10 weeks, and we've placed many that didnt work out for our breeding program at 6 mos plus. However, everyone is extremely well socialized from birth. Our people love the 6 mos plus pups since they are housebroke and trained already.
 

Ocean's Edge

New member
That's kind of what I was thinking... that an engaged breeder/trainer would / could give em a bit of a head start making sure they had some basic manners and training before the 'leave the nest'. Making it a little easier on the new Mom and Pop, and making sure everyone has the best start possible.

But I wasn't sure if there wasn't some developmental / critical bonding time issue I might be missing.
 

ardeagold

New member
Well...service dog agencies want the puppy really young. I believe between 6-7 weeks of age. They supposedly imprint on humans more the younger they are.

I also know that some sporting dog people feel that younger is better, for the same reason. They prefer around 5 - 6 weeks (yet the youngest I've seen re: state laws, is 6 weeks), or as soon as the puppy is weaned and Mom isn't particularly interested in them anymore. They want the dog to learn from humans, not other dogs.

The problem is that if you're doing heart clearances, that can't be done until AFTER 8 weeks of age because if there is SAS, that ridge doesn't form until then. Later is better for that.

So...I guess it depends on what, exactly, your plans are for the dog, and the willingness to for forgo any early genetic health issue concerns.
 

janices

New member
Most state laws are 8 weeks before can be sold.

From science from birth to 16 weeks contains most of major critical periods in puppy development. After 16 weeks it's building on what learned during the 16 weeks or overcoming what didn't. From wild model, the beginning of the 5th week, 28 days, would be the time when puppy would have climbed to entrance of den. From there begin gradual introduction to the sights and sounds that become part of everyday life. The danger can be if leaves later if learning and socialization doesn't take place like should, as in kennel situation, puppy doesn't develop certain skills like should.
 
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Tula

New member
My friend is a "puppy raiser" for seeing eye dogs out of Rochester, MI. she gets the pup at 6 weeks of age. She has the pup for a year, before it is assessed and trained at their center. The dog is around 17 months when paired with a blind person. Kim
 

Social

New member
I think that it would be much more difficult to sell a 6 month old. More people look at this as more of a rescue type of dog, even if trained, I know I would wonder what habits the dog had that the breeder didn't want a fine, trained, pup... Also it would be more expensive for breeders to hang on to their pups for that long, feeding, training, vet care, toys etc.
But just for the sake of the question at hand, if a breeder sold a pup to someone that, maybe is in the military and can not take it for 6 months or so, IF the breeder was diligent, and socialized the pup really well, I really don't think the pup would have any problems adjusting. Some breeds of dogs have lots of trouble adjusting to new situations, but not most newfies :)
 

Sound Bay Newfs

Active member
I think that it would be much more difficult to sell a 6 month old. More people look at this as more of a rescue type of dog, even if trained, I know I would wonder what habits the dog had that the breeder didn't want a fine, trained, pup...
No not really. Some people prefer an older pup that will sleep through the night and some bladder control or already house broken. Many breeders will keep a pup and "grow it out" to see how it is maturing and if it is healthy. Sometimes they don't turn out to be the show pup they thought it would be, so they find a new home for it. Older pups adapt very well to their new homes.
I got my first newf pup when she was 5 mo old from the breeder.
 
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Ohana Mom

New member
And just food for thought - our last puppy came to us at 15 weeks of age. What a HUGE difference those 5 weeks make. She potty trained quicker, slept through the night, and in short just learned EVERYTHING faster.
Now Lani is what I would call a "problem solving Newf" - always trying to figure things out on her own(which can be good AND bad)!. So part of the differences we saw could also just be her. But I do think a lot of it was her age too
 

ardeagold

New member
I think that it would be much more difficult to sell a 6 month old. More people look at this as more of a rescue type of dog, even if trained, I know I would wonder what habits the dog had that the breeder didn't want a fine, trained, pup... Also it would be more expensive for breeders to hang on to their pups for that long, feeding, training, vet care, toys etc.
But just for the sake of the question at hand, if a breeder sold a pup to someone that, maybe is in the military and can not take it for 6 months or so, IF the breeder was diligent, and socialized the pup really well, I really don't think the pup would have any problems adjusting. Some breeds of dogs have lots of trouble adjusting to new situations, but not most newfies :)
There are actually people looking for older dogs. Many (not all) breeders also rehome some of their retired girls. Older girls that have had puppies, and are now retired from breeding, and showing. Larger breeders know they can't give them the time the dogs deserve (one on one time) that a family could, because they have other dogs they're focused on competing with, etc. They feel the dog deserves it's own home and family and should be spoiled for the rest of it's life.

And there are people who are also looking for older puppies. Still young enough to train and enjoy doing things with, but not needing housebreaking, etc.
 

Newfy Smitten

New member
A great book on training any puppy is "The Monks of New Skete". They work with primarely German Shepherds, but I think you would find thier thought process & methods interesting. They start training at 4 wks & keep thier pups till 12 wks. Thier methods & psychology behind it are universal to any breed & produces a happy sound well behaved dog.
 

Lauren W

New member
TLarger breeders know they can't give them the time the dogs deserve (one on one time) that a family could, because they have other dogs they're focused on competing with, etc. They feel the dog deserves it's own home and family and should be spoiled for the rest of it's life.
That is a great explanation on rehoming. I didn't understand the concept before.
 

M & M's Mom Linda

New member
We got Max at 14 weeks...he went to a breeder who returned him...we never knew why. He came from a hobby breeder that did all the OFA checks but didn't show. He housebroke within a week and was able to go immediately in obedience classes.
 

Cascadians

New member
I think it is really important that the puppy stay with his mom and litter until 12 weeks. They learn so much from their mom and siblings and want to play. If the breeder is busy socializing them and teaching them from birth to placement it is the best of all worlds. I've seen a lot of younger puppies let go at 6 weeks and they seem to have more issues.
 

janices

New member
I just picked up a new behavior training book where the science is included in the book. Just finished up reading 'K9 Behavior Basics: A Manual for Proven Success In Operational Service Dog Training' by Gerritson, Haak, Prins. The book was more popular than thought would be. I just in from backorder. Jumped off the the shelves. Very interesting and there's even a reference to Boatswain in the book. Goes thru from the wolf, domestication, dog's behavior and signals, how dogs play and learn, understanding the behaviors in order to train. There's information on the critical stages of development.
 
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