Is 10 weeks too long with Breeder?

StompinT · Apr 16, 2014

I've been searching for Bouvier des Flandres breeders in the hopes of getting a puppy soon. The breeder I am most likely going to choose insists on keeping puppies with her until 10 weeks. What are thoughts on this?

I plan to extensively socialize this puppy with hopes of doing therapy work eventually, and have a concern about missing out on two weeks of socialization time.

Thoughts?

Sekah · Apr 16, 2014

10 weeks is good. I would have zero concerns about it. Impatient, sure, but not concerned.

Beanie · Apr 16, 2014

I wouldn't want a puppy to spend less than 10 weeks with a breeder, personally.

If you're picking a good breeder you don't need to have any worries about "missing" socialization time, because the breeder is taking care of that for you.

release the hounds · Apr 16, 2014

sure time is important, but I think some get far too caught up in the timing of things. I wouldn't want a dog to sit in a kennel for 3 years and not expect there to be some fallout, but 2 weeks is nothing. The caveat being the dogs have good temperaments to begin with and I don't think 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 16 weeks is all that important.

Linds · Apr 16, 2014

10 weeks seems perfectly fine to me. I was looking at 12 weeks when I was hoping to get my greyhound.

Good genes are going to get you a lot farther than a missed two weeks of your socialization. And remember, the puppy is still going to be learning and exposed to things at the breeder.

Elrohwen · Apr 16, 2014

10 weeks is totally fine, and in fact many people prefer this to 8 weeks.

Oko · Apr 16, 2014

10 weeks is perfectly fine. And pees less.

SpringerLover · Apr 16, 2014

Echoing everyone else: 10 weeks is great!

Maxy24 · Apr 16, 2014

If you trust your breeder and how they raise their pups then 10 weeks is great. If you don't trust your breeder and believe the breeder is not going to be socializing them properly then you should find another breeder.

PWCorgi · Apr 16, 2014

I didn't get Siri until she was 11(?) weeks, and it would have been 12 but we had to get her across the border before 12 weeks.

Within reason I think longer is always better!

Laurelin · Apr 16, 2014

10 weeks is very normal in papillons. Sometimes as long as 16 weeks. Our youngest to come home was Beau at 10 weeks.

sassafras · Apr 16, 2014

The thought of housetraining an 8 week old puppy makes my blood run cold.

I'd much, much rather bring a puppy home at 10 weeks. 12 might be even better. You won't miss out on anything as long as your breeder is working on socialization.

Oko · Apr 16, 2014

sassafras said:

Try seven weeks :banana:

sassafras · Apr 16, 2014

Oko said:

No, thank you. DO NOT WANT.

BostonBanker · Apr 16, 2014

Try a fetus. Gusto was 8 weeks old for at least 3 weeks.

Finkie_Mom · Apr 16, 2014

Yeah, I basically gave Teemu/Axl to his new owners potty trained

10 weeks is no big deal. I actually liked keeping the puppy I sold until he was almost 4 months old. I got to help him learn some basic training and was able to make sure he fit easily in to his new home

krissy · Apr 16, 2014

I think I'm glad I got Kili at 8 weeks. Mostly because she had some medical problems as a pup and I was able to catch them a little earlier because I had her and she could have my individual attention. Her breeder is fantastic but it's hard to identify that one puppy has a UTI when there are 15 puppies.

SoCrafty · Apr 16, 2014

I think the extra two weeks will be good. A good breeder will be socializing the puppy. Besides, it will be learning life skills from its siblings (like bite inhibition), and mother. I would not think you would miss out on anything too terrible. Maybe you can ask your breeder to incorporate some of the things you were hoping to do.

Red.Apricot · Apr 16, 2014

sassafras said:

I did this with Elsie, and it was a lot more work than Zoey, who came home at 12 weeks (I think). Her teeny bladder wasn't ready to run across the whole house before making it outside.

Sparrow · Apr 16, 2014

The most important socialization at that age comes from mom and littermates, not you, so it's actually a great thing. It is something I would respect a breeder more for doing. Also, as said before, a good breeder will be doing other socialization as well. But there are some things only other dogs can teach them.

And yes - the potty training! The less I have to do next time, the better. Zoe was horrid. :-D

Is 10 weeks too long with Breeder?

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