Pup age

[Cicada]

I have a new GSP pup on the way and the breeder would prefer the pup to be picked up at 7 weeks (11 pups!). I was thinking later more like 8 or 9 weeks because I have a 2 year old GSP and a 10 year old GSP. I may be over thinking it but I thought if the pup was a bit older it would make the transition a bit smother on all of us.

Is there a better or worse age time to get a pup when there are existing dogs in the house?

Grant

[NLsetter]

7 weeks is a bit young, needs to be with litter until 10-12 weeks IMO.

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

7 wks use to be the Standard but that thinking has changed,some like to hold them up to 12wks.I will say I have let pups go from 7 wks on with no notable difference.

[ezzy333]

8 weeks is my red line. And I think 10 or 12 is better. many want them gone buy at least 10 so you will have to work it out.

Ezzy

[Sharon]

Yes. That's what the new literature says, which I'm too tired to post right now.

[gotpointers]

8 weeks for local buyers, and 12 weeks for shipped pups. 7 weeks is a barley legal minimum age in many states.

[Vonzeppelinkennels]

49 days = 7wks that use to be the magic number when I was showing Dobes & all the show people followed it & they are more anal then hunting dog breeders about such things! Like muzzleing every female they bred & tying their dogs hocks
together after the dogs make a tie etc.Just saying & no one has ever done anything illegal before have they? I think people today have their nose in other people business a little TOO MUCH!

[cjhills]

The age of the pup is probably overdone. If the breeder does a lot of socializing longer may be good. If the breeder feeds the puppies a couple times a day and leaves them alone the rest of the time I like to get them out of there. Eight weeks is how we go. first shots at seven weeks. We do keep some until ten weeks, crate train and second round of shots.
I think the 49 days thing came from the days when puppies got very little human contact until they went home. Some still are that way,.........................Cj

[greg jacobs]

Our breeder won't release them until 8 weeks. We picked up an independent little gsp girl. She and we slept the first night. That's never happened before.

[Cicada]

Thanks for all the input, folks.

Here is an interesting article that Sharon found for me.

http://www.calibertollers.com/49daymyth.htm

Thanks again

Grant