Hello All
My question is simple yet because of so much mixed info and differing schools of thought. What is the best age to get a pup for Sch? I want the pup to be young enough to bond closely in both attentiveness to my commands and affection yet receive full benefit of being with his litter mates long enough. My bitch is with a breeder and he will also be raising the litter yet wants me to wait till 8 weeks to take the pup I will be using for Sch but I want to take the pup at 7 weeks. What if any benefit is in this extra week or is it best to get the pup at 7 weeks so he will be less doggy? Please email me your reply as well as posting it here if you would because sometimes I don't have access to internet except by cell phone. My email is rick_the_wordman@yahoo.com

8 weeks is the absolute minimum I would take a pup. Heck, I wait until 9 or 10 most of the time.

IMHO 7 weeks is TOO early to take a pup from mom and littermates.

If you do a search of this site, you will find tons of threads on this as it has been discussed many, many times.

I agree with Carole! We recieved our Levi at 12 weeks of age and he has had no problem bonding to me. I would have preferred to get him between 9 and 10 weeks of age but coming from Germany caused delays. It is true that a dog can become too doggy however it is also true that if they do not spend the optimum amount of time with their mother and their littermates they will lose learning valuable lessons from their mother that we just can't teach them. We actually found a beautiful akita/shepherd mix in the desert a couple of years ago. He was about 5-6 weeks. We took him home and loved him/trained him but hard as I tried I could not teach him basic manners that only his mother could have taught him. In spite of our best efforts we ended up having to take him to the human society as in his fourth month he attacked my 5 year old daughter. I happened to witness the entire thing otherwise I might not have had the opportunity to convince my husband tbat we could not keep him. It was the only dog I have ever given up in my life but there is no doubt in my mind that had he been w/his mother longer he wouldn't have had the issues he did. Also, I believe that any breeder that allows a pup to leave anytime before 8 weeks is doing a great diservice to the dog. I have seen some that have left too early that have serious seperation anxiety issues. Well, best of luck with you and your new pup!

Ditto ... many of the training issues I've had with my pup I believe stem from the fact that the MOTHER was taken away from the litter at 5 weeks. I didn't realize the significance of that event until I was re-reading the Monk's of New Skete Book ... and as they were describing issues, I'm thinking that's our puppy. They were discussing the pup taken away from mom and pals too early. But removing the mother has the same effect.

From everything I've read and heard here, never earlier than 7 weeks and no later than 12 weeks is Ideal.

I got my oldest dog at 16 weeks, I got my bitch at 10.5 weeks and my 2 knuckelhead pups at 7.5 weeks, and know great breeders who insist you take the pup at 7 weeks.

I have an AWESOME relationship with my oldest GSD, my pups don't seem to have any psychological issues, and my bitch worships the ground I walk on, in between biting me in the ass.

Then ofcourse theres all the people who buy adult dogs and have no issues bonding with dogs that are 1-2 years old already.

Dont forget people who rescue much older dogs.

It really doesnt matter what age you take the pup, I wouldnt be comfortable less than 7 weeks, but I do know someone that insists on taking them at 6 weeks and he has no issues with his dogs either.

8 weeks is traditional though.

Rick,

This is a tough question. Too young, and you won't have the maturity or understanding to properly raise the pup. Too old, and you won't have the energy to keep up with it. We got our working pup when my wife and I were 53, our son was 16. He has the energy to keep up with Hans, but not the maturity to stick with a training plan. We have the maturity to stick with the training plan, but no where near the energy the dog has.

So based on this, I'd say the best age to get a working pup is when you are in your mid 20's to late 30's.

Oh wait, did you mean the age of the pup???

Rich

Rich

I think he meant puppy age....but I agree with your post regardless.....

Rich,

I just love sarcasm.....

but what you say may be oh so true....

hehehehe, you got a chuckle over here in this corner, lol

Thanks all
So to sum up, if I may, 8 weeks is better because the traits and manners learned from mother and litter are more valuable than taking it away at 7 weeks to decrease dogginess and and increase attachment to owner.
Since I have some time before any of this occurs as the litter is not born yet LOL, I would like Ed's opinion also. You out there Ed??