Best age to bring puppy home?

Hi all
I am due to bring a new lab pup home soon. I already have 2 other labs ages 7 and 2.
Previously I have brought my pups home at 7 weeks, however the breeder I am purchasing my pup from has said 9 weeks.
I was just curious to know what is the recommended age to take a pup to his forever home?

Lisa x

 

Hi @Simba2017

There isn't one recommendation. The Guide Dogs of Australia get their puppies at 7 weeks. But they have special facilities set up for them. Most owners get their puppies at 8 weeks. 9 weeks is okay too if the breeder is socialising the puppies and has ensured your puppy has the first vaccination. The socialisation period ends around week 16.

 

In the US, 7 weeks is the norm.

 

And in Canada it's 8 weeks.

 

As the OP said already. No specific direction or suggestion. But you can take them anytime. 1/2 months I think would be good. It's my personal suggestion.

 

That is not true, if one is concerned with the welfare of the dog. If the puppy is taken from the mother too early, say at 6 weeks or earlier, then there is a very high correlation the dog will have behavioural problems.

 

8 weeks is the norm here, and as Michael has said it's for the benefit of your future dog. Puppies that are taken too early are much more likely to have poor bite inhibition, for example. You can read more about it here: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/when-can-puppies-leave-their-mother/

 

I appreciate your reply here. I even didn't think about this. Thank you!

 

There is no right answer to this because every puppy develops differently and there is also a lot of breed variability in terms of development.

7 weeks is the absolute earliest you should ever breed a puppy home, but it is starting to be less and less common now and really 8 weeks is 'normal' or most common.

9 weeks is a week later than normal, but it might be to give time for 1st vaccinations at 8 weeks to be effective before the pup goes home. Alternatively - Puppy Culture (see puppyculture.com ) recommends 9 weeks really, due to 8 weeks most commonly being during a fear period for many pups - but again, that is quite breed and litter specific - but a Puppy Culture breeder is going to be a very reputable breeder, and very commonly would be homing at 9 weeks...

 

So your suggestion is to wait more than 2 months? Thank you!

 

It's unlikely you will have a choice, @nicardo99 If you've chosen a good breeder, they will have an established way of doing things and a reason for that and you should trust them and their decision - that's part of why you choose a good breeder.