age when you pick a pup

[newpup]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering on the age when most breeders let you pick your puppy. Our breeder says 6 weeks. I was curious to see what the norm is. Our breeder says that they do so much changing in the first 6 weeks that it is hard to pick. I am so anxious to make our choice. I can hardly wait.

 

[Coco's Momma]

I picked up my pup from the breeder when she was 8 weeks old. I was told that was the norm. I thought that they needed to have their 8 week shot before they were supposed to leave the breeder, but I'm a new mommy so I may be wrong?

 

[newpup]

I am sorry I never made myself very clear. I mean to pick out which puppy you want out of the litter. Not to bring them home... my breeeder also lets the puppies go to their new homes at 8 weeks old. I was just wondering on the age when you decide which puppy you want.

 

[JaredKyah]

Do you mean pick out the puppy or pick up the puppy and bring it home? If it is the latter then 8 weeks seems to be the standard for very good reasons. If you mean pick out the puppy, some breeders allow you to pick out the puppy very very early (sometimes when only days old). Obviously the personality is not evident, but the fact is many of the breeders I spoke with had their entire litter spoken for before they were 2 weeks old. From the puppies that I have seen and the breeders that I have spoken to, 5 to 6 weeks seems to be the time frame in which the personalities develop and they allow visits. Usually people will make their choice when they visit. Most breeders will not allow a full visit (where you are allowed to touch the puppy) until 5 weeks. Sorry to make a short answer so wordy :(, but yes, at 6 weeks a personality has formed and it is a lot easier to make a decision.

 

[newpup]

Thank you . That answered my question!

 

[JulieM]

Many breeders don't make decisions on which puppies are going to show or pet homes until they're 8 weeks old; this is when it's best to evaluate them, as structurally they're proportionally the same as they will be as an adult. Of course, if the puppies are going home at 8 weeks, it creates a bit of a time crunch - many of the breeders that evaluate at 8 weeks also keep the puppies 10-12 weeks.

 

[DianeD]

Many breeders don't make decisions on which puppies are going to show or pet homes until they're 8 weeks old; this is when it's best to evaluate them, as structurally they're proportionally the same as they will be as an adult. Of course, if the puppies are going home at 8 weeks, it creates a bit of a time crunch - many of the breeders that evaluate at 8 weeks also keep the puppies 10-12 weeks.

Absolutely agree! But in my JoJo's case, his eight week puppy stacked pictures showed a little bit longer muzzle, his topline not to standard, and he is very plain. Thus being sold as a pet and was neutered before he came to me at 15 weeks. Well, when he matured, I got some really great stacked pics and sent them to his breeder. To this day, she is so jealous that I have him and that he is neutered since he is closer to standard than any other pup from that litter! In his page here (Link removed: Please read the rules concerning links to breeder websites.) you can see his 8 week stacked pic. Muzzle still a little long at 6 month head shot. Just saying...nothing's guaranteed!

 

[GoCougs]

Absolutely agree! But in my JoJo's case, his eight week puppy stacked pictures showed a little bit longer muzzle, his topline not to standard, and he is very plain. Thus being sold as a pet and was neutered before he came to me at 15 weeks. Well, when he matured, I got some really great stacked pics and sent them to his breeder. To this day, she is so jealous that I have him and that he is neutered since he is closer to standard than any other pup from that litter!

Picking pups is an imperfect science. In most cases, as Julie said, at 8 weeks puppies are as close to the final dog (proportionately speaking) as you can possibly hope for. This has been proven time and time again. Statistically there are always exceptions. Many breeders will tell you stories about the one they let get away, and they will tell you more stories about the ones they held for show that they probably shouldn't have.