Breeder insisting that we take him at 6 wks?

[DaisyPie]

We have been on a waiting list for a reputable breeder for quite a while. We finally got the notification that our litter was due and we would have 3rd pick. The pups were born October 19 and we had four males to choose from.

The breeder's website has a whole page dedicated to "The Christmas Puppy" and how irresponsible it is to get a new puppy around the holidays. Obviously, I am not getting him for a Christmas gift, but the site talks about how terrifying it is for a new puppy to be around lots of people, the commotion, the hazards of Christmas decorations that can be chewed, the general business of the season, etc. The pups will be 8 wks on December 14th so we asked if we could wait and get him maybe the day or two after Christmas. The last breeder we purchased from (while stationed in Germany) wouldn't let his pups go until at least 10 weeks, so I didn't think it would be a problem. This breeder is INSISTING that we take the puppy at six weeks. She said that they have to leave the mother immediately when they get the shots at 6 wks. She also pointed out that this will give us almost a month to get the little guy used to us and our home before we start having lots of guests and general holiday craziness.

The breeder's website also clearly states that she won't let puppies go any earlier than 8 weeks unless there is a problem with the mother AND her vet clears each individual puppy to go early. I can't figure out why she is insisting on us taking the puppy at six weeks. Maybe they have plans for the holidays or something... I'm just not comfortable taking him at six weeks.

Should I just take him and stay home (I don't mind!) or should I request to wait for the next litter or even find a new breeder? My husband swears that I'm overreacting and that it can't make that much difference if we get him two weeks early.

 

[Sansal]

Hmmm that's a little weird. I assume you have done all your research and you know for sure this is a reputable breeder? All the health testing done, parents both have been shown etc? Could you pick him up on the 14th? Then he would be eight weeks old and you would still have 10 days to get him used to his new environment. Not sure what your plans are for christmas but maybe you can plan ahead a little to make sure it won't be too much for him. I definitely wouldn't take him home at 6 weeks. The socialization with the litter mates is just too important.

 

[DaisyPie]

Yes, I did tons of research on the breeder. There is actually an alliance of three breeders to avoid crossing bloodlines. I thoroughly checked all three breeders and their dogs. I could not find anything wrong with any of the three. The parents of the puppy we chose were (in my opinion) the best possible choices. The mother is a beautiful brindle and this is her second litter. The male is a gorgeous mahogany and this is his first time being bred. Our puppy is mahogany brindle with a black mask.

I honestly don't mind missing all of our Christmas events and having a low-key Christmas dinner at home. My husband has been deployed the last two Christmases and has never spent the holidays with our 3-year old daughter.

I don't even think it would do any good to refuse to take him at six weeks because his littermates would be gone. They would probably keep him isolated and that would be worse than me taking him.

 

[Sansal]

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I don't even think it would do any good to refuse to take him at six weeks because his littermates would be gone. They would probably keep him isolated and that would be worse than me taking him.

That is true. However, personally, if I would look for a boxer puppy I would want a breeder that puts a lot of effort into that early socialization phase and personally I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a puppy home that early. Especially since there seems to be no good reason for it.

 

[whiskers]

I don't even think it would do any good to refuse to take him at six weeks because his littermates would be gone. They would probably keep him isolated and that would be worse than me taking him.

I didn't even think of that point. Hmm.

So she never brought up that she wants them gone at 6 weeks, until you mentioned that you wanted him to stay longer? I was going to suggest too that you see if you can get him at 8 weeks (honestly unless you have extravagant Christmas plans and/or would be going out of town, I see no issue bringing a puppy home at that time), but if all the littermates left at 6 weeks then yeah that doesn't really benefit anyone. Even 7 weeks I would tolerate, but that's pushing it still.... 6 is just too young.

It's a tough call. You do at least have adult dogs that he can learn from, if you choose to get him at 6 weeks. Ultimately I don't think it'd be the end of the world if he came home with you at that age, I just worry about a breeder that wants to push them away so young. Sometimes one can seem reputable but with practices like that, I don't know... does she give any sort of information about the socialization she does with the pups? Where they are raised (house, garage, outside)?

 

[DaisyPie]

My husband is going to call the breeder and see if its possible for the puppy to stay with the mom for 8 weeks. We were planning a big family Christmas at our home with lots of children and toddlers, but we can change the plans or keep the dogs in a bedroom. I wasn't concerned about Christmas until I read the breeder's website and was only trying to follow her own advice. My main concern about getting the puppy early was the fact that we do have adult dogs and making sure the puppy's immune system was up to par before introducing him to a new environment.

I think if the breeder won't agree to keep the puppy with his mother until 8 weeks, we will still take him and hope the big dogs do a good job of assimilating him into the pack. The breeder said that she keeps the adults kenneled in her basement at night and in a large fenced yard during the day. They alternate allowing several dogs at a time to sleep inside the house and spend the day with the breeder's family. The pups are kept in the basement but I don't know what she does for socialization.

 

[SaharaNight]

The alliance sounds strange to me along with letting them go early. I highly doubt this is a good breeder. Do you have proof of health testing and showing on both the mother and father? If not, just walk away.

 

[Bathel]

The alliance sounds strange to me along with letting them go early. I highly doubt this is a good breeder. Do you have proof of health testing and showing on both the mother and father? If not, just walk away.

I was thinking the same thing... Most good breeders I've meet are a bit wierd when it comes to the puppies. They tend to be OVERLY cafeful to place them in the proper home and this just sounds like they want to get the pup out the door as soon as possible. I won't go as far as saying they are a bad breeder, but if it was me... I'd be concerned since it doesn't seem the breeder is putting the health needs of the puppy first. It would make me wonder what other issues may occur....

I don't konw the full situation of what is going on, but given the details from the OP if this was me... I'd make the hard choice to just walk away. There are many many breeders out there having pups every single day. I'd go find another one, even at the cost of delaying when I would have the pup home. In the grand scheme of things, even if you had to wait until spring it's not that long a wait when you consider this pup will be in your family for hopefully 10+ years. That's just my 2 cents and it something you will have to deal with and live with, so please take my advice with a grain of salt.

 

[sargboxerluv]

We have been on a waiting list for a reputable breeder for quite a while. We finally got the notification that our litter was due and we would have 3rd pick. The pups were born October 19 and we had four males to choose from.

The breeder's website has a whole page dedicated to "The Christmas Puppy" and how irresponsible it is to get a new puppy around the holidays. Obviously, I am not getting him for a Christmas gift, but the site talks about how terrifying it is for a new puppy to be around lots of people, the commotion, the hazards of Christmas decorations that can be chewed, the general business of the season, etc. The pups will be 8 wks on December 14th so we asked if we could wait and get him maybe the day or two after Christmas. The last breeder we purchased from (while stationed in Germany) wouldn't let his pups go until at least 10 weeks, so I didn't think it would be a problem. This breeder is INSISTING that we take the puppy at six weeks. She said that they have to leave the mother immediately when they get the shots at 6 wks. She also pointed out that this will give us almost a month to get the little guy used to us and our home before we start having lots of guests and general holiday craziness.

The breeder's website also clearly states that she won't let puppies go any earlier than 8 weeks unless there is a problem with the mother AND her vet clears each individual puppy to go early. I can't figure out why she is insisting on us taking the puppy at six weeks. Maybe they have plans for the holidays or something... I'm just not comfortable taking him at six weeks.

Should I just take him and stay home (I don't mind!) or should I request to wait for the next litter or even find a new breeder? My husband swears that I'm overreacting and that it can't make that much difference if we get him two weeks early.

The highlighted statements contradict each other. Find another breeder. Xmas sounds like the perfect excuse to push the puppies out the door early. If it was January I wonder what excuse they would use to get you to take the puppy early.

And I thought it was illegal to send a puppy home before it was 7 weeks old.

 

[Bathel]

The highlighted statements contradict each other. Find another breeder. Xmas sounds like the perfect excuse to push the puppies out the door early. If it was January I wonder what excuse they would use to get you to take the puppy early.

And I thought it was illegal to send a puppy home before it was 7 weeks old.

Actually, it seems in Ohio, where your profile says you are from... it's 8 week by law. However, Alabama... where the OP seems to be from, there is no law for age.

Age to Sell Puppy Table