What are the negatives of getting a puppy at 6 weeks?

Question

we're planning on picking up our male english mastiff next week. he will be six weeks old.

however, i am finding much conflict on the matter of how old a puppy can or should be before being adopted.
most say six weeks is a bit of a stretch.

can i permanently damage my dog by taking away two weeks from being with its littermates and mother?

Answer 1

Yes, 8 wks is the youngest you should get a dog. They need to learn important things like how hard to playfully bite from their littermates.

Answer 2

Most states have laws that pups can't be sold until at least 8 weeks.

The extra two weeks will mean the difference between night and day later on. Pups need their littermates and Mom to be socialized properly. Big dogs like Mastiffs look a lot more mature than they are and they need it the most.

95% of Bloodhounds end up in Rescue before age 2, mostly because they left too early.

Answer 3

That is way too young to remove a pup from it's mother. The only time you should own a dog so young is if you own the mother too or the mother is dead. The youngest is 8 weeks but more highly recommended is 10 weeks. If the breeder is willing to give you the dog at 6 weeks I would have serious concerns as to the reputation of this breeder and the overall health of this dog in the short and LONG term.

Answer 4

Much of the dog's social skills are learned in the span between 8 and 12 weeks. This is a time when they are able to run around and interact with thier mom and litter mates. I used to help teach a puppy class. I could guess which ones were taken away from mom under 8 weeks and which ones weren't by watching thier interaction. A good breeder shouldn't LET you take a puppy home before 8 weeks... and I would wait to 12 weeks if I ever bought a puppy.

Answer 5

The reason it's recommended that a puppy be AT LEAST 8 weeks old before going to a new home is that their littermates and mother teach them valuable lessons in bite inhibition, hierarchy, respect, manners etc. Dogs that leave their litters too early are far more likely to have behavior, socialization and aggression problems.

Answer 6

I got my puppy chocolate lab at 6 weeks. It might have been a tiny bit early, but not enough to worry about. If anything I think it made things a bit easier. No matter what age your puppy is when you get him, there will be lots of crying and lots of potty accidents. My pup cried every night for 5 nights. But he was easy to potty train, he's 10 months old now and he's fantastic. He gets along great with other dogs, and with both adults and children.

My sister has 2 dogs about 5 years apart. She got the first one at 8 weeks and the second one at 6 weeks. From the same breeder I might add. And she said the 2 week difference was incredible, that the dog she got at 6 weeks was also ALOT easier to train and adapted to his new surroundings very quickly.

Don't stress the 2 week difference. Get through the first week and you'll be fine. And remember, you're getting a new companion that will always give you unconditional love!

P.S.-my dog has always been healthy and he came with a full pedigree from the American Kennel Club. Your breeder I'm sure knows what they are doing!

Answer 7

Um the damage is that you shouldn't buy from anyone who will sell a 6-week old dog. That person is not a responsible breeder. Ask if the parents were tested for genetic problems? I doubt they were.

I hope this dog is free or really cheap- because buying from a backyard breeder who sells at 6-weeks means they put $$ ahead of the dog's health and it MAY have major expensive problems down the road.

Answer 8

I would say you don't have to worry about permanently damage your dog by taking it away two weeks from being with its littermates and mother. Many pups (ask any vet) are ready at 6 weeks of age. Some pups start eating on their own and are mainly weaned by 4 weeks old. They usually wait till 8 weeks because most vets like not to give them their puppy shots until that age. I don't think you have anything to worry about and if you do have any problems which you shouldn't if he or she is already weaned just call your vet. I hope this helps you and I hope you enjoy your new family member.

Answer 9

A puppy should stay with the Mom until 8 weeks old at least.

Answer 10

Absolute minimum is 8 weeks, definitely no earlier. Many breeders keep them until 12 weeks because the pups are still learning from their mother and each other about social skills, and it makes for more well-adjusted dogs. (I recommend keeping them until 12 weeks.)

Here is a link that overviews puppy development:
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/pup-dev.pdf