Is 16 weeks too old to buy a puppy?

Question

I have placed a $500 deposit on a toy breed mixed puppy and the breeder told me from the beginning that because she is so small (only about 2lb when fully grown) that she needs to stay with the mother until 15-16weeks old.....I feel I have missed out on all her puppy weeks and now I am suppost to pick her up in 3 weeks but I am not sure if she is worth the balance of $3000 for a dog that is 16 weeks old. Am I being crazy.....besides paying $3,500 for a dog, does it matter that she is 3 1/2 months old when I get her?

Answer 1

Some breeders prefer to keep their puppies with their mothers for an extended period, but 16 weeks seems a little much. I don't understand what size has to do with anything either. Who cares if she's only going to be 2lbs, why does she need her mother any more than a 50 lbs puppy?

The puppy is not too old to buy, but you may have missed out on the fun stuff. Although, if the breeder is keeping her for so long is she house breaking her? If she isn't, you have no idea how hard it will be to house break a dog that is already so old.

I think she's charging you quite a bit. But now that you have your deposit down on the puppy, chances are if you back out now you won't get your deposit back.

Good luck! Hopefully this helps. Just remember, dogs are puppies until they're about 2 years old. You've got plenty of puppy time left! :)

Answer 2

Yes, you will have missed part of the cutest puppy time, though it's never too old to adopt a pup. I can't believe you are being charged that amount for a MIXED BREED puppy much less a pedigreed champion purebred. That is an over-the-top price for a champion.
You have no guarantee of size when the breed is mixed, even if both supposed parents are tiny. I raised a pit bull who was tiny and at a month and a half old, fit in chihuahua sweaters (bottle fed rescue) who now weighs 59 lbs.
Just because the pup is tiny does not mean it will stay tiny but by the time it grows you will be bonded and a "breeder" knows that if there are problems, you can get a refund (if you get a guarantee) but you'd have to give the pup back. In most cases that means the person would be stuck with the overpriced dog because the bond between owner and new pup will be very strong. Bottom line: YOU LOSE. Your pet may be worth a zillion dollars to you, but you got punked on the price. BIG BIG TIME.
BTW, dogs bred down to those teeny tiny sizes, even when purebred, are often prone to serious health problems.

Answer 3

You won't have missed out on her puppy weeks. I got my dog at 18 MONTHS and she still has puppy weeks. They're adorable until they die.

Did you put the deposit down while you were thinking "I don't know if I want a 4 month old puppy, I'd rather have a 2 month old"? I'd run away as fast as I can from that breeder.

Take the extra money and run. Get a refund if you can, and find a reputable breeder that will sell you a quality toy breed dog. (After you have checked the shelters for mutts.)

Not all the mutts at the shelter are old and ugly, and if they are, there's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't matter if your dog is "cute" or not, and baths work wonders on shelter dogs.

Answer 4

3,500 that is way to much to pay for a mixed breed puppy. and no puppy is ever to old but you are missing out on the crucial time in which the puppy needs to be socialized. have you ever read any information on this breed that you are getting. You would be better off getting a puppy from a shelter who needs a loving home for less then 100 bucks and it will come with up to date shots. When ever you plan to buy a puppy from a breeder you need to first research the breed if you are unfamiliar and make sure your breeder is reputable. Talk with the breeder meet in person, most breeders will let you come and play with the puppies before they go home. $500.00 deposit is just crazy that could be the full price of a pure breed dog from a reputable breeder. You are being taken advantage of. For heavens sake the puppy will not even come with kennel papers! I suggest you question your breeder, they might just be trying to a make a quick buck!
I wish you the best!

Answer 5

No, 16 weeks is not too old. Many breeders won't let a dog go under 12 weeks, I've even seen a couple that require the pups to be 5-6 months old. Don't worry, there will still be plenty of "puppy" left in her.

However, I don't understand why you're paying $3500 for a mixed breed puppy. That's more than a lot of show-quality dogs go for. THAT is the crazy part, not the age you're getting the pup. You are being had.
Backyard breeders win again. :(

Answer 6

In my opinion, 16 weeks is not too old to buy a puppy, but $3,500 is too much to be paying for a mixed breed. You could better use the money for vet bills and supplies. I would definitely be wondering what kind of "breeder" would charge that much for a mixed breed. Unless the puppy comes with a TON of things that's all worth $3,500, you're definitely getting ripped off. You could probably find a small mixed breed in a shelter for way less.

Answer 7

I've never heard of keeping a puppy with it's mother for 16 weeks, by six weeks puppies are already eating solid food and not relying on the mother for nutrition, by eight weeks they are weaned from the mother. $3,500 is an outrageous amount to pay for a toy mixed breed dog, even a tea cup puppy isn't that much and they are usually on 4lbs fully grown. I think somethings up with that breeder, a dogs socialization window is the first four months of it's life, if you miss socializing your dog with people and other dogs that window closes and you will have a dog that is not sociable at all.

My mom got a puppy that was just over 4 months of age, shes afraid of other dogs and people because she was never socialized properly at a young age.

I don't think it's right, but if you chose to accept the dog anyway make sure the owner has provided all her shots (they need their 9 week and 15 week shots which includes rabies at 15 weeks)

Personally I would never pay that much for a dog no matter the breed, it better have some guaranteed champion blood lines, come with a lifetime guarantee and you plan on showing her for that amount of money. I bought a pure breed Weimaraner with AKC papers for only $450.00, There's no way in Hell I'd pay $3500 for a mixed breed. Even tea cup chihuahua's, Yorkies and Pomeranians sell for only $1500.00.

I'd run as fast as you can from this breeder and find someone else.

Good luck

Answer 8

do not waste your money on this dog. it is so important to socialize them before 12 weeks of age. Not to mention I have heard that the really tiny dogs have a tendancy to have more health problems. If I were buying a puppy I would absolutely want to have her as close to 8 weeks as possible. If it had to be 10 weeks I could live with that but no way would I let someone else keep her for those first 3 1/2 months. No way

Answer 9

Well, considering that most dogs are ready to leave their littermates and momma around 12 weeks old (most people get theirs at 8-10 weeks but 12 allows for good socialization skills to develop) I don't think 16 weeks is too old... Especially if the dog is unhealthy to begin with! Something that small has to have health problems that will only get worse and be super expensive as they get older. So it's probably good that they stay with the mom and breeder till 16 weeks...

Personally, I would run screaming from this breeder... but that's just me.

Answer 10

I hope you don't mind my asking, but what kind of dog??!! And a mixed to boot! I think these made to order dogs are nuts! If you want a mix breed, rescue one from the shelter!! YIkes! I don't know why they would need to keep the dog so long unless they have had health problems. Check the references out on this breeder. But at that small, the dog will probably always be a "puppy" so what are you missing out on. Hopefully at that age, it will have all it's shots and be house broke already and you won't miss out on that. Good luck.