Is it wrong to purchase a puppy this young?

Question

Is it wrong to buy a puppy at 6 weeks of age? It will be given all the vaccinations that it can have up to that age before it leaves the breeder. We also have another dog that is 1 year and 4 months old that we hope it will bond to. In my state, it is not illegal to purchase a puppy of that age, and most breeders in my area sell their pups at this age.

Answer 1

WOW, I am absolutely shocked at the lack of knowledge on puppies, raising them, when they should leave and a whole lot more.. The one thing that sticks out in my mind as absolutely ridiculous is the person who said that puppies get worms from being handled???

Puppies should stay with mom til they are at very least 8 weeks of age. Anyone who lets puppies go before that are not only unethical, but they are not doing the puppies justice, and not being fair to the new owner.. Puppies need to be with mom and littermates, to learn how to be around dogs, how to act and react to things. Mom and littermates teach them that bites hurt and what happens when you bite.. There are all sorts of things that you have no clue about that mom teaches puppies.. If you have had a litter of puppies and you have not witnessed all of these things that mom teaches, then you truly are not paying close attention to what's going on.

Go ahead and do your childish thumbs down and your reporting... This is crazy.. Puppies need socailziation around other dogs, mom, puppies, they need shots, they need to be wormed.. Some of you people are allowing puppies to leave at 3 and 4 weeks of age, and covered in fleas.. Puppies that are leaving so called ' breeders ' homes at this young age are developing parvo.. They are not being raised properly, they are not being cared for properly, kept clean, vaccinated and they are going off into this world and into people's homes and they are sickly puppies.. They are all the puppies that we read about on YA with Parvo, and Kennel Cough and Giardia, and Coccidia, and everything else people have problems with when they get these young puppies..

If you are going to produce a litter of puppies, My GOD have some ethics and do the right thing. Take care of those little guys and quit sending them off into the world with out protection, with out the knowledge that they need to be well rounded happy dogs that can be easily housetrained and obedience trained.. People wouldn' t have the problems they have with their new dogs if you so called breeders were doing your job.. Quit shoving the puppies out the door so fast.. Quick being in such a hurry to get your money.. If you want to breed a litter, do it right ... WHat is so hard about 8 - 10 weeks of some work to do the job right??? Why do 1/2 a job.. Why even bother.. You are killing puppies, you are breaking hearts of people buying these puppies.. Do the job or quit.. This is absolutely ridiculous.. The lack of knowledge here is insane when it comes to raising puppies and when they should leave and everything else.. You need to read a book, do some research.. Go visit a REAL BREEDER and see how things are really done.. Puppies in a cardboard box in your garage is not properly producing a litter.. The lack of knowledge and care and concern makes me sick.. There are many breeders here who are absolutely full of amazing information, you can tell by their answers that they are doing the right things.. They do even more than most and more than is expected.. There are far too many that don't do nearly enough and you know who you are...

Go ahead and report me.. I am sick of the lack of concern, and care, from people who stand around professing to love dogs, and you don't care enough about your puppies to keep them til they are at very least 8 weeks of age..

Answer 2

Wow look at all the money grubbing breeders coming out of the woodwork for this question. It is pathetic when people are more interested in the dollar over the best interest of the dogs, how pathetic!!!

8 weeks is the minimum age puppies should leave their mother. Older still when they are smaller breed of dogs. 12 weeks is preferable for Chihuahuas and other tiny breeds.

It is NOT just a matter of being weened off of their mother but also socialization they need to get from their Mother and siblings.

I quote from Chihuahuas for Dummies:
"In an ideal situation, a pup finds out how to behave around dogs during his or her first 2 months. That's one reason a good breeder keeps the litter together until the puppies are at least 8 weeks old. Between 8 and 12 weeks old the puppies are mentally mature enough to leave their canine family, and are ideal age to settle into human families."
"I didn't invent the term critical periods. Animal behaviorists did. What makes these periods critical? If a dog isn't socialized during it's puppyhood. It never becomes as confident a companion as it can be." (End quote from Chihuahuas for Dummies)

So you see it is more involved than just weening from the Mama.

By the way if the greedy breeder is willing to shove this poor baby out so early what other corners did they cut as well? Are the puppies even healthy?

Answer 3

It might not be illegal for you to buy a 6 week old puppy, but it's certainly WRONG for a breeder to sell a 6 week old puppy.

Breeders who sell puppies that are under 8 weeks old are unethical. Many reputable breeders will wait even longer than 8 weeks.

If this breeder is breaking this "rule," how many other things do you think they may be skimping on that could haunt you down the road?

Do you really want to buy a puppy from an unethical breeder?

Answer 4

Puppies should be no younger then 8 weeks old when leaving their mother and litter mates.
As for its vaccinations,at 6 weeks of age your pup will have had only it's first puppy shot.
Do you know if it has even been wormed? Do you get a health guarantee?
No decent breeder would let anyone take a puppy that young.

Answer 5

Yes this if far too early for a pup to leave its mother. My suggestion would be..... If you've found the dog you want go ahead and purchase the dog or put a down payment on the pup but ask if you could leave it with its mother until at least 8wks. At the very soonest. I've seen that done alot where I come from here in Michigan. Most breeders or individual are more then happy to do this. If not just for the well being of the pup.

Answer 6

It's way to young to leave home, a puppy should be 8 weeks. This helps the puppy to develop socialization skills with other dogs. I'm a breeder & my puppies never leave home til 8 weeks of age.

Answer 7

Yes. While puppies this young are physically fine being removed from their mother and litter it will have a life-long negative effect on the dog's mental well being. It takes a dog of exceptional temperament/personality to turn out normal if removed from their mother/litter at this age...and let's face it, the people selling the pups at this age are NOT keeping their puppies best interest in mind let alone breeding for exceptional temperament above all else. Dogs removed at this age are MUCH more likely to be fearful, aggressive, overly reactive, or just plain neurotic than dogs left with their mother and litter until they are 8-12 weeks old (large breeds like German shepherds really do best if left with their mother/litter until 12 weeks). Many behavioral problems that arise in these dogs could have been prevented entirely by simply leaving them with their mother for another two weeks. Ask any certified animal behaviorist and they will tell you that it's just not worth the potential heartache just to bring puppy home two weeks early.

Answer 8

I would not take a puppy before 8 weeks old unless there was a problem with mom. If you do take pup home at 6 weeks, make sure that yours is a good stable home with nothing to frighten the pup and be available when they need you. Do not leave the pup alone by itself for extended periods of time.

Answer 9

Pups usually do better all the way round(socially and health wise) when they are 8 weeks or older and any breeder worth his salt KNOWS this! Breeders are in it for the money, so the faster they get em sold the better for them .If the breeder is an actual caring one then they won't mind keeping the pup with its mom till it is 8 weeks old, if they do have a problem doing that, then in my opinion they are just running a pupy mill( a place where female dogs are bred into the ground, so the owner can rake in the money)and I would NOT buy a pup from them,and get a written guarantee that if the pup becomes sick or dies when you 1 st get it that the breeder will refund your money and or pay the vet bills. if they do not agree to this DO NOT BUY!

Answer 10

Hi, i think it really to young to leave it mama..
It still need it mama care for until 2 month plus..
Hope you will consider not to buy until that time..
If you really like that puppy , talk with the breeder and disscus can put a diposit on that puppy.. so let that puppy to have most of the good time with it mama until the right time to bring it home..

since you already have a dog at home.. not rushing for that little time to have the best for you & your new puppy..

Hope you will consider my answer..
You don't have to vote me..
i just want to let you know what is the best for that puppy..
Thanks for sharing what your have to allow other to see what other may have this problem..

And i also agree with DP answer..