Is seven weeks too early to go to new home? - Page 1

Would a GSD pup be too early to go to its new home at the end of the seventh week? I mean from a behavioral perspective, future social skills among dogs.

 

I think so. I would not receive one that early nor let one leave at that age.

If it's the end of the seventh week, that is pretty much the beginning of the 8th week, don't see the problem.

I think so too. 8 weeks is the norm, and if you're willing to wait 7 weeks, what's another week? 
 

If your only talking a few days shy of 8 weeks, then I dont see a problem.

I brought mine home at 7 and a half weeks. If you've got some time, grab a cold beverage and read this thread:

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/bulletins.read?mnr=457023

I let one go at 7 weeks without any problem's. The norm is 8 weeks. It was a close friend of mine and was able to help if a problem would of came up. He lived a long happy and healthy life. Don't think I would let one go early to a unknown person. JMO     Pete

It's all a matter of opinion; there are "studies" saying both. I have had buyers want their puppy on day 49. It's their puppy, so if I trust them enough to sell them a dog and they're firm believers in the 7th week being the right age, then fine by me. I've let several go around 7 weeks because of logistics, mostly (someone driving right past their house, so we can skip a flight, etc.) and never had even the tiniest issue.

It depends on the people and dog involved.  If a pup is being developed well by it's breeder, getting socialization, environmental stimulation, and the buyer is not experienced with the breed I would wait till 8 weeks.  But if it's an experienced person buying the dog, 7 weeks is excellent also.  Ikons' breeder only breeds occasionally... (she is now expecting her next litter after 2 years with no breedings) so he was getting a lot of enrichment, traveling, different experiences there.  But if I got a puppy when the breeder had frequent litters, or even several around the same time then I feel I'd be able to develop the pup better.  It's not just the age to be considered.

I'm in my 60's, and the research back then was done in Bar Harbor Maine for the Seeing eye by Fox andScott and reported by Pfaffenberger.  They measured pups who were successful at becoming guide dogs against tests done as pups, and factored in the age they were moved from the breeding facility to a foster home/ trainer.  They felt that all else considered 7 weeks subjected the pups to one trauma instead of two.  Weaning from the mother and moving into the new environment.  More pups (with identical puppy test scores) became guide dogs if they were weaned and moved @ 7 weeks than @ 8 weeks, and the % decreased as the time held back increased. ( The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior by Clarence Pfaffenberger .. )

vets are recommending that puppies are given their first set of shots no earlier then 7.5 weeks, if this is indeed tury than 8.5 weeks is the earliest a puppy should go.