bringing home the puppy

[kassie]

We are getting a puppy from someone who is not a breeder per se. She has a farm and 1 dog that has had a couple of litters. Friends have some of her former pups and they are delightful and smart. They are not registered, but we just want a pet and will spay asap.

The puppies she has currently are a few weeks old and we are getting one of them (mother is now spayed) but are unsure when is best to bring them home. As she is not a breeder I would not expect that she will do any of the training type things that breeders do with new litters, but I don't want to remove the pup from her littermates too soon to get her litter socialization. When we were younger I know people always seemed to get pups at 6-8 weeks, but this seems young with what we now know about the need to spend time with the litter. I want to be sure she gets the time with mom and littermates she needs and still be able to start the training we need to do with her.

Any advice out there?

[Vannette]

I'd wait till 12 weeks so they can learn the biting thing. I got one at 6 weeks and one at 12 weeks. Big difference!! The 12 week old broke the other of biting and she was 14 weeks when he came.
Vannette

[colbycorgi]

When we got Colby, we heard people sending pups home between 8-10 weeks and on the longer side, the breeder we went with was at 12 weeks. The breeded said she never sends pups home before 12 weeks exactly for the socialization etc that you discussed. I think between 10-12 is best. I know you said it was not a breeder, so training etc would likely not be happening, a thought i had, is there anyway you could visit a lot during the last few weeks to work with the pup and see how its doing with the mama and littermates....maybe then you'll be able to see when its "ready" to leave and come home to your loving home (im not saying it would be easy to leave every day, but it was just a suggestion) Hope this helps....good luck....post pics soon!!

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by kassie

We are getting a puppy from someone who is not a breeder per se. She has a farm and 1 dog that has had a couple of litters. Friends have some of her former pups and they are delightful and smart. They are not registered, but we just want a pet and will spay asap.

Maybe you can answer this, why is it when people "just want a pet" they think that they shouldn't go to a show breeder?

In any litter, it is extremely rare for all the puppies to be show prospects. There are usually puppies that are suitable and best suited for pet homes. And from a show breeder you get puppies that have parents with health clearances and the training you say this one might lack.

Ok, off my soap box...

The puppies she has currently are a few weeks old and we are getting one of them (mother is now spayed) but are unsure when is best to bring them home. As she is not a breeder I would not expect that she will do any of the training type things that breeders do with new litters, but I don't want to remove the pup from her littermates too soon to get her litter socialization. When we were younger I know people always seemed to get pups at 6-8 weeks, but this seems young with what we now know about the need to spend time with the litter. I want to be sure she gets the time with mom and littermates she needs and still be able to start the training we need to do with her.

IMO, never before 8 weeks. I now keep my puppies until 12 weeks. And many reputable breeders are keeping puppies until 12 weeks now.

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

Most breeders in New Zealand including Corgi breeders will allow their pups to go to new owners from eight weeks. There is a trend at present for some breeders to allow their puppies go to new homes at age seven weeks. I personally prefer a pup to stay nine-ten weeks at his/her birth home. There is no earthly reason why a casual breeder can't follow good if not best practices in the care and attention given to pups before they are allocated new owners. It has nothing to do with whether the pups are of show standard. A lot of very careful breeders will not allow prospective buyers or other interested personnel to get anywhere near their pups before the pups are aged five weeks because of possible health risks.

[kassie]

Thanks a lot for all the input so far! As to the question of why not a breeder...there isn't a lot of corgi population in indiana yet...we did look for breeders and the only ones in reasonable distance ( we really don't want to ship) had waiting lists and prices that we could not afford right now. We found out about this new pup through friends and we know her full sibling. We really didn't want Maeve to be alone any longer (we lost two 16 year old mixed breeds this spring.) We probably will go with a breeder next time. I understand your "soapbox" and appreciate your input!

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by kassie

Thanks a lot for all the input so far! As to the question of why not a breeder...there isn't a lot of corgi population in indiana yet...we did look for breeders and the only ones in reasonable distance ( we really don't want to ship) had waiting lists and prices that we could not afford right now. We found out about this new pup through friends and we know her full sibling. We really didn't want Maeve to be alone any longer (we lost two 16 year old mixed breeds this spring.) We probably will go with a breeder next time. I understand your "soapbox" and appreciate your input!

Sure there are corgi people in IN and the area. On the PWCCA page there are four breeders who are members of the PWCCA. And if there are PWCCA members there are people who show who aren't members and who are reputable breeders also.

Also there is the Lakeshore PWC Club not too far away. Lakeshore Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club

As for a waiting list, IMO, anything worth having is worth waiting for. Especially a puppy of your breed of choice.

And as to price, well, think about what you get from a reputable breeder. A puppy with health tested parents, raised in the home, usually they are started on lead training, housebreaking and crate training. They have had their nails done weekley usually, they have been handled, groomed and been exposed to a normal household and it's noises. So IMO, it's worth the price.

And all breeders don't ask the same price for thier puppies.

And as for Maeve being alone, well, IMO, dogs don't necessarly *need* another dog for a companion. They are usually just as happy with their people as thier pack. It's very rare that a dog *needs* another dog in the same home as a companion.

Peggy

[Cardiguy]

Originally Posted by kassie

We are getting a puppy from someone who is not a breeder per se. She has a farm and 1 dog that has had a couple of litters. Friends have some of her former pups and they are delightful and smart. They are not registered, but we just want a pet and will spay asap.

The puppies she has currently are a few weeks old and we are getting one of them (mother is now spayed) but are unsure when is best to bring them home. As she is not a breeder I would not expect that she will do any of the training type things that breeders do with new litters, but I don't want to remove the pup from her littermates too soon to get her litter socialization. When we were younger I know people always seemed to get pups at 6-8 weeks, but this seems young with what we now know about the need to spend time with the litter. I want to be sure she gets the time with mom and littermates she needs and still be able to start the training we need to do with her.

Any advice out there?

I think it depends a lot on when the other pups are leaving for homes. if all the pups are gone after 6-7 wks then it may be counter productive to keep your pup there for another couple of weeks. I would see how the liter is progressing as far as going to homes and act accordingly.

[pmavrich]

I purchased both of my PWC's from horse breeders. We got Molsen at 10 wks and Miller at 8 wks. Both were already working on their manners before we brought them home.

I will keep my opinion to myself about breeders. My husband and I had several horrible experiences with PWCCA registered breeders in Michigan, to the point that I prefer the horse breeders with working dogs (with champion bloodlines in the herding capacity) over a show breeder any day. Plus, the PWC breeders were asking twice as much for the pups as the horse breeders were and they were not show quality. Well, I guess my opinion is now out there …

[BannaOj]

I find it interesting that horse breeders will lower the prices on their dogs but not generally their horses. As long as they've done the health checks before breeding you won't hear a quibble from me over whether they are "horse breeders" or "dog breeders" If, however, the "horse breeders" would do health checks on their horses before they breed them, and don't do the same on their dogs, I have a problem.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by BannaOj

I find it interesting that horse breeders will lower the prices on their dogs but not generally their horses. As long as they've done the health checks before breeding you won't hear a quibble from me over whether they are "horse breeders" or "dog breeders" If, however, the "horse breeders" would do health checks on their horses before they breed them, and don't do the same on their dogs, I have a problem.

From the ones I've talked with or heard about that is exactly what happens. NO health test or clearances on the dogs. And usually their choice of sire is just that it's the same breed as the female. Yet they are very picky about how they breed thier horses. Why it doesn't carry over to the dogs I just don't get.

That's my beef with "horse breeders". Like AJ I'd have no problem with them either if they were as careful and selective about breeding their dogs as they are with thier horses.

Peggy