Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs How old should the pup be

How old should the pup be before removing him/her from his litter mates and mother? I've always heard no earlier than 8 weeks, but recently I've heard 6 weeks was good.

You're in the right range.

I like 8 weeks, followed by one week of "settling in," then a full-on socialization regimen, which means pup goes everywhere possible with me, exposing him to as much stimuli, as many new situations, under as many conditions as I can swing. Night time, traffic and lights, wide open fields, other dogs (but keep pup away from the psychos/pit bulls), horses, birds, bikes, etc.

Matching him up with a somewhat older pup for frolicking and toughening up can be good.

I like everything until 6 mos to be fun, fun, fun. The only discipline I do before then is housebreaking and hupping at doorways, BUT I use teachable moments at every opportunity to begin to introduce and reinforce commands. So if I see pup sitting, I vocalize the command. When he's running at me, I vocalize "here." At feeding time, I'll bang pots as I approach, then bang the gate, then fire a cap gun as I approach, then closer, then when I put the food down. When I throw a ball and he goes after it, I vocalize the command, every time.

Pup gets run every day, and I let him chase birds to his heart's content for a full first year. I'll roll as many pigeons in front of a flusher during the first year as I can, sometimes 20-25 a week.

Formal obedience begins at 6 mos around here. Formal bird work at 1 year. I like a more mature dog for bird work.

Man, I love training dogs! Maybe it's time for another. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Rick

Good advice so far.

Wolters (Author of Gun Dog, Game Dog, Water Dog, Family Dog) bases all his stuff on studies that say it's critical you get the pup/start at 49 days. But he also says that at 12 weeks the pups brain is fully developed, so take it for what its worth, but a heck of a lot of dogs got trained using his advice...

I got mine at 8 1/2 weeks and he's doing great now (at 14 weeks).

FWIW, I think 7 to 9 weeks is about right, although I've picked them up later and really couldn't tell a difference. I would be reluctant to go less than 7.
Everything Rick said about socializing and experience is on the mark.
T

Try to remove from the litter at 49 to 51 days.
This is the prime time for the pup as well as mom.

Reading this i am a little concerned. i am moving from a no pets home and cannot pick up my Springer until she is 65 days old. Should i make arrangments to pick her up sooner even if it means someone else will be looking after her for 2 weeks? Or is this something i should not worry about too much?

No, not to worry. I would try to spend some time with her in the meantime. She should continue to interact with people and other dogs, however. I presume the littermates will be gone. JMO, I wouldn't want her to start bonding with someone and then switch her over 14 days later. A lot of show people try to take the pup out as soon as possible to avoid development of dominance-submissive traits which can be a factor in the ring behavior. One alleged advantage of a later pickup (after 49 days) is that the dogs sees itself more as a dog with a person as opposed to a 4 legged person. I don't know. I asked my dog and he refused to discuss it.
T

10,11,12 weeks not a problem.

So, if the breeder wants people to take the puppies at 6 weeks because they think that is the right time, then I should probably avoid that breeder then, right?

SD,

Wolters books, recommend 49 days, exactly. Now I am sure thats ideal as he seems to be an expert. However, I have seen many a fine dog that was taken anywhere from 6-10 weeks. It all has to do with the pack mentality and how it developes in dogs...and how they establish themselves in the pack, and at what time certain behaviors and traits are created and can't be broken. Some need to be created, while leaving a dog too long can create problems just as taking one too early. To my way of thinking, that can't happen on the 49th day of EVERY dog's life. But its a good guideline. Read Wolters books. Good stuff.

Wm. Kohler has also specified 49 days, and this number is apparently backed up by research in canine behavior/development. I don't believe that waiting until 56 days will ruin a pup, but the longer he's left with his littermates and/or the breeder's family, the more his development will be shaped by forces beyond our control.

Earlier than 7 weeks strikes me as just too young.