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Supreme Being
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| what is everyone's oppinion on what age should you bring home a new puppy, and why. I ask this because alot of people say 8 weeks minimum 10-12 weeks being the best age. I have read some books like Dog Training for Dummies and Sheltie Talk. Both written by respected trainers/breeders. that say day 49 (7 weeks) is the best age to get a puppy. with 8-12 weeks being the worst age due to the fact that puppies go through a fear imprint stage at 8 weeks. to quote Dog Training for Dummies: At about the 49th day of life, when the puppies brain is neurologically complete, that special attachment between dog and his owner, called bonding, begins. It's one of the reasons why 49 days is the ideal time for puppies to leave the nest so that bonding with the new owner or family can take place. Bonding to people becomes increasingly difficult the longer a puppy remains with his mother or littermates. The dog also becomes more difficult to train. With each passing day, the pup loses a little of his ability to adapt to a new enviroment. In addition, with delay, there's the potential for built in problems. The pup may grow up being to dog oriented. The pup probably wont care much about people. The pup may be difficult to teach to accept responsibility. the pup may be more difficult to train, including housetraining. please no arguing friendly debates only 
 shelties rule!!!
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Supreme Being
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Well in my opinion the later the better. See the reason why many books or breeders would suggest that someone take in a dog at a later age is because for the most part, new dog owners are what I will call "dog illiterate" meaning that they don't know how a dog works or why it does certain things.
I believe that a real knowledgeable could get a puppy really early.
I find that its very true that the more a dog stays with its litter mates the more dog orientated it will become. And the less time it spends with its family the more people orientated it will grow up to be. Depending on what a person is looking for, should determine when a puppy should be taken away from its litter.
The problem with taking a puppy away from its litter is that it doesn't have time to learn whats acceptable behavior. Usually if the pup crosses the line the mother will reprimand him/her, and this will leave allow the puppy to make mental note that what it just did was wrong. Most common problem with a puppy that hasn't spend too much time with its litter is biting or nipping. Someone that is knowledgeable about dogs can correct those behaviors so that they don't develop. Someone who is "dog illiterate" will think that biting is cute as its a puppy and will allow it. You see the difference?
The whole thing about being harder to house break I think is a bunch of bologna! The problem with puppies is just that they have weak bladder systems, but usually they are corrected by a year of age. I would know because I had to train both my sisters dachshund and my neighbors German Shepherd, and if there was something in common with both of them is that they didn't stop peeing in the house till after about a year of age.
8 or maybe 9 weeks of age is about good also because the puppy has had enough time to be corrected by its mother, has also had time to learn to CORRECTLY associated with other dogs. At the same time it will also know that associating with humans isn't a bad thing.
I have a dog orientated dog, Junior. And quite frankly I have no problem with him. He was with his litter mates for about half a year! Then when he lived with his previous owner his company consisted of their Chow and me (every other day). He turned out to be a well balanced dog!
In conclusion I'll finish by saying that if the person is willing to dedicate time to correct behaviors as well as make sure the pup doesn't go through bad experiences and go through as many good experiences as possible, that person would be legible to get a puppy at a tender age (6-7 weeks). If a person will be busy and knows diddly squat about dogs, then I suggest that person should wait to maybe 10-12 weeks.
Hope I've given a satisfying answer Rainsmom! 
-Steven______________________________________________________________________________________  
 The Best Dog I Know: Junior
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Supreme Being
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| it was a good response steven I agree that alot of owners dont have the know how to own a young puppy, and I believe puppies should go to there new home at 8-10 weeks. I just thought this article was interesting because 2 of my dogs I got at 8 weeks and 1 I got at 12 weeks they are all well behaved and do not have any major problem, but the one I got at 12 weeks does have issues with walking on a leash. when I got him he had never been on a leash and lived on a farm. it took me 2 months just to get him to walk with a leash on, and still to this day ( he is now 4 y/o) he still doesnt like to go for walks. He lags behind with his tail between his legs. he is happier just chasing a soccer ball around the yard. So I have always wondered if I had got him when he was 8 weeks would he have been better about walking on a leash? Oh and I forgot to put in the book Sheltie Talk they say that day 49 is the best but if you dont sell your pup by then to wait until 9 weeks old. also the books state that bite inhibition is learned between 3-7 weeks. here is a quote from D.T.F.D.: puppies seperated from their canine familiy before they've had the oppurtunity for these experiences (3-7 weeks) tend to identify more with humans than other dogs. to simplify, they dont know they're dogs.
shelties rule!!!
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Supreme Being
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HEY, I'm surprised no one else posted on this great topic!!! Comm'on ppl give Rainsmom some feedback.  Yeah I knew your stand point on the subject, and the thing is that I wouldn't fret too much about what they say. There is always someone that wants to have a revolutionary idea or go against the flow. In this case I don't think they have much to back up what they say. Unless they were to run this with various breeds, and with a copious amounts of dogs, and then actually make thier results public, I don't think their opinions have much validity. I mean I met someone that was like this, and that had to go against the flow saying that he fed his dogs chocolate and things that allegidly(sp?) poisonous to dogs and has yet to see any proof that it is poisonous. So its just people like this who come up with strange ideas. I really don't think that dogs that are dog-orientated are more trouble like they claim. Really, Junior, like i meantioned, is more dog oreintated because of the way he was raise, and he is really obidient and also affectionate (to a certain extent). I don't think that your dog's disdain for the leash has to do completely with him being more dog orientated. Junior loves going out for walks, and he spend more times with dogs! I think that in your case, he just doesn't like going, a personality thing, you know? Then again ethology is just theories, right? So we may never know.
-Steven______________________________________________________________________________________ The Best Dog I Know: Junior
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Supreme Being
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| well I am guessing the 49 day thing must be an old school method since even though the D.T.F.D. is 2005 book the people who wrote it started in dogs in the 1960's. same with Sheltie Talk both breeders that wrote the book started in the 60's. I do believe Skylers leash issues have more to do with the fact he wasnt properly socialized and exposed to new things during the critical 8-12 week socialization period than the fact that he was 12 weeks. I just ment if I would have got him at 8 weeks he would have been exposed to much more than he was. He is getting better but you can tell he doesnt enjoy it like the other dogs. we have started agility with him which he seems to enjoy, and private obedience training, since he is off leash this year for 4-h. yes I thought it was an interesting subject and that more people would respond with their oppinions and experiences with their dogs but oh well  while we are on the subject of puppies what are your thoughts on the super puppy program or early nuerological stimulation? (the proper name)you can check it out at: just quote to see the link! I do plan on doing that with my pups I know the military uses it I hope it produces good results for my litter!
shelties rule!!!
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Supreme Being
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No good breeder will let his puppies go before the age of 8 weeks minimum.
The later the better.
8 weeks min., 12 weeks is better.
Our Dogs are not spoiled,we're just well trained
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