04/01/2024
We've gotten a number of posts on the theme of when to place puppies and I just want to make some very general statements on this.
1. The optimal time to place a puppy splits the end of the critical socialization period between the breeder and the puppy owner. So the breeder gets to shepherd the puppy through the first part and do all the "firsts" and the puppy owner gets to customize the socialization experience to their lifestyle. The breeder is typically more experienced and better able to navigate those tricky first intros, but the puppy owner typically has more time and energy to pour into individual socialization and training.
2. That having been said, there is no magic in warehousing puppies for an extended period of time. If the breeder is not going to be willing or able to do active socialization, training and enrichment protocols, the puppy is not going to benefit by staying longer with their litter than traditional placement age. So when you're looking at the breeder, are they doing things like leash walking, outside socialization experiences, and crate and confinement training? Or just keeping a bunch of puppies in a pen with lots of toys and gadgets?
3. For us, this works out to placing puppies at about 10 weeks of age. That gives the puppy owners a solid two weeks to customize the socialization experience. But I will not lie to you, those last two weeks between 8 and 10 weeks are a LOT of work and we take that responsibility of keeping those puppies for that extra time very seriously.
4. And, as I mentioned, developmental differences are huge...at 9 weeks our puppies are beginning to look for "their people" but are still very flexible...GSD puppies are beginning to take on their littermates and mistrust novelty...and Norwich Terrier puppies are still nursing. So, no, there is not "an age" that is best to place puppies.
5. I think the operant question is not so much at what age the breeder is placing the puppies as what is the breeder doing with the puppies while they have them? Are they keeping them long enough to complete important protocols? Are the actually doing that work? Are they careful not to place the puppies during a fear period?
6. All that having been said, there are certainly outside limits to this. I think it's safe to say that a breeder who is looking to place puppies at 6 weeks old is not doing what needs to be done with those puppies, at least in terms of what we at Puppy Culture believe should be done. It's just an enormous red flag.
7. But, even then, there are some cases where placing the puppies really early could be a legitimate decision. The example i always use is a giant breed puppy that would have to fly in cargo if you waited until 10 weeks to place the puppy. I would place a puppy at 7 weeks old in an experienced home with a good adult dog before I would have a 10 week old puppy be shipped in cargo. So there is some nuance, here.
8. My final comment, and I have warned about this before, do not bring up "it's illegal where I live to place puppies before x age." The people who write those laws are not breeders, don't know dogs, and don't know what's best for puppies. I'm sorry for you if you live in a place that is governed by an ignorant animal rights cabal. But the fact that "it's illegal" does not somehow legitimize or lend credence to that practice.
9. And, OK, my final final comment is that I get how frustrating this is as a puppy seeker. I am trying to help my sister find a kitten of a specific breed and it's just really frustrating to navigate the waters of breeders who are ethical in the sense of health and good genetics but really just warehouse kittens and sell them. If you have a very specific breed in mind it's really just dumb luck if you find a breeder who truly does it all. I don't really have an answer, just sympathy for your position ❤.
