02/03/2025
MESSAGE TO ALL BREEDERS AND PET OWNERS....
As a breeder and trainer, I’ve observed an increasing trend that’s raising concerns—puppies being kept with their littermates well past 6 weeks of age, often until 4 months old or even later. While this may seem like a well-intentioned approach to provide more time for socialization, it can actually contribute to adjustment and behavioral issues once these pups go to their new homes.
Why Early Separation Matters:
Puppies experience critical developmental periods, especially between 3 to 14 weeks of age. This window is when they form lasting impressions of the world around them, including humans, different environments, and new experiences. Keeping them exclusively with their litter beyond 8 weeks can limit exposure to these essential socialization experiences.
Ideal Age for Transition: Puppies should begin transitioning to their new homes around 8 weeks of age. This allows them to benefit from early learning opportunities in their new environment while still being young enough to adapt easily.
Potential Issues with Late Separation: Puppies kept with their littermates past 12 weeks may show signs of fearfulness, anxiety, reactivity, difficulty adjusting to new environments, and poor social skills with both humans and other dogs. This is because they’ve missed the critical phase where they’d typically be exposed to diverse stimuli outside the litter.
Common Misconceptions: Some believe that extended time with the mother and litter reduces behavioral issues. While early separation before 6 weeks can indeed lead to problems like aggression and poor bite inhibition, delaying beyond 8 weeks without proper environmental enrichment can also cause long-term issues.
The Key Takeaway:
The best approach is a balanced one. Puppies benefit from staying with their mother and littermates until at least 8 weeks old to learn bite inhibition and social cues. However, they also need exposure to human interaction, different environments, and new experiences during this time. Delaying placement beyond 12 weeks without structured socialization can hinder their development.
If you’re a breeder or new puppy owner, early, positive exposure to the world is one of the best gifts you can give your dog. Let’s set them up for success from the start.
