This is a hotly debated topic on the internet. Most answers range from 7 to 10 weeks, with some bizarre answers reaching all the way to several months.What is the correct answer? When is the best time to bring a golden retriever puppy home?
What are the factors to consider before removing a puppy from its litter-mates and mother to begin a new life together with its soon-to-be owners?
It is important to think about the long-term negative effects that a puppy’s premature death could have on their health.
Too young a Puppy can be taken from its mother
Studies have shown that removing a puppy from its litter-mates and mother too early can lead to behavioral and personality problems later on in life.
- Over-reactivity
- Fearfulness
- To be a good consumer of food and toys
- Anxiety
- Increased aggression
- Learning difficulties
These behavior problems are caused by a puppy not learning important lessons from its mother and siblings. These lessons are crucial for a normal puppy’s development.
What can a puppy learn from its mother and siblings – what happens if it is not there?
It is vital that puppies learn from their mother and litter-mates. If they don’t, it could be a long time before they are fully developed.
You can bite inhibition
A puppy who bites or hurts its mother or litter-mates will get yelled at and snappy. The puppy will either move away from their litter-mate or mother because they have been hurt and this can end their play and enjoyment. This, along with the fact that they are often biting their litter-mates, provides continuous feedback and education about how painful biting can sometimes become.
They learn quickly to control their bite and not to go all out when they play a bit. This is known as bite inhibition and is something every dog should learn.
A puppy that is removed from its nest too quickly will miss this learning experience. The responsibility then passes to the new owner, who will initially have a puppy who bites hard. Sometimes, it can be extremely difficult.
Acceptance of Discipline
Their mother will discipline their puppy if they do wrong in the nest. A puppy may sometimes throw a fit, but their mother will not be moved.
They are taught that bad behavior can lead to discipline and they must accept this fact. They realize that their actions have consequences, and they can’t have it their way.
This interaction is crucial and can lead to behavioral problems and a dog who doesn’t listen and obey their commands. This makes it more difficult for owners to control their dogs and makes it harder to train.
Touch Tolerance
Your dog should be able to take being touched on their body. This will allow you and other people to groom them and inspect their health.
A puppy in the nest will constantly be pawed at, clawed, rubbed on, and climbed by its litter-mates. Your puppy will soon become accustomed to touching and be very tolerant.
If a puppy is removed too soon, it may not be able to handle the touch. This can lead to a dog who doesn’t like being touched or even becoming aggressive.
Canine Communication, Pack Hierarchy, and What It Means to Be a Dog
The litter teaches the puppy everything about the hierarchy of the pack, dominance, and following the lead.
They learn how dogs talk to each other, canine body language, and subtle physical signals dogs emit to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
They are taught how to play safely and with other species in a respectful and happy manner.
If a puppy is taken too soon, they will not be able to enjoy the benefits and will become less socialized with other dogs. This could lead to a dog that is afraid of other dogs, isn’t able to interact with other dogs or is socially awkward.
This could mean that he spends less time with his species or not at all, and is forced to walk in the dog parks and woods with other dogs. They are ultimately less fulfilled.
Is it too difficult to leave a puppy with its mother?
First, a puppy being left with its mother for too long is not as dangerous as if it was taken away too soon. As long as the puppy has been socialized well, it shouldn’t be abandoned. This is what you need to remember when leaving your puppy with its mother.
Before a puppy reaches 14 weeks old, they must be exposed to as many sights and sounds as possible. You don’t want your dog to be afraid of anything.
The 14-week window of opportunity is when a puppy feels safe and has a high level of curiosity, which encourages it to try out new things. The puppy will fear new things after 14 weeks. This is a natural instinct for survival in nature.
A puppy’s first 14 weeks are when it forms its strongest relationships with other animals and people. For the best relationship between you and your puppy, you should have your puppy live with you and see your family so that your puppy feels like a member of the human pack.
Think about it, if you adopt a puppy aged 8 weeks, you will have 6 weeks to get them to the mall, the park, and the pet shop. To meet as many people as possible, take them to the beach, the car, or to the pool. You only have 14 days if you get them before they turn 12 weeks old.
It is not a good idea to leave a puppy alone with its mother.
How old is the best age to bring a Golden Retriever puppy home?
I haven’t mentioned in this article the ideal age to bring a puppy home.
This is why I did it! You can read the entire thing to hopefully get an idea of why you should be following this advice.
You can leave a puppy with its litter-mates and mother until they reach 8 weeks old. After that, you can bring him or her home.
The ideal age to take a puppy from its litter-mates and bring it home to live with you is 8 weeks. They are at this age when they have learned a lot from their litter-mates and mother, but they are still able to form strong bonds with other people and accept new environments.
It’s possible to get them sooner, as they are adorable when young. You could endanger your puppy’s development and cause behavioral problems. This could also affect their future.
You should not wait more than 8 weeks before you take your puppy home. This could lead to them missing out on important socialization opportunities. Responsible breeders will start this process before 8 weeks. However, it is something you should be aware of and ensure your puppy is well taken care of.
Conclusion
Your puppy should be 8 weeks old when you bring him home. It’s best for your puppy, best to you, and best for your future relationship.
If a breeder tells you to adopt them sooner, it is likely to be trying to cut down on the time and effort they put into their care and to make a profit by selling them off faster. They are not acting in the best interest of the puppies.
You can leave your puppy with its mother until 8 weeks old. This is a crucial time when your puppy learns many things that you will never be able to replace.
This early bonding time with their mother will ensure that a puppy is well-trained and ready to spend the rest of his life with you.
Don’t feel obligated to take your puppy home an extra week or so early. Leave your puppy with their mother for 8 weeks.