>I think it really depends on the breed. Some breeds do just fine being >separated at 6 weeks while others need a couple more weeks. Our breeder >would not let us take Herbie home until he was 10 weeks... the other breeder >we are talking to about a Dachshund will let us take the puppy at 8 weeks.
There's a big, big difference between 6 weeks and 8 weeks in a puppy's development, and it really isn't something that is breed specific. The difference you saw is just that some breeders prefer to hedge their bets and keep the puppies longer while some are happy to let them go earlier (a litter of puppies is a lot of trouble!) But all the experts say you really want the puppy to stay with mom and littermates until at *least* 7 weeks of age, preferably 8-9 weeks. There just is no substitute for the early socialization skills that they learn during this time, they learn dog behavior, bite inhibition, etc. I'd consider it ever *more* important in a breed like JRT that can be somewhat aggressive towards other dogs and nippy with people. In fact, I looked up the Code of Ethics for the JRTCA and it specifically states puppies should not be placed before 8 weeks of age. http://www.terrier.com/jrtca/BCOEJan2004.pdf --- Mary Jo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Introducing the Fusion Authority Quarterly Update. 80 pages of hard-hitting, up-to-date ColdFusion information by your peers, delivered to your door four times a year. http://www.fusionauthority.com/quarterly Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:217247 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
