A warning about collecting your Labrador puppy at five or six weeks old
It is not unusual to come across people that have brought their new Labrador puppy home at the tender age of six weeks. Occasionally even younger. There are some good reasons why you should not do this, but of course sometimes you may feel that it just cannot be helped. A breeder gets taken into hospital, or even dies, for example, and the distraught relatives need to rehome the puppies early.
If you are considering taking pity on the breeder and their family and tempted to take on a five or six week old puppy, you need to know what you are getting yourself into.
Let’s have a look at what puppies learn in those last two weeks that they normally spend with Mum and siblings before going to their new homes at eight weeks old.
Bite inhibition
The process of learning bite inhibition is a long one. It begins whilst puppies are quite small and first learning to play with one another and with their mother. And it carries on until they are several months old.
By the time you bring a puppy home at eight weeks, however needle sharp you think his teeth are, he has already learned a lot of bite inhibition from his mum and siblings. Although you have to continue this process, some of the hard work has already been done.
At nine weeks, my own young pup could crush the bone in a chicken wing in seconds, yet never actually even drew blood when biting my fingers. Although it still hurt, her Mum had already taught her to ‘pull her punches’, yet she was actually capable of crushing the bones in my fingers.
If you take a puppy home at six weeks, you will have to do even more of ‘Mum’s’ job and teach the puppy not to cause actual bodily harm when she bites. This is not easy and has to be done in stages. You cannot just punish the dog for all biting or it will not learn the vital skill of bite inhibition. You can read more about bite inhibition here: Biting
Bite inhibition problems are more likely with puppies that have been removed from Mum too early, and can be very difficult to manage if you have small children.
Touch tolerance
A puppy in the nest is being jostled constantly. This is a normal part of growing up within a ‘litter’.
Puppies that are removed from this jostling experience too young may dislike being touched or bumped in certain parts of their bodies. There is a potential for this to lead to behavioural problems, including aggression, later in life.
Finding a playmate
The main issues around bringing puppies home too young need to be addressed by finding your puppy another puppy or puppies of a similar age and size to play with, on a regular basis. This will go some way towards helping to balance the disadvantages of being removed from the nest too young, or of being a singleton puppy.
If you have an older dog that will play sensibly with the puppy, and teach him some rules without being too rough, then that too will help.
You will also need to make a lot of effort to handle this puppy a great deal. Get her used to having her body touched all over, as often as you can.
Resist the temptation
If a breeder asks you to take a puppy home at five to six weeks of age, be very suspicious.
Only in the most dire circumstances should a breeder let puppies go this young. The death of the puppy’s mother is not a good reason for separating the litter at six weeks.
Bear in mind that some disreputable breeders will make up excuses to get rid of puppies when they get to this age.
This is the point at which the puppies are becoming both time consuming, messy, and expensive to care for.
It is a full time job keeping them fed and clean for the next couple of weeks. But a responsible breeder will have prepared for that.
Short of a personal disaster, no reputable breeder will normally request or permit a puppy to leave her premises before eight weeks.
Adopting puppies under 6 weeks old
You’ll find articles online, telling you how to care for a six week old puppy, what toys to buy etc. But you won’t find one on this site because our policy is to discourage the practice of bringing puppies home before 8 weeks old.
Even more concerning is the practice of selling puppies at four or five weeks old, or in some cases, younger.
These days I don’t get quite so many letters from people who are desperately worried because the puppy they have purchased at three or four weeks old (yes really) is very, very, sick as I used to ten years ago. So perhaps breeding standards are rising.
But I do want to address one argument put to me recently. And it’s a valid one. I received a letter from a reader in India who felt I did not understand the situation there.
He told me that in many cases, breeders were so awful that puppies were most likely to survive if removed from them at the earliest possible opportunity.
He felt – and I understand this – that by bringing his puppy home at five weeks old, he probably saved the puppy’s life.
The problem with this argument is exactly the same as the argument here in the UK or in the USA against buying puppies from puppy mills or pet stores, or out of the back of a van.
If you buy that one puppy – to ‘rescue it’ you are effectively dooming hundreds of other puppies to a similar squalid existence and poor start in life. And in may cases to an early death.
The breeder is only in it for money, so every puppy they sell, they will replace with another.
Short of dramatic changes in the law which are not going to happen any time soon, the only way to stop this horrible trade is to dry up the demand for poorly bred puppies. And that is really down to you, the puppy buyer.
The outlook for the adult female dogs used to produce those puppies is even worse, so please spare a thought for them too.
Buying a puppy from the wrong breeder just perpetuates bad breeding practices. The answer is to walk away and find someone that is breeding dogs responsibly.
Think hard
Do think hard before bringing such a young puppy home. You are naturally impatient to collect your new puppy, but six weeks is really too young. Resist the temptation if you can, remember that it is a really bad idea to bring a puppy home before he is at least seven weeks old, both for your sake and his.
(paid link)Visit our Labrador puppy section for more information about caring for your new puppy
Free Labrador Updates!
Get my training tips, news, reviews, and the latest from The Labrador Site delivered to your inbox
i have a singleton 6 week old puppy. he has a mom but no siblings. im worried about big inhibition and socialization. i dont want to get him too close to other puppies because of the risk of parvo. i have stuffed toys for him. do you have any suggestions?
Im so sad and regretful for seeing Ur article now. I bought a German spitz dog 6 weeks and 4 days old. I talked with my breeder and they were ok with it.i’m giving her meals on time 4 times a day and mixing medicines namely digyton 2 times a day,supplements 2 times and I just gave her deworming medicine this morning before food1.2 ml as suggested by my vet. iam actually cursing myself please give me some precious suggestions as of how to give her the best.I know I can’t be a substitute of her mother and siblings but please give me some suggestion on how to take care of her to the best.
If I get some tips it would b appreciated thank you
The puppy I found was on the side of the road, so I need 6 week information.
Hi Heather, I recommend that you have a chat with your vet, who will be happy to advise you. Best of luck, Lucy
Too sad for pup
I wonder if you can help me. Bought a puppy at 8 weeks old she has been house trained with training pads. But until she got to 16 weeks still with traing pads poo’s on the floor instead of her training floor pads any suggestions to retrain her> I take her out for a walk every day and she is well behaved on and off the lead. She goes on puppy traing class and is happy and well behaved.
Hi,
Recently an add came across facebook, and this lady has collie/lab pups for free. the lady got them from her cousin(who wasn’t hardly caring for them) and she needed to give them away to other families, because she dont have the room nor the lifestyle for a 8 puppies. so i went to her house and picked one up, a little girl. she is 5-1/2 weeks old. i heard thats too soon for them to be given away but i am at the stage now of, “what do i do from here?” puppy is weened on moistened dry food, drinking water, pottying outside, and of course loads of play time. I would appreicate any and all advice on what i need to do to care for my puppy. i plan to take her to a vet soon but i dont know much about raising puppies. i know i wanted a baby. but i didnt know she was gonna be this small. but i am ready to learn and teach my new baby girl.
Hello, I have a question about whether or not it’s wise to get a husky/malamute mix puppy that is now 9 weeks, but the lady who is selling her brought her home 3 weeks ago (at 6 weeks) and is now getting rid of her because “she already has 2 dogs and doesn’t have the time or attention to give a new puppy.” So my question is should I keep looking for another pup that has had the full 8 weeks with the litter?
Hello my name is Christine. We were planning to adopt a 8 week lab/husky but the breeder called my mom and told her to come get the puppy at 5 weeks. He is now 6 weeks and has been with us for a week but he bites absolutely everything and everyone. He also refuses to sleep through the night. I’ll wake up and take him out to go potty but when he is done, he won’t fall back asleep and just cries untill let out of his crate. I am aware of how young he his but when we pet him or are just laying down he will “stalk” us and start to bite and growl. Can you please help? I don’t want to get rid of him but I might be loosing my patience.
Hi! I have exactly the same problem. The owner insisted so we took our pup at 6 weeks. He’s been with us already a week. Due to some health problems I am and will be staying home for another 2-3 months so I am with my pup all day long. He bites all the time, me, everthying that comes in his way. Already second day we managed potty training so he doesnt even have accidents anymore which is great success but problem is he is crying everytime I’m not paying attention to him. I literally cant even do dishes without him sitting next to me and crying. My question is is it gonna stop the crying? Is it only now cuz he is so small and was taken aways from mother too soon. I will start working again and he will have to stay home alone for few hours and Im really scared that what if its not gonna stop. I’ve been searching all over internet for two days now but no one can really answer me.
My husband and I went and picked a puppy out, and we will be getting him in about 2 weeks, once he is 6 weeks old. I love what you said finding them a playmate, so that they start socializing at a young age. We have another dog, and I think he will be a good buddy for him, he is a very relaxed dog.
Hi I have a breeder that’s wanting me take my pup at 6weeks they called today said that the puppy has been dewormed and had her shots today she’s only 4weeks old now I’m thinking she wants me to get her early so she doesn’t have to pay for the 6-8weeks shots. She said she has been away from her mother for a week and is eating and drinking fine I’m just wondering if I should wait until 8 weeks to get her or should I just take to the vet when I get her at 6weeks
Hi Anthony, Please take another look at the article. Your puppy should remain with her littermates and mother until she is 8 weeks old.
Hi,
i have a 7 week old labrador and she doesnt respond well to noises. Its been almost 2 days since it came to her new home. I am very curious that it might be deaf
regards
We found Labrador puppies for sale and they are supposedly not breeders. They want everyone to get their puppies when they turn 6 weeks old. They will not be vet checked so I am taking our puppy to the vet the next day. Any suggestions or concerns about getting her this early? She along w the other puppies are being kept in a barn. I have 2 small children and an 8yr old pug. Suggestions on training this early and chewing/biting? Thanks
Hi Michelle, the information you need is in the article above. You should not purchase a Labrador puppy at six weeks old for the reasons given and because it demonstrates that the breeder is not responsible. Your first task when sourcing a puppy is to find a responsible breeder. Good luck with your search.
Good day,
We are getting a lab puppy at 7weeks. Its in between too early and correct timing, so I hope this isn’t too bad?
My question is this: Our pups mom did not give birth naturally and had to be rushed to the vet to help remove the pups. 4 of the 5 were still born, so our pup is an only child.
I met him at 3 weeks(yesterday) and he is quite a big(fat) pup.
I guess he did not have to fend of 4 brothers and sisters for milk/attention from mom!
I would like to know how this will affect him in future?
I want to take the best possible care of our new family member!
Thank you
Hi Pipa! My 4 months old lab as lost a tooth while playing with a rope, ( the rope is suitable for dogs). Is one of the front peaked…..I don t know if its normal or not. Can you help me? Thank you so much.
waht am i going to feed my lab puppy 3 to 4 weeks old
I have a yellow labrador puppy 2 month old. His nose is slightly brown on edges and remaining is black. Is it a problem or normal. He is very active and healthy and weigh around 4 Kgs much heavier then other siblings.
I got a lab mixed with a cur yesterday. It’s a female and she is 6 weeks old. I’ve brought her around a lot of people and she is very quiet. With me she plays and stuff but bites alot. Any way I can help out with that instead of punishing her. And also , she won’t drink water. I’ve given her milk and she’s drank that. I gave her some moist food from Petco and she’s eating that. I got her puppy formula but she won’t drink it. Any ideas on what to do ?
Hi James, there is a link in the article above to help with biting. This is the article on feeding a puppy but it is for puppies of seven weeks and over.
Pippa
pippa i got labrador puppies at 3 weeks….i made a big mistake……..now n feedin him with cows milk……..will it engh?…….plz help me out
Hi there! I understand that this page is for labs but I feel this is relevant. I was puppy hunting with my fiance and found a beautiful little boy (we’ll call him Dexter) The owner is not an experienced breeder and the litter was an accident. They were going to just get rid of the pups (AT 3 WEEKS OLD) to a shelter or who nows where. I Rescued one pup and even offered a small amount of money to encourage them to keep it with the mother and the other pups till they are of age. He is now 7 weeks old and I’m concerned with how he is being handled. REMEMBER I rescued him. the other dogs will go to a shelter at 8 weeks. I want to know if at 7 weeks it is better to bring him home and have control over what he eats and his experiences or if another week in an unpredictable environment is worth it. Please note that there is no cruelty at its current home. Just an unprepared accidental breeder who got in over his head.
It sounds like a bit of a judgement call. Without knowing a great deal more it would be a difficult one to make.
Pippa
Hi, My name is Sarah,
My puppy Alfie is now 4months old nearly 5 months, he is a Labrador crossed with a German Sheperd, he’s such a clever little character! His Mum is the German Sheperd and his Dad is the Labrador. When I first got him he was 5 weeks (nearly 6 weeks old) old due to his mother abandoning them and was becoming aggressive towards the liter. When he was 5 weeks old we had to feed him his milk every 4 hours, i’m not going to lie it was hard but you get used to it and the routine/very early mornings become easier to handle. Its just absolutely amazing watching them grow and develop and the little things they do what make them unique. He’s no trouble at all, and thats quite rare to say with a puppy, he is crate trained also. He used to nip quite a bit but what puppy doesn’t, this website helped a great deal in dealing with it and cutting it out for good and now he hardly does it. He’s going puppy training at the end of the month just to top up his training and my knowledge so I can be the best for him as he’s so mentally alert I need to think of new things for him so he doesn’t get bored aswell. He loves his walks, I follow the 5 min walk for every month etc and he loves it! Cant wait to take him for long walks on the beach or in the forest, he’s so good on the lead already so with the puppy training he will be even better at it. He gets plenty of my time which is great for both of us, my partner works full time so i’m at home with Alfie and I work a few hours in the mornings but my mum only lives just down the road so if need be my mum will let him out in the garden.
Hi Pippa, I am currently waiting on a puppy of my own and am suppose to pick it up the third week in December. It is not a labrador but a Siberian Husky. After coming across you article online I have become very concerned. The breeder that I have purchased him from requires the new puppy owners to pick their puppies up at 6 weeks old. Her website states that she has been a breeder of Huskies for 15 yrs. and that she will not hold a puppy past pick up date unless there is an emergency situation. She also has people who have puppies in this litter that have come to her before. I have already paid the non-refundable deposit for this puppy and will have the time to give it all the special attention that it requires. Should I just take the loss and find another breeder? Will he really be that damaged it i do get him at 6 weeks? I have done my research on this breed and have found that they can be aggressive if not properlly trained right so I am a little scared now that this can cause many problems in the way he turns out.
Hi there Cara
This site is for and about Labradors but much of what is written here applies to all breeds of dog.
If there is some particular reason why Siberian huskies should be adopted at six weeks I am not aware of it. Nor can I imagine what reasonable ground for such a requirement might be. But that does not mean I would discount it out of hand. If I were buying an unusual breed like this, I would consult with the breed clubs in the first instance.
I am sure that you have already done your research, but this is the UK Siberian Husky Club’s page of minus points for those thinking of owning a Siberian Husky. It does not mention early adoption as being necessary. Here is a page from the American Club, again, it does not mention early adoption.
The fact that someone has been breeding for 15 years and has return customers, does not make them a good breeder. It does not make them a bad breeder either. I would however be very suspicious of the six week requirement and in your position I would be consulting with the Kennel Club and Siberian Husky Club in your region for advice first thing on Monday morning.
Good luck with your decision, and I hope you get some good advice. Pippa
Hi Pippa I sent you an e-mail before about my friends buying a Labrador puppy. Not only did they visit and were all in with and handling the puppies at 2 weeks old but they have just shown me recent pics of the puppy they chose being bathed at 4 weeks! I am beginning to think that they have made a mistake and the breeder although knows all about the health issues in breeding but really doesn’t know much about behaviour and how it is important that the puppies get the best start possible.
My friends have set their site high in that they want a Labrador the same as my Holly, as she is very well behaved and is a dream to own. I bought Holly at 9 weeks old, I never got to view the pups until they were six weeks. She came from a man who was very experienced in breeding gun dogs and took part in the sport. He also practised as a dog behaviourist. I actually asked for his expertise when picking Holly as a puppy and as a result a got a big healthy puppy who was easy to train with his guidance. he has now retired but I keep intouch with him. Not sure that my friends pup is going to have such a good start.
Pauline x
Hope it all turns out ok for your friends Pauline
Pippa
As a hobby breeder of 7 years experience and a dog owner for over 20 years, I found your article on collecting puppies early very interesting. However, I am concerned that you missed one of the most important reasons. In the UK it is against the law (Welfare of Dogs Acts 2004) to remove a puppy from the breeder, it’s place of rearing and the dam before the puppy is 8 weeks old.
Please keep up the good work
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for your comment. I can’t find a 2004 act on google. The
1999 act does state that a keeper of a licensed breeding establishment must not sell a puppy before 8 weeks.
But I believe that most breeders are not licenced ( it defines a licenced breeding establishment for dogs as one where its keeper is licensed under the 1973 Act.)
So presumably the law does not apply to the vast majority of breeders that are hobby breeders, and this means that these breeders can legally let puppies go at any age they choose?
Pippa
It is an interesting subject. Does anyone have any more information on this? Or a link to a more recent Act?
I knew a breeder (an amateur, not a registered breeder) who insisted on keeping his puppies until they were 12 weeks old. I have a lovely Black Lab now who is a great friend but was more difficult to train than the Boxer I bought from that breeder years ago. I wonder what your view is on this issue as his stated reason was to ensure they had learned a lot from their mother before leaving home, and it seemed to work well.