How early to take lab pup home

[Duckslayer89]

How early is the earliest to bring them home?

[jackelope]

I think 8 weeks is the standard.

[callturner]

42 days, 6 weeks.

[ghosthunter]

Ok this

But 8 weeks is better in my opinion.
Because the breeder can switch them to solid food for you.


3 and 6 weeks
Labrador puppies should be weaned between 3 and 6 weeks. It is a process that begins with introducing puppies to a warm canine replacement milk and puppy mash at 3 weeks and then slowly reducing how much time they spend with mom to eat. Puppies should be eating dry puppy dog food by 6 weeks old.

[Duckslayer89]

Ok this

But 8 weeks is better in my opinion.
Because the breeder can switch them to solid food for you.


3 and 6 weeks
Labrador puppies should be weaned between 3 and 6 weeks. It is a process that begins with introducing puppies to a warm canine replacement milk and puppy mash at 3 weeks and then slowly reducing how much time they spend with mom to eat. Puppies should be eating dry puppy dog food by 6 weeks old.

She says they are already on dry puppy food and they have been for a while. I heard something about time with litter mates is important but I’ve heard 6 weeks is ok but some say 8

[HillHound]

In my experience the longer time they have with the litter the more understanding and respect they get for their bite. It seems like the dogs I have had and been around that were separated earlier had more of a tendency to playfully bite. Longer with their brothers and sisters they realize the pain they can inflict and the pain that comes back on them when bitten. But I’m sure this can all be taught By you, just a little less pain letting the other puppies learn together. My brother actually used to hold his puppies down and bite them back if they bit him. He doesn’t have a dog that bites now so I guess I can’t argue with the method

[KP-Skagit]

Wolters says in Waterdog that 49 days is the best. I am not sure it matters a ton but that's what my dad and I have always done. Its worked.

Theory presented in the book is at 7 weeks the pecking order in the litter has not been established so you get a blank slate. No bullies and bullied.

[Duckslayer89]

Sweet thanks for all the advice guys much appreciated. I’m just getting antsy and want him home as soon as possible but responsible as well lol

[tank21]

 

Wolters says in Waterdog that 49 days is the best. I am not sure it matters a ton but that's what my dad and I have always done. Its worked.

Theory presented in the book is at 7 weeks the pecking order in the litter has not been established so you get a blank slate. No bullies and bullied.

 

[JBG]

8-10 weeks is what the last few professional trainers/breeders would let me take a pup home.  I have taken some home at 7 weeks but it is just more work.  At 8 weeks minimum they've gotten all the worm treatments and 1-2 vax. 

Also get your dog on a good training program.  Anything by Bill Hillman or the Smartworks series.  Actually anything by anyone other than Wolters. 

[Fl0und3rz]

Conflicting advice on Wolters versus others.  At the risk of threadkjacking, please be more clear on your preferences and why for noobs, like me.

[vandeman17]

I have always lived by the 8 week rule of thumb. There are exceptions but for the most part, 8 weeks is safe.

[JBG]

Wolters at his core was a writer.  He was not a dog trainer who decided to write a book about the years of expertise he had gained.  His books water dog came out in the early 1960's and much has changed in the way professionals train dogs.  In his books he doesn't cover ecollar conditioning or force fetch which are modern tools and building blocks for retrievers today.  If a person follows one of the more modern programs they can take their dog way farther than they could if they just followed Wolters program.  I am saying this as someone who as a teenager trained two labs following Wolters.  They were fine dogs but once I started using Smartworks my eyes were opened (written by a 2x or 3x Field Trial winner).  Many of these authors are active on internet forums or available by phone for consultation if you have issues during your training.  The differece in methods and technology used would be like someone saying "I want to type a letter" you could hand them a type writer or an internet connected computer.  The job would get done but one can go much further with greater ease using the computer than the type writer. 

[BD1]

My dog's breeder required 8 weeks unless you wanted to wait and pay boarding fees. It has been perfect for me. 

[Fl0und3rz]

Wolters at his core was a writer.  He was not a dog trainer who decided to write a book about the years of expertise he had gained.  His books water dog came out in the early 1960's and much has changed in the way professionals train dogs.  In his books he doesn't cover ecollar conditioning or force fetch which are modern tools and building blocks for retrievers today.  If a person follows one of the more modern programs they can take their dog way farther than they could if they just followed Wolters program.  I am saying this as someone who as a teenager trained two labs following Wolters.  They were fine dogs but once I started using Smartworks my eyes were opened (written by a 2x or 3x Field Trial winner).  Many of these authors are active on internet forums or available by phone for consultation if you have issues during your training.  The differece in methods and technology used would be like someone saying "I want to type a letter" you could hand them a type writer or an internet connected computer.  The job would get done but one can go much further with greater ease using the computer than the type writer. 

Ahh.  Thank you.