 Barked: Wed Jun 18, '08 6:59am PST |
 | |  | | Nine and a half years ago, we bought Tucker at 7 weeks. That is the earliest a pup is allowed to be sold in New York, which is where we lived at the time. Many states don't let you buy a pup before 8 weeks. The pups need the time to learn important communicating skills from their mother, and from the interaction they have with their siblings, who will yelp if they're biting too hard. Tucker interacts well with other dogs, but he sucks on fleece toys as if he were suckling. This is a habit he's had all his life. I don't know if he'd have benefitted from another week or two with mom, or whether this is just a personality thing with him. It seems to soothe him. Tuck is also a little rougher with his mouth than our rescue vizsla. Tuck doesn't break skin or make bruises when he plays, but there is a noticeable difference in gentleness between him and the rescue. Could be personality, but thought I'd mention it.
Dennis is a boy who was badly neglected and found wandering in a canyone with three other probable siblings, all in rough shape. We fostered him, then adopted him. The vet told us he was between one and two years old when we got him. He has bonded very well with us, so I don't think that it's true that there is a "magic" age for bonding, as long as the dog is within a year or two old. Past that, and it can be hard to change their mind about things. I think if I were buying a pup again, I'd buy one no sooner than eight weeks, and might even wait until 10 weeks. I know it's hard to wait, so honestly, if it were me, I could see myself picking up the pup at 8 weeks.
Have you checked out Ingle and Meads vizsla site? It's full of excellent breed information. |  |  | |  |
|
| my page | msg me | gift me | become pals | |
The Dog Show: Who's Your Mama?
9
