When to Wean a Puppy

It is important to keep puppies with their mothers and their litter-mates for the first few months of their lives. Though many breeders try to wean the puppies too early, it can do serious damage to the puppies’ health and mental state. It makes the puppies harder to train, and may even give them severe emotional issues. Due to the difficulty in training, many of these puppies end up at a shelter because they are too challenging for their new owners to handle. Here are some things to keep in mind regarding the period of time before puppies should be taken from their mothers.

It is generally recommended that puppies stay within their litters and their mother’s care for at least the first eight weeks of their lives. However many people would argue that it is really best to keep them with their mothers for twelve weeks, or three months. Typically, between eight and twelve weeks should be sufficient time for the puppies to mature enough to be removed from their mother’s care. These first few months are important for the puppy to learn essential life lessons. The mother dog will teach discipline to the puppy while still providing comfort, making the puppy more agreeable and easy to train later in life. Additionally, the litter mates teach social skills so that the puppy is well adjusted as a mature dog.

If you happen to get your puppy before it is eight weeks old, you have your work cut out for you. Instead of beginning training right from the start, you will need to keep your puppy close to you at all times for the next few weeks. He will be very confused and even frightened as it is unnatural for him to be away from his mother so early in life. It will take at least a few weeks until any training can begin. Additionally, as your puppy grows, you will need to provide plenty of opportunities for him to interact with other dogs, thus developing essential social skills. Anun-socialized puppy grows into an unpleasant adult dog, especially if he was taken away from his mother too early.

Remember that though you may be anxious to get a brand new baby puppy, it is important to let the mother dog finish her mothering duties before taking the puppy away. You will all benefit in the long run from the experience.