brookcove
Posted : 7/1/2008 3:12:49 PM
I prefer to get my puppers at about ten weeks if possible. I think the extra time with littermates and in the familar environment makes for a stronger start. It's not a deal breaker though.
I think a schedule is very important when moving a clever, naturally reserved dog into a new environment. Try to be consistent with the things you do each day, doing them at the same time, etc. This will also help with potty training immensely. I rarely have any problems with potty training, even with allowing pup to sleep loose at night. They typically sleep through the night here from ten and a half weeks and on.
I don't do a lot of insisting that a new pup notice me all the time, just at the right times. If I leave the room, I'll call, and if pup ignores me, it's time to get the leash. That's pretty much it. I don't care if a pup plays or snuggles with me or not. It's fun if the pup does, but it's most important that they show that I'm basically the most important thing in their world.
The first few nights, and in fact most of the time, for the first few weeks, pup will sleep in the bed with me. It seems to work well to transition the pup's need for comfort at night, to me - and I've never noticed any unhealthy tendencies growing from it (let's face it, at ten weeks old few puppies are plotting to overthrow the world).
Just remember that schedule and you should be fine. Your pup needs to know there are not wildeyed spaghetti monsters lurking in your home and the only way she'll learn that is by things happening in a predictable way, to allow her to assimilate all the new information.
Good luck!