Dog Community

Opinions Please! 8 week old or 22 week old?

Kara

Posted : 3/13/2006 11:30:42 AM

We have finally decided to make the comittment to bringing a dog into our family and have a specific breed in mind. The breed we are considering is a large working type dog. We are planning on training with her for Rally-O and possibly flyball. I have the opportunity to adopt a 5.5 month old puppy but am sitting on the fence about how an older puppy would work with us in our home. Here are my concerns, I was hoping to get some of your experienced opinions to help me with my decision.

Our Concerns:

1 • Not getting in that bonding time you have with a young puppy, at 8-10 weeks old.
2 • Missing out on the early training and socilization.
3 • I have two 13year old cats that would feel more threatened by an older, larger puppy that wasn't raised from a young age with them. The puppy is now of age that her prey drive is developing.
4 • Learning a new name. We would like to give her our own name, but she is used to the one the breeder is using.
5 • Missing out on all the young puppy trials, tribulations and joys.
6 • She has not been started on any obedience training or puppy kindergarten.

Here are some of the positive things we can think of:

1 • She sounds like she has the perfect personality that we are looking for.
2 • She is for the most part, housebroken already.
3 • She understands 'house' rules as she has been raised indoors with the breeder.
4 • She has been socialized with people, and some dogs.
5 • Already has a good start on vaccinations and wormings.

We are going to go visit the breeder this weekend to meet the puppy and will have to make our decision then. I appreciate any opinions you choose to share with me!! This is a hard decision. I don't want to make the wrong decision for the dog or for our family as it is a lifetime comittment!

Mic

Posted : 3/13/2006 11:52:42 AM

What breed of dog is this?

Our Concerns:

1 • Not getting in that bonding time you have with a young puppy, at 8-10 weeks old.

You can bond with a dog at any age. Dogs are VERY adaptable, and will respond well to a good leader. It all depends on how you introduce them to there new home.

2 • Missing out on the early training and socialization.

If the previous owners have made an effort to do this then you shouldn't have much to worry about.

3 • I have two 13year old cats that would feel more threatened by an older, larger puppy that wasn't raised from a young age with them. The puppy is now of age that her prey drive is developing.

This is going to vary from dog to dog. You need to determine how this particular pup responds to cats.

4 • Learning a new name. We would like to give her our own name, but she is used to the one the breeder is using.

You can teach her a new name in about 2 days.

5 • Missing out on all the young puppy trials, tribulations and joys.

Personally, I think this is a bit overrated.

6 • She has not been started on any obedience training or puppy kindergarten

You would want to get started right away. She is at an age where this should not be a problem.

Keep in mind, with the older dog you aren't going to be getting up EVERY night to take him out (he should be able to sleep through the night).

With all that said, You need to pick the one that is best for you.

glenmar

Posted : 3/13/2006 11:56:05 AM

I absolutely agree with Mic. At this age they are WONDERFULLY trainable. Those little goodies you miss out on in the early ages are truely highly over rated!

kaf

Posted : 3/13/2006 12:05:43 PM

I got Snuffa at 4 months and it has been absolutely wonderful!

Kara

Posted : 3/13/2006 12:09:45 PM

Thank you all for your responses so far, it is definitely making me feel more comfortable with getting the older Pup! Please keep the opinions coming!

My biggest concern I think is with my kitties and I guess its just something we will have to work on when the puppy is here.

Stef w

Posted : 3/13/2006 12:12:10 PM

We got Westley at 3 months. Tux at 7 months. I didn't miss the teething/biting/puppyness at all! We still had to housetrain, but we missed a lot of the annoying bits.

huskymom

Posted : 3/13/2006 12:17:29 PM

yup I agree with Mic and Glenda. Here's three things you will miss out on. Squatting in the house without any previous warning. Since the breeder has already been working on housebreaking, you should at least get a reliable signal that she needs to go out. And an undeveloped bite inhabition. My last 2 pups came to me at 9 weeks and the bite inhibition still needed a bit of work. Also you won't have to wait to be able to walk her. Her shots should be pretty much finished so she should be protected. Exercising a big dog pup is sooooo much easier to do when you can take them around the block a few times and not have to stay in your own back yard. The only thing I would really miss is the puppy breath. Although every once in a while mine still have it I swear.

agilebcs

Posted : 3/13/2006 12:34:45 PM

Older puppy!

I occasionally raise puppies for other people and have gotten it down to a science but an older pup is soooo much easier. As long as this older pup has gotten a good start in life it should be a breeze.

I've got one dog that I got at 5 month old. He bonded to me immediately and I also changed his name. It was no problem whatsoever for him.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 3/13/2006 12:55:35 PM

I just got a nine year old dog, and changed her name. She bonded to me within a day and responded to her new name immediately (of course, it had something to do with the way it was said). She is well past the age of being so easily trainable, but she's figuring things out. I don't see why the 5 month old would be a problem with any of those things.

Hillarie

Posted : 3/13/2006 1:10:13 PM

The cat thing is always first and foremost in my mind being that I have SIX of them!!! I have brought dogs in various ages from 2 week old bottle puppies through a 3 year old rescue that I adopted about a month ago. It just depends on the dog and if it is good with kitties. If the older dog is VERY preydriven I wouldn't do it and opt for the youngster and raise it with the kitties. However if the older one is good with kitties then I would go with that one!
The 3 year old rescue has already bonded strongly to my DH and I... picked up 9 different commands he didn't know when we got him, went through a name change and doesn't even respond to his old name if you say it...
With either one you'll be fine I think! Though I didn't miss puppy shark teeth in the begining days with Marshall! [

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bamaeskie

Posted : 3/13/2006 1:41:17 PM

Like you, one of our concerns was how a new puppy would interact with our cats. We got Dakota when he was 9 weeks old. Now he's almost 11 months old, and there is still some friction between him and one of the cats. At least now Ariel will walk in the same room as Dakota.

What worked for us is to give the cats a "safe place." If the cats don't want to be bothered by a bouncy puppy then they can go to this area. Our safe place is an extra room that has a baby gate in the doorway. The cats can jump over the gate as they please, but the dog can't.

BTW, we also have a litter-trained rabbit that we sometimes let roam the house (under close supervision with a dog in the house). When Dakota was a little puppy, he just wanted to try to pounce and play with the rabbit. He didn't know any commands including "leave it." Now, as an older puppy, I can put Dakota in a down-stay and allow the rabbit to hop around him (but still under close supervision). So with an older puppy, it should have a little more self-control. That also might help with the cats.

IMHO, if the older puppy you're interested in has a great personality, I would go for it. You can take it to puppy and obedience classes and bond with it. Plus, it's already possibly house-trained. It sounds like a winner to me!!!!!!!!

Lisa Riley

Posted : 3/13/2006 2:06:48 PM

I bought an eight month old puppy that was already crate trained ect. I had the same concerns about bonding and such. I can tell you she wasn't about to let us "not" bond with her she has very easily worked her way into our hearts even my husband "who claims we didn't need another dog!". Now he's bragging on the phone how wonderful she is. I work and so does my husband, so an older puppy worked out much better.

Mic

Posted : 3/13/2006 2:40:52 PM

I am just curious, what breed of dog are we talking about?

Kara

Posted : 3/13/2006 2:53:08 PM

We will be adopting a female Dogo Argentino.

Mic

Posted : 3/13/2006 3:02:58 PM

I am still advocating for the older dog, but check him out VERY closely.

I have seen Rotts, Dogo's, Cane Corso's, Mastiff's and other similar breeds demonstrating dominant aggressive behavior as early as 5 months. Dogo's are known for there dominance and drive.

"The Argentine Dogo is not a breed for everyone. All dogs are individuals and some are more dominant or possess a stronger prey drive than others. Breeders should work with prospective owners to match the dog with the household. They are good with other pets if they are raised with them from puppyhood. This white mastiff needs early socialization with other animals. It also requires early obedience training."

This breed needs an extremely firm (but loving) handler. There is no room for gray area.

Let me know if you need help integrating this dog into your home.