How old should my German Shepherd puppy be before I bring it home?

Pups should not be away from their mother and siblings until at least 8-10weeks of age to ensure they are fully weaned, have received at least one vaccination and have had an appropriate amount of socialisation with their litter mates and mother, early separation increases anxiety and aggression in many cases. HE should be fed a high quality puppy food and fresh water to drink 15-18months to ensure optimal development and to reduce the risk of growth deformities and joint disease. Be sure to deworm him regularly. The age at which he can be left in an outdoor enclosure depends on your local climate - your local vets office would be best placed to advise on local risk factors for both climate, vaccination schedules and parasite prevention (including ticks) - I recommend you call in and have a chat with them before you bring any puppy home

Either is fine, to be honest. I would check to see what training the 7 month old German Shepherd has had with the old owner, and check vaccine records as well as heartworm, fleas, and deworming treatments. You would not have to worry about house training an older puppy, which is great. He will get used to you. I got a Basset Hound who was two years old, and he adjusted great to my house. He's been with us for almost three years now. I hope this helps!

I typically try to encourage breeders to adopt out around 7-8 weeks of age. It comes down to socialization and being around the mom as long as possible. Socialization has been known to begin between 3-6 weeks and if you take the puppy away from the littermates too early, then this benefit of socialization could be harmed. I would encourage the breeder to hold on to the puppy for another 1-2 weeks longer than normal. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. I do not know if it is illegal to take a puppy away from its mother at 6 weeks of age, but it is a very common practice. By 6 weeks, the puppies are large enough to eat on their own, & may actually be tearing up the mother's breasts as they aggressively nurse. Now, puppies do seem to develop better social skills if they are left with their siblings until they are 8-12 weeks, but this does not mean your pup will have any problems. Do not feel bad. I am sure she will develop into a great dog, especially since you are already so concerned about her welfare. Do not listen to people on social media. Only the loudest & nastiest comments will come through. Care for her as any puppy, have your vet check her out as soon as possible to make sure she is healthy & parasite free, & obtain vaccinations as your veterinarian recommends. You will do great. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

No, I recommend waiting at least until 7-8 weeks after puppy has been with mom. These weeks are important for puppy to bond with the mom and to develop behaviorally and socially. Important socialization occurs during these weeks and it is important to not take puppy from mom too early.

Bruno won't be fully mature physically and emotionally until he is at least 18 months to two years of age. That's because large breed dogs mature slower than the smaller breeds of dogs. But that doesn't mean you can't get a puppy now, and I would recommend having Bruno neutered before getting another dog. Unneutered dogs can and do become very territorial and aggressive when intact dogs enter their home, and that can cause a lot of problems for you to deal with daily. In addition, if you get a female, this can lead to unwanted puppies when she goes into heat. GSDs are a very active breed, and if you have the time and energy to give both dogs all the exercise, attention, and training they need, there is no reason why you can't get another GSD.

Wait until the puppies are 8 weeks old and then get one. You can then carefully start potty-training your puppy, They are babies, so they will have accidents. Most likely potty training will not be 100% successful until they are at least 3 months old. If you let the puppy stay until it is 8 weeks old, it will not develop bad habits. On the contrary, it will have the opportunity to get well socialised as it will be able to play with its siblings and still has mommy for comfort.