Dog owners are being urged to avoid a single mistake in the first weeks of their puppy’s life. According to canine experts at the Animal Pad, puppies go through critical stages of development, and what happens in these early weeks can have a lasting impact.
Making the wrong move too soon could affect a dog’s confidence, temperament, and ability to interact with other animals. The major error: removing pups from their mothers too soon. Below, we explain how old a puppy should be before being separated from their family and the risks associated with taking them early.
The crucial weeks
Dogs go through five main stages of development, but the socialisation stage (from three to 13 weeks) is the most important, according to the Animal Pad. During this period, puppies learn how to interact with their mother, siblings, and humans.
The expert went on to say, “It is within this developmental stage that a dog’s potential as a companion animal is either fostered and nurtured, or impeded and even destroyed.
“It is also within this stage that at least 50% of the dog’s eventual temperament is developed. So, by extracting a pup from its family before the eight-week mark, you increase the risk of it being ill-tempered and unfit to socialise with other dogs.”
Playing with their siblings also teaches “bite inhibition,” proper social hierarchies, and how to read cues from other dogs. Without this guidance, puppies may bite more aggressively, struggle to cope with new situations, and exhibit attachment-related problems later in life.
When is the right time to separate a pup?
Some professional breeders consider eight weeks as an acceptable time to separate puppies. It’s not uncommon for puppies to be adopted by new homes at this early age.
However, a spokesperson from Pets4Homes shared: “While puppies are usually fully weaned at the age of seven weeks old, and are able to eat solid foods and no longer need to nurse from the dam, there is a lot of merit in allowing the puppies to stay with the dam until they are 12 weeks old.
“The additional four weeks between weeks eight and 12 are very formative for the young puppy, and their socialisation, learned behaviours and personalities really come on in leaps and bounds during this time, which will help to provide the puppy with a firm foundation for the rest of their lives.”
Waiting the full 12 weeks also allows puppies to receive their first set of vaccinations, helping protect them against diseases before entering a new environment.