Download Article Show Download Article In order to grow into healthy, well-behaved adults, newborn puppies need to both bond with their mother and gain independence. To encourage bonding and help prevent the mother from getting aggressive, limit your interaction with the litter during the first 2 weeks. After 3 or 4 weeks, start weaning the pups, and gradually introduce them to new people, animals, and environments. Most importantly, keep the litter together for at least 8 weeks, as separating puppies from their mother too soon can lead to behavioral issues.[1]
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Did this article help you?Get all the best how-tos! Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter Subscribe You're all set! Can a puppy leave its mother at 6 weeks old?Puppies should not leave their mom and littermates before eight weeks of age. The mother dog has so much to teach the new puppy; lessons that will affect him all his life, and his littermates teach important lessons as well.
Is it better to get a puppy at 8 weeks or 12 weeks?One experienced dog trainer and expert on dog development suggested that the optimum age for a puppy to go to its new owner is about 8-to-9-weeks, when the pup is ready to develop a strong bond.
Is it OK to take a 6 week old puppy home?It's the same concept with humans – babies who were nursed by their mom develop a stronger immune system than the ones who weren't. Simply put, it's not safe for a puppy to leave his or her mother and littermates before 8 weeks. If you want a healthy puppy, then please you must wait.
What happens if you separate a puppy from its mother too early?Basically, when a puppy is separated from his mother too early, it will put his life expectancy at risk. The puppy will not receive the same hormones, enzymes, antibodies, and other important physical benefits from mother's milk.
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