Image Copr. K. Ruttiman via Flickr
If he’s blind and deaf at birth, how does the baby find his way around? The nose knows! In fact, puppies tend to return time after time to the same nipple at the “milk bar” drawn back by scent. 
What’s the best age to adopt the new puppy? Well there’s some argument about that between dog breeders and behavior consultants. Some breeders want the pup to go as soon as possible–once the little guy can eat solid food–to help promote bonding between the puppy and new owners. Others (myself included) recommend rehoming a bit later so the puppy has a chance to learn important dog manners from siblings and mom-dog. Learn more about newborn puppy development in the first three months in this article.
How hold was your dog when you adopted him? Have you ever needed to hand-raise a puppy? What do you think is the best age to adopt–and why? Please share!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
We adopted our pup when she was 12 weeks. We’re at 15 weeks now and continually amazed at how much she is learning, growing, challenging us…lol. We also have a very calm 6 yr old lab who is a wonderful influencer on this pup (shepherd/husky mix).
Steena, that’s ideal when you have an older canine role model for the little guys. It’s so much fun to watch the “wheels turn” as the pup discovers new things.
I am with you, leaving the animal with its mother a little longer to learn socialization is nice when it’s possible. We had to take our kitten, Oobie, a little earlier due to circumstances, And to this day she doesn’t always know how hard to bite when playing, and she has some quirks which fortunately are not unpleasant but which longer time with mom might have helped. Fortunately, she’s had the benefit of other cats and determined people to help her adjust. Still, that time with mom is really important.
Hi Susan, The biting is one of the biggies that can be helped by leaving the little guy with littermates a bit longer, true. But as you say, circumstances don’t always cooperate.
Oobie is an interesting name…care to share how you named her?
She’s a little tortoiseshell – she was the runt- so we originally named her “bumblebee” for her coloring and her buzzing little purr. When she got in trouble, which was often, we’d say “hey, you! Bee!” Over time, it shortened and mutated to Oo! Bee! And then Oobie.
In the beginning, because she needed so much socializing, we were using the short form more than her real name, and she got used to answering to it – a little like the old joke about the dog that says “hi! What’s your name? Mine’s NO!”
Oobie now answers to that – literally and figuratively. She comes when called and meows when someone says her name, so we let it stick.
What a sweet story! I love learning how pets get their names, that’s something nobody would ever guess. One of my mom’s Shelties was named Pickles because as a baby she fell into the river and was nearly swept away. Mom found her clinging to driftwood tree limb after frantic search. So she was “in a pickle” and the name stuck.
Oh, those puppy photos are sooo hard to resist!
I know, Patricia! It’s “cuteness overload”