15 -16 week old puppies

kildaremum

Hi - I posted a message about this earlier, don't know where it went so it might duplicate.

Anyway I know someone getting 15 week old puppy but I see a lot of stuff about socialisation of puppies before 16 weeks and how important this is. My question is how do rescue dogs get on if they have been neglected during their first 16 weeks - I assume it must be more difficult to start toilet training a 16 week old compared with an 8 week old, or is this not the case. What do you more informed people think.

Hellrazer

We got our lab at 16 weeks and shes never been a bother--she toilet trained quicker than pups we got younger than that.She also got on better with the cat and other dog aswell.

The Sweeper

I got my dog at 12 weeks and had to quarantine him due to ringworm for four weeks, so he was unsocialised (and relatively isolated) from 12-16 weeks. You just have to do your best. The dog may not be as straightforward to deal with as a pup raised and loved at home and under foot, but dogs are quite resilient and if you put the work in you'll get round it.

tazwaz

we got our little terrier when he was 15 weeks. we had him housetrained within a month of getting him and no prob with his socialisation. he 8 mths old now and such a happy friendly dog

boxerly

We got our Bruno at 15 weeks old and he was trained really quickly,however we got our bichon at 8 weeks and she still is a disaster 3.5 years on .I adopted a 6/7 year old female boxer 2.5 years ago who lived out and wasnt trained at all.I think she was actually the quickest to train,once she new to go out that was it.Never had any accidents:)

Toulouse

I've just seen your original post (in the animal welfare section) which puts a different spin on things.

kildaremum wrote: »

My brother is thinking of getting a pup aged 15-16 weeks. Seller still has four of the litter (Bichons - non reg). Although they say they have been around children I think they have been out in the shed most of the time. We have been checking on net and this issue of socialisation before 16 weeks comes up a bit. He has no small kids and he and partner will give it lost of time and training. I'm saying they should get a younger one but he's saying what about rescue dogs that had been neglected and turn out fine. Anyone any advice.

Personally if it were me I wouldn't be supporting this breeder and I would be advising your brother to go down the rescue route and give a poor pup a home or to go down the reputable breeder route and really do his research about who he's buying from.

koneko

Agreed, if they have been kept out in a shed and not socialised you'll have your work cut out for you. Puppies should be exposed to things during that time, people should be coming in to meet them and get them used to being handled. From that post it sounds like maybe they were just left in the shed till they were old enough to leave A good breeder ensures the puppies are exposed to family life, and are socialised and happy to meet people.

In general, you just need to make sure pup is getting socialised, going out to a lot of different places, meeting lots of people, children, other dogs and animals. It's all about exposure.

I've heard Bichons are notoriously hard to toilet train too which could make it harder, though I do not have personal experience of that (never had one).

Either way, your friend should really check out the breeder's facilities before deciding anything, and see if he's happy with how the pups are kept or if they shy away from him when he goes near them for instance.

kildaremum

Thank you for your comments koneko. I dont think he will go down this route.

koneko

Cool, let us know how he gets on with whatever he chooses. Hopefully he'll get a new addition to his family soon and everyone is happy