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How old is too old?

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  • 02-07-2008 6:27am
    #1
    anthony4335
    Registered Users Posts: 1,028 ✭✭✭


    I am looking to get a dog, as I was looking through adds I seen one or two of interest. So the questions , what is the best age to get a pup at, I always thought it was around 10wk mark, as I have seen some lovely pups advertised at 15weeks. Is this too old or will it make much of a difference?


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    #2
    CHD
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,956 ✭✭✭CHD


    12 weeks or so i always found to be good


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    #3
    luckat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    I like 12 weeks too. But no, 15 weeks is in no way too old!


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    #4
    anthony4335
    Registered Users Posts: 1,028 ✭✭✭anthony4335


    Cool, might just give the person a ring and go and see the pups.


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    #5
    Sharpshooter
    Registered Users Posts: 31,859 ✭✭✭✭Sharpshooter


    anthony4335 wrote: »
    Cool, might just give the person a ring and go and see the pups.

    Just 1 tip,
    Put a hot water bottle (one third filled) in its bed under a blanket.
    lt had been 16 years since we had a pup(had to get Twinkle put to sleep in november)(sob)
    and when we felt ready we got Shadow.
    Anyhow after a sleepless first night it suddenly
    dawned on me that our Shadow was missing the
    warmth of the rest of the litter.
    Hot bottle followed the next night and shadow slept
    right through.

    All the best for your new furry friend.:)


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    #6
    peasant
    Registered Users Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    It doesn't really matter how old the dog is when it comes to you ...weeks, months ...doesn't really make a difference.

    What is very important though, is how that dog was kept and treated while it was waiting to be sold / homed.

    The first few weeks/months in a dogs life are the most important when it comes to familiarising the dog with its future world. It needs to be properly socialised during this period ...i.e. introduced and made familiar with everything that it will encounter later on: poeple, children, cars, other animals, household items, etc etc.

    If the young pup is just kept in a shed with no contact to the outside world until it is sold, chances are you will have problems with that dog throughout its life, because it will be afraid of everything. Which means it could either be very timid or very agressive or a combination of both.

    So, when buying a pup, make absolutely sure that the breeder has put the effort into socialising that pup. This is ever more important the older the pup in question is.


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    #7
    kerrysgold
    Closed Accounts Posts: 969 ✭✭✭kerrysgold


    yeah, if you aren't adopting, make sure you go to a reputable breeder, preferably one recommended by the IKC. (spotless premises, healthy, well-fed and well-exercised dogs, health tested etc.)


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