Getting my first basset on Thursday

stepheny_ann12 · 02-13-2007, 11:52 AM

On thursday i'm off to buy my first basset. He will be barely 6 weeks old. Any advice for a first time owner? we (me, my husband, and our 19month little girl) are very excited he's really cute.

Aruuuu · 02-13-2007, 12:17 PM

Why is the breeder letting a 'barely' six-week-old puppy go? This is a major red flag.....

Daisy Bell's Mommy · 02-13-2007, 04:16 PM

I got my baby when she was 6 weeks, and she is doing great! She is 7-1/2 weeks now. Even some of the top breeders agree that larger breed dogs can go home safetly at 6 weeks old. I guess it's all a matter of opinions, and we all have one I guess. My veternarian said that larger breeds are perfectly find to go home unless you are worried that they are not healthy, and have not done your research to ensure the parents health and background. As long as your puppy is eating food, and has been off mom for at least a week, he'll be fine. My husband and I used to breed doxies for 5 years, until we separated, and I didn't let them go until 8 weeks, because they are a small breed, and they do not grow as fast, that's why you keep them with mom longer.
The only thing that I would say is that my baby still cries some, and she has to sleep with me at night or she cries all night, and I can't stand it, it makes me too sad (and it gets annoying after awhile).

Betsy Iole · 02-13-2007, 05:04 PM

The reason puppies should stay with their litters until older is (1) to learn how to inhibit their bites and (2) to learn how to interact with other dogs. They learn these skills from their littermates and mother. Allowing a puppy to remain with its litter until approximately 10 weeks is more humane for the puppy and safer for the new owner. A breeder who sells puppies at six weeks would be considered unethical by most animal welfare advocates. Here are links to a great website with information on how to distinguish responsible breeders from unethical breeders.

Checklist for the Responsible Breeder
Making a Difference: Being a Responsible Breeder

Because a six week old puppy will not have learned to inhibit its bite, every nip and bite will be a hard one, making the combination of a toddler and puppy even more dangerous. My advice: make very sure your toddler and puppy are never left together unsupervised.

Here is information on bite inhibition.

Quote:

Bite inhibition is a learned response in which the dog consciously inhibits the full force of his biting ability. Most dogs display bite inhibition when they are playing together, and even when engaging in a fight with another dog. If a dog does not have bite inhibition, he could injure and possibly even kill another dog.

Puppies who are properly socialized learn bite inhibition while nursing and playing. When pups bite while nursing, the mother dog will train them by standing up and walking away. When pups bite too hard during play with siblings, the bitten pup will yelp and stop playing with the rough pup. Or the bitten sibling might leap up and knock the rough-housing pup over with a loud bark or growl. This teaches a puppy that playtime ends if he bites too hard.[/b]

from Bite Inhibition--an Essential Part of Socialization.

Aruuuu · 02-13-2007, 06:07 PM

I know several top basset breeders, and not one of them will let a puppy go before ten weeks. This breeder clearly has questional practices......

bjsibba · 02-14-2007, 07:39 AM

I have heard 6 weeks is too early but thought 8 weeks was good. We got Sadie when she was 10 weeks and Max at 8 weeks and Max is defiantly the more friendly and sociable one with both people and other animals and he listens better. Max loves to play with any dog and has never showed any signs of aggression. Sadie is starting to show signs of aggression towards Max and Lita (our Miniature Pinscher), she always did when it came to her food or chew bones but now it can come out of anywhere for no reason what so ever. She is even getting snarly towards me when I try to move her off the bed or couch, has never tried to bite, just snarls at me. I don't know if it has anything to do with what age we got them or just their different personalities.

mgbrown66 · 02-14-2007, 09:53 AM

My advice for a first time owner? Go to this website and check out all the links. Best basset site on the net, IMO...

http://www.oldefashion.com/Ownership.html

I've learned that when someone makes up their mind to pick up a dog before at least 8 weeks and the breeder will let it go there is never a chance of that person waiting until the desired time frame. Good luck.

clarejon · 02-14-2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

On thursday i'm off to buy my first basset. He will be barely 6 weeks old. Any advice for a first time owner? we (me, my husband, and our 19month little girl) are very excited he's really cute.[/b]

Hope you've read up about the bread in detail, else you are in for a BIG shock. Especially as most of your time will be focused on the toddler rather than a tiny puppy.

As other people have stated six weeks is far too young. I think 10 weeks is a perfect age to take them home.

Also Daisy Bell's Mommy - at 7 1/2 weeks old you might not notice and problems - they will hapen when they get into there chewing mode at 4/6 months and later on in there life - thats when you'll wish you waited for 8/12 weeks.

stepheny_ann12 · 02-14-2007, 11:40 AM

thanks for the advice. I have been in touch with the people i am buying the puppy from and have been out see them. The parents are both healthy. Once agian thanks. Oh and i have read up on the breed. Did my homework so to say.

Daisy Bell's Mommy · 02-14-2007, 10:37 PM

Yes maybe, but that wasn't an option, the puppies were outside in the cold, and she couldn't have them in the house, I was going to take home her brother too becaue they needed homes, but I have two children, so my one little girl is enough, as I want to devote a lot of attention to her. She is not from a well known breeder or anything, but I wanted strictly a pet puppy, and I always seem to fall for people (and animals) that are in need of love, so I had to take her home with me. I will just have to deal with her chewing. I have done puppy trainings before with a friend who teaches, so I know all of the things to do to get her to know how to play, and what is too rough. I won't regret getting her so young, I know I saved her from freezing to death outside.

02-13-2007, 12:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aruuuu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central MA, USA Posts: 773	Why is the breeder letting a 'barely' six-week-old puppy go? This is a major red flag..... __________________ If stress were exercise, I'd be in great shape!

02-13-2007, 06:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Aruuuu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central MA, USA Posts: 773	I know several top basset breeders, and not one of them will let a puppy go before ten weeks. This breeder clearly has questional practices...... __________________ If stress were exercise, I'd be in great shape!

02-13-2007, 11:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
stepheny_ann12 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 5	On thursday i'm off to buy my first basset. He will be barely 6 weeks old. Any advice for a first time owner? we (me, my husband, and our 19month little girl) are very excited he's really cute.

02-13-2007, 04:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Daisy Bell's Mommy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 21	I got my baby when she was 6 weeks, and she is doing great! She is 7-1/2 weeks now. Even some of the top breeders agree that larger breed dogs can go home safetly at 6 weeks old. I guess it's all a matter of opinions, and we all have one I guess. My veternarian said that larger breeds are perfectly find to go home unless you are worried that they are not healthy, and have not done your research to ensure the parents health and background. As long as your puppy is eating food, and has been off mom for at least a week, he'll be fine. My husband and I used to breed doxies for 5 years, until we separated, and I didn't let them go until 8 weeks, because they are a small breed, and they do not grow as fast, that's why you keep them with mom longer. The only thing that I would say is that my baby still cries some, and she has to sleep with me at night or she cries all night, and I can't stand it, it makes me too sad (and it gets annoying after awhile).

02-14-2007, 07:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
bjsibba Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sault Ste Marie, MI Posts: 535	I have heard 6 weeks is too early but thought 8 weeks was good. We got Sadie when she was 10 weeks and Max at 8 weeks and Max is defiantly the more friendly and sociable one with both people and other animals and he listens better. Max loves to play with any dog and has never showed any signs of aggression. Sadie is starting to show signs of aggression towards Max and Lita (our Miniature Pinscher), she always did when it came to her food or chew bones but now it can come out of anywhere for no reason what so ever. She is even getting snarly towards me when I try to move her off the bed or couch, has never tried to bite, just snarls at me. I don't know if it has anything to do with what age we got them or just their different personalities.

02-14-2007, 09:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
mgbrown66 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 316	My advice for a first time owner? Go to this website and check out all the links. Best basset site on the net, IMO... http://www.oldefashion.com/Ownership.html I've learned that when someone makes up their mind to pick up a dog before at least 8 weeks and the breeder will let it go there is never a chance of that person waiting until the desired time frame. Good luck.

02-14-2007, 11:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
stepheny_ann12 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 5	thanks for the advice. I have been in touch with the people i am buying the puppy from and have been out see them. The parents are both healthy. Once agian thanks. Oh and i have read up on the breed. Did my homework so to say.

02-14-2007, 10:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
Daisy Bell's Mommy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 21	Yes maybe, but that wasn't an option, the puppies were outside in the cold, and she couldn't have them in the house, I was going to take home her brother too becaue they needed homes, but I have two children, so my one little girl is enough, as I want to devote a lot of attention to her. She is not from a well known breeder or anything, but I wanted strictly a pet puppy, and I always seem to fall for people (and animals) that are in need of love, so I had to take her home with me. I will just have to deal with her chewing. I have done puppy trainings before with a friend who teaches, so I know all of the things to do to get her to know how to play, and what is too rough. I won't regret getting her so young, I know I saved her from freezing to death outside.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Basset.net Advertisement