At what age is it better to take a puppy: for a child, for breeding purebred dogs, for special training. At what age is it best to adopt a puppy: tips and features How many months is it better to adopt a puppy

Such questions arise from inexperienced owners who have never dealt with four-legged friends. The age at which a young pet is purchased and weaned from its mother is very important. After all, the adaptation of a new family member in the house, the formation of character and health depend on it. So, let's look at this issue in detail.

About age criteria for acquisition

According to the rules of the Russian Cynological Federation, breeding puppies receive their documents 45 days after birth. That is, legally they are already ready to be separated from their mother and move to a permanent owner. But the documentary aspect of selling a puppy is one thing, but its physiological and psychological readiness for a new stage of life is completely different.

Physiologically, a young pet can feed independently from the age of 35 days, without depending on its mother. However, this is the extreme, minimum allowed age of his independence. And any extremes are bad. It is necessary to give the puppy time to adapt to the new food, also combining such food with feeding mother's milk. Such a transition to an “adult” diet will be softer and more reasonable. In addition, the natural development of the puppy and its socialization will not be disrupted. It's about about the time that the baby spends at a distance from the mother, exploring the surrounding space; meeting new people who come to the house; the ability to lick oneself independently, imitating the mother. IN early age young dogs simply copy their mother’s behavior in everything. This includes lapping from the plate, and the attitude towards the owner, and even going to the litter box.

During the period of feeding puppies with mother's milk, they develop protection with antibodies entering the body. Maternal immunity acquired by puppies is very important in the first month of life, therefore it is strictly not recommended to separate them from their mother until 30 days of age. As for psychological maturity, it begins at 8 weeks, when the period of socialization ends. The main functions of this period are regulation of bite force, communication with other dogs, contacts with the owner and other people. At this time, breeders systematically pick up the offspring, check the ears, eyes, and teeth. These activities give puppies experience interacting with people and experiencing mild stress. The latter helps build resistance to emotional shocks in the future. If the puppy has gone through a period of socialization with its mother, then it will be much easier for it to adapt to a new life with its owner and will grow up to be a healthy and brave dog.

What's best for the owners?

Experts call the period of development of canine offspring up to 8 weeks imprinting, when the formation of an image of one’s own species, openness to the outside world and memorization of a person occur. That is why the optimal age for separation from the mother is after 8 weeks, and the ideal age is after 12. Then the puppy will already be vaccinated and will go through an adaptation period after vaccination. His research activity will also increase and his independence will increase. And this is good for the owner. After all, it’s difficult to raise a baby who doesn’t even know how to eat on her own.

It is also worth considering that if the owner is busy and is constantly at work, you can only take three people into the house. one month old puppy. At this age, he can already be alone for a long time. A growing puppy gets used to a new environment, easily assimilates its status and sleeps a lot, which is important for the owner. True, at this age the dog needs three meals a day, but this problem can be solved.

Choosing a puppy that is not yet eight weeks old is difficult, even for a specialist. Indeed, during this period, the properties of the exterior are not yet fully formed.

Sometimes breeders offer buyers puppies aged four to five months, or maybe older. There is no need to immediately abandon such an acquisition. If you like the dog, his documents are in order, you had the opportunity to see his father and mother, everything is fine in health, then age will not be an obstacle to the purchase. And behavioral deficiencies can be easily corrected.

It is always better for the owner if the breeder answers all his questions without hesitation, gives nutritional advice, and warns about the genetic predisposition to diseases of the breed, if any. Owners should definitely give preference to purchasing a future friend from a nursery.

To your home? It turns out that the question is not at all easy. The minimum age is 45 days. After this, documents are made for the puppy and he can be taken home. You can take a one-month-old puppy, but then get ready to become its mother: sleepless nights, very frequent complementary feeding, calming and so on. Let's discuss everything in more detail, since even breeders do not have a common opinion on this issue.

Let's start with what size puppy you want. For example, if it is a small breed, then you should wait until about 2 months. It will be very easy to pinch such a little thing. What if she gets sick? The older the puppy, the lower the risk of contracting any disease.

Time of administration complementary foods also different. For example, at German Shepherd Complementary feeding can begin at 2 weeks. And for other breeds later.

Vaccinations. If you want to leave this unpleasant procedure to the breeder, get the puppy closer to 4 months and be sure to make sure that all vaccinations have been completed. If you are ready to take on some part of the vaccinations yourself, then try not to be present at the slightly painful and unpleasant procedure. The puppy will probably draw an analogy with you and the troubles you caused.

Health. How more puppy stays with mother's milk, the stronger his immunity will be. It's like with human children. Purebred dogs are not so strong in this area and sometimes the death of the puppy is possible. Therefore, in order to save yourself from worry, it is better to wait a little until the puppy grows up near its mother. In one and a half months you will see what kind of teeth the dog will have and what the bite will be like. This assessment will be important if you want to participate in exhibitions.

Socialization. If you take the puppy lightly after 2 months, then he will already be socialized. The puppy, in playing with his brothers and sisters, will acquire basic skills: he begins to bark, bite, regulate the force of his bite, learns body language, and accepts hierarchy. It is from three to seven weeks that the puppy learns to relieve itself and trains its natural instincts (this includes hunting and sexual behavior). And you, for your part, teach your pet the rules of your home. I don't recommend waiting too long either. According to experts, after four months the puppy has a period when he chooses an owner for life. Nobody knows when this period will come. It is for this reason that try not to give the puppy up to a year to anyone, even for a short time.

If you decide to breed and participate in exhibitions, it is recommended to take a mature puppy when its exterior and character are visible.

And if you decide to take adult dog? This can be done by a person who already has experience in keeping dogs. An adult dog is already a person who was not raised by you. She has her own habits and gains authority from adult dog It won't be easy. My husband and I once adopted a one-year-old dog, and our experience tells us that we won’t do that again. Think about the reason why the breeder has not sold this dog yet. Of course, there are many reasons:

• the dog breed is not popular;
• on this moment low season (summer);
• Not good good care for a puppy;
• bad advertising and many other reasons.

P.S. When you take the puppy home, take with you something that smells like his mother (a piece of bedding). Then it will be easier for your baby to adapt to a house that is still foreign to him. Experienced dog breeders also advise wrapping the ticking alarm clock in a towel and placing it next to the baby. This will imitate the mother's heartbeat.

When you decide to get a dog, a huge number of questions arise, and one of the first is: what age should the puppy be? It's better to take little baby, for whom you will become a mother, or a grown-up dog, trained to the toilet and basic commands? First you have to ask the question: why are you getting a pet? For the hobby, for breeding a breed, visiting exhibitions, or are you interested in their special qualities (hunting, searching, etc.)?

Legal side of the matter

According to the law, in nurseries, puppies are issued passports at 1.5 months (45 days). By this age, babies are already starting to eat complementary foods, that is, they are becoming viable in the process of survival. It is then that specialists inspect the chicks to determine their compliance with the breed, breeding value, and exhibition requirements. At this age, tail creases are already visible, malocclusion, color marriage and other “deviations” from the norm. From this moment on, the official sale of puppies is allowed. But this does not mean that they are ready for independent life.

A dog is like a friend

If you get a dog primarily for yourself, then the main thing should be its physical and psychological readiness.

The first month after birth, the kitten feeds on its mother’s milk, so you should not take it away at this stage, since the basis of its future health is being formed. In dogs, as in the entire animal world, it is breast-feeding gives strong immunity for later life, will avoid problems with gastrointestinal tract and a tendency to allergies.

Yes, by one and a half months the baby can already eat on his own, but during this period his first socialization occurs. At the age of 3-7 weeks, in communication with his mother, he perceives himself as certain type animal, which will subsequently facilitate his relationships with other dogs. By two months, he masters body language, the rules of communication with fellow animals, the laws of hierarchy, learns to bark, bite, fight, which makes him psychologically healthy.

At two months the kitten gets its first complex vaccination. Without it, he can become seriously ill, so it is important to wait until the first vaccination and the recovery period after it (usually a two-week quarantine).

Therefore, it is better to adopt a puppy at the age of 2.5-3 months. At this point, he is ready for a new life for himself. He can already be taken out for walks; he is accustomed to a certain regime and diet. He is easy to train and open to communication.

Is it possible to adopt a puppy older than 3-4 months?

There is a misconception that the older the puppy, the harder it is for him to get used to his new owners. No, the older dog is trained to do a large number of commands, go to the toilet, behave at home and on the street, has a stable digestive system. For those inexperienced in raising dogs, this will make it easier to get used to the pet. You should also know that a puppy is any dog ​​under one year old. Small breeds mature faster, larger ones form later. A grown-up one-year-old puppy also quickly adapts to a new family and your requirements. Often the last puppies from a litter are the best in quality, so their owners do not put them up for sale at a young age.

Dog for breeding and other purposes

If you plan to have offspring or show a dog, then it is better to take an older puppy, 4 months old, and sometimes one-year-old. On the one hand, a four-month-old dog already has a clear character and is easy to train. And it can already be submitted to the exhibition. By performing until junior age (9 months), the dog learns not to be afraid of the ring, noise, other dogs, and gets used to unfamiliar crowds and many dogs. On the other hand, her final breeding qualities are formed closer to a year: for example, a correct bite in a two-month-old baby does not guarantee that after a change of teeth, which ends by 7-9 months, large dogs and by 10-11 months - for small ones, everything will be fine. By the same age it is possible to identify hereditary diseases, for example, cryptorchidism, dysplasia hip joints. At the age of one, it is already possible to judge any exhibition prospects, and, as a rule, breeders already begin training the dog, accustoming it to a show leash (a special show leash). Although it is clear that such a specimen will cost more than the same one, but in 2-4 months, it will be a help to the owner who is not experienced in dog shows.

If you are getting a dog for another purpose, you want it to guard the house, hunt, etc., then in this case you need to follow the same recommendations as for ordinary puppies. They also get used to new conditions, people, primary training both at two months and at six months of age. But special skills, as a rule, are taught to already matured individuals with an established psyche and established character in order to avoid danger to others and the owners themselves.

Things to Remember

If you adopt a dog without documents, you should examine the offspring yourself (no hernia, discharge from the eyes, nose, etc., bald spots on the coat, condition of the teeth, bite, anal glands), the mother’s condition (she should not look exhausted, unhealthy), her veterinary passport(were vaccinations done on time), growing conditions. Observe the puppy’s activity, its reactions, and movements.

In the first days in a new environment, the baby experiences stress, so it is better to provide him with a secluded, limited space. You need to give him time to get used to it and not bother him with excessive manifestations of your feelings. The puppy’s stomach actively reacts to any changes in the diet, so at first you need to give the food that he is used to, and according to the schedule that has developed in the breeder’s house. New food, the quality of which should not be inferior to the previous one, must be introduced gradually, mixing it with what the pet willingly eats.

By excessively indulging the whims and whims of a new family member, you can form psychological dependence from the owner and problems with socialization with relatives, so be smart in your upbringing.

The main thing is not at what age to adopt a puppy, but that if you surround it with love and care, it will quickly become a family favorite, an obedient and devoted friend.

Perhaps we should start with the very common, but nevertheless erroneous opinion that the puppy should be taken away the sooner, the better. If a puppy is separated from its mother too early, it can lead to problems for both the animal and its owners.

Is it possible to adopt a puppy if it is one month old?
The puppy is one month old. The dog no longer feeds or licks the puppies; they begin to feed on their own. This creates the illusion that they are already old enough to be in a new family. But besides the fact that they no longer feed on milk and can explore the world, puppies at one month have no other independence. They still depend on the mother and the breeder.

The most important thing that owners of a bitch often forget is that she continues to raise puppies, teaching them necessary rules behavior in a dog pack. Including maintaining cleanliness in the nest.

In addition, from three to seven weeks, the so-called period of primary socialization of puppies occurs. They learn to behave like dogs - to fight, to bark. But most importantly, they learn the body language of their relatives, postures, movements, sounds. Without this knowledge, the dog’s life will not be easy, and most likely, at some stage it will develop mental problems.

Puppies learn the laws of hierarchy and correct behavior with the elders in the pack. If we take into account that the dog's owner must become the leader, then a puppy that has not acquired these skills may refuse to obey the owner.

But the most important argument against purchasing a one-month-old puppy is its lack of initial vaccination. Therefore, for the owner there is a big risk that the puppy may become seriously ill.

When to get a puppy?
The optimal age for moving a puppy to new house the moment when he turns 50–60 days is considered. The first vaccinations have already been done, the puppy has been trained in dog laws along with his littermates. He is strong enough and ready to accept a new life for him. In most cases, the age from 2 to 3 months is the most optimal.

An exception may be situations when the owner for some reason cannot take such a puppy or there are small children in the house. In this case, it is better to pick up the puppy later - at 4–5 months. Children will no longer be able to harm him discomfort, and the puppy himself is able to stand up for himself or hide from them. At this age, puppies learn very quickly and are already walking. Therefore, owners are deprived of many problems at once.

For older people, it is also optimal to purchase a puppy at 3–4 months. The advantage is that you can go for walks with an already vaccinated puppy. He is accustomed to a certain diet and feeding regimen. Knows some commands and easily learns everything new. But it is much easier for an elderly person to cope with a puppy that has not yet grown up, as well as transporting it to veterinary clinic for inspection and necessary procedures.

Therefore, before you agree with the breeder on the day when you are going to come for your ward, take into account all the pros and cons, without discounting your regime or circumstances, or the interests and capabilities of the family, or your age. A good breeder will always come to the rescue and be able to hold the puppy until the required date.

You are sure that you are ready for a dog to appear in your home, you have decided on the breed and know where you will take your new friend. All that remains is to decide at what age it is better to adopt a puppy. This important question, because it largely depends on how your living together with a dog.

The answer to the question " at what age is it better to get a puppy?“is not unambiguous, since it depends on the purpose for which you are adopting a dog, on the composition of the family, your employment and many other factors.

The earlier the better?

It is a fairly common belief that a puppy should be adopted as early as possible, as soon as he is able to feed himself. Indeed, a couple of decades ago it was customary to give the baby to new owners when he turned one month old. But is this the right decision?

Unfortunately no. If a puppy is separated from his mother and siblings too early, this can cause many problems. At the age of one month, the puppy is still highly dependent on the mother, who raises the cubs and teaches them the rules of behavior, including cleanliness in the den and communication with relatives.

In addition, the age of 3 – 7 weeks is the so-called primary socialization of the puppy, when it learns to be a dog and masters the language of its species. And if he does not get this knowledge, future life will become quite difficult - to the point that behavioral problems will arise.

In addition, at the age of 1 month it is too early to give vaccinations, and the puppy runs the risk of getting sick in a new place.

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When is the best time to get a puppy?

Today it is believed that optimal age for moving a puppy to new family- 60 days. At this age, the baby already recognizes himself as a dog, has learned the basics of communication with representatives of his species and has become quite strong. In addition, at this age the puppy can already begin to be trained (of course, in game form), and you won't waste precious time.

However, if there are children in the family, it may be worth waiting until the puppy is 4 to 5 months old. At this age, the puppy is already able to hide if he is tired of communicating with your heirs, or stand up for himself, while he is not so small that children could harm him serious harm. But, of course, it's worth making sure that the puppy has had a positive and safe experience with children while in the breeder's care.

If you are counting on winning in the show ring and this is very important to you, it is better to wait until the puppy grows up and it becomes clear whether you can count on prizes. At two months you can only approximately determine how big a dog will grow, so there is a risk that you will have to give up your dream of winning all the champion titles of the Universe and its surroundings.

Remember that a puppy requires a lot of effort to care for it, in particular, more frequent walking and feeding. Do you have the ability to provide all this?

If not, you might want to consider adopting an older dog (6 months or older). Such a pet is most likely already accustomed to walking, and you can feed it twice a day. In addition, he may already have undergone some training. However, there is a risk that the dog has already formed and bad habits, which will be more difficult to get rid of than if you were raising your baby “from scratch.”

In any case, the choice is yours. And no matter what age you adopt a dog, with the right approach and the right attitude she will give you a lot of joy and become a true friend.

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