Weaning Age

Many people feel that a puppy can be weaned and go
to a new
home as soon as he begins to eat solid food. While
the
puppy will likely survive being taken away from Mom
and his
littermates, he will be deprived of some very
valuable
lessons in manners. This can make things much more
difficult for you and the puppy. From 5 to 8 weeks
of age,
Mom will teach the puppy what he should or shouldn't
do,
among other things. He'll also learn how to get
along
within the litter and that he can't always have what
he
wants. Personality traits will become more evident,
increasing your chances of selecting the right dog
for you.
If you are purchasing a dog from a breeder, it's
fine to
make arrangements in advance but it's in your best
interest, as well the puppy's, to leave him with his
mom
until he's 8 weeks old.

- Paula Dupy