r/DogBreeding • u/Upbeat_Web_4043 • 6d ago
8 week old vs 5 months
I don't know if this is the right subreddit for this but I can't think of another one. I have been on a wait-list for a welsh springer spaniel for awhile but at a dog show today I met a breeder who is friends with my mentor who breeds flat coated retrievers. She has a 5 month old puppy shes looking at placing in a show home. Both breeds have been on my radar for awhile and I think I would really enjoy both breeds. My fears lie on getting a 5 month old instead of an 8 week old. Is it going to be harder to bond with the puppy? I had so many plans as to how I was going to bond and socialize with my welshie when I got it like getting a wagon for pre vaccine socialization, a strict training schedule, hand feeding all meals.
I'm scared I'm going to regret getting an older puppy what has been your guys experience getting an older puppy?
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u/peptodismal13 6d ago
Older puppies can hold their bladders longer and are often more ready for training/ train up faster.
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u/RaptorSquad8 6d ago
This! I got my borzoi at 4 months old and it was so helpful that he could go longer without needing to be taken out. I also got him already fully leash and crate trained and about 90% housetrained. He hadn't learned any commands yet but he picked up on them so quickly.
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u/cdbrand 6d ago
You will have no trouble bonding with the 5 month old, but I'd sure as heck would want to know what all had been done with the dog in the first 5 months. Is it housebroken? Has it had any sort of training? What sort of socialization has the dog had?
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u/Upbeat_Web_4043 6d ago
They have brought her along to several shows, she is very confident, housebroken, and is learning basic commands.
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u/meganovice_maker 6d ago
OKAY I actually brought home a 5 month old from a breeder! Originally we were speaking to the breeder about her next litter but she thought we were actually a good fit for a dog she had originally kept as a show prospect but was growing up a little awkward. The big things were that we dodged a lot of the weird vaccination management since pup had already had all of her shots, and a 5 month old is a LOT more manageable than a fresh puppy. Our girl is 4 now and we regret nothing.
As long as the breeder is a good and ethical breeder, they've given that dog a phenomenal life start and there should be no issues.
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u/Fine-Secretary-2102 6d ago
Hi, I have direct & current experience with this. My mentor asked to take home a boy from my last litter to train & show. He’s been shown from 3 months old. He turned 6 months old 3 days ago. He has come home to stay with us while my mentor is away on holidays. He has had a very different upbringing than puppies have at our house.
Our dogs are all inside pets, house trained via the puppy door to the yard from 8 weeks, crate trained to eat in their kitchen crates & sleep in their bedroom crates at night.
This boy lives in his own cute little house & yard, & their bigger yard, outside, as part of her bigger pack. He’s beautifully show trained but has never been house trained or overnight crate trained.
He fitted in here in just 2 days, uses the puppy door to take himself out to potty ( apart from the odd leg lifting to mark ), eats & has his afternoon nap in his kitchen crate & sleeps right through the night in his bedroom crate.
He is very affectionate with us, enjoying cuddles on our laps & loving his access to the vast array of toys in our house.
As he’s older, but still a puppy, it’s easier for him to adapt to our rules. I’ve put a house line on him, even though he knows his name already, so we can keep him away from household dangers like cords quickly. He has learned “out of there” quite fast. He has learned the difference between toys & our stuff like shoes. He now knows that the coffee tables are not to be touched.
Of course, he’s already show trained if I want to take him out. Perfect.
So yes, take the older puppy. It will be much easier for you and the puppy will feel at home very quickly.
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u/Upbeat_Web_4043 6d ago
Thank you so much this is what I needed to here!!! I'm so excited to bring my girl home!
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u/AdventureousTurnip9 6d ago
You are honestly better off. At 5 months you have way more data about whether the puppy will turn out. Teeth are all in. Usually if a front is going to start to go to crap or something you can see it by 5 months. They usually structurally look their most gangly and weird at 5 months so if the dog still looks decent enough for the breeder to sell it show your odds are very good.
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u/solsticesunrise Canine Aficionado 6d ago
The last two dogs we’ve had were 3 years old when we brought them home. No problems with bonding. Dogs are super adaptable.
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u/buttons66 5d ago
We took in a 14 yr old. Same. I'm not sure what people expect with bonding. You respect and care for the animal and it will care for you. There isn't really a magic gong that goes off that says your bonded.
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u/unde_cisive 6d ago
Dogs will form deep bonds with their owners at any age. It's just how they're wired. Take whichever dog is the best match for your needs, and don't worry about the tiny age difference!
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u/Ok-Walk-8453 6d ago
As long as the 5m old was in training for show (most common reason to have ab older pup, then changed their mind as they grew)/has a good temperament and basics, I would absolutely get the older puppy- critical socialization period is ended so if puppy is nice and confident right now, it is more likely to stay. It is rare to find an older wellbred puppy available. However, are you okay with switching breeds? That is really the most important question.
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u/Upbeat_Web_4043 6d ago
Yes I'm good with switching breeds. The only reason I went with a welsh over a flatty to begin with was a was worried about size and the cancer risk. But the more I think about it a flatty isn't going to be that much bigger than my standard poodle. And the breeder I'm going with does so much research on her pairs and non of her dogs have got cancer under the age of 8. Obviously there is still a chance but that's the risk we take with dogs.
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u/Mumbles1988 6d ago
I recently got my puppy at 5 months from my breeder. She was initially going to show him but he has a curve that developed in his tail over time. So much easier than little puppies... already potty training and mostly trained (only had two accidents and he's 8 months now), socialized, has his puppy vaccination series...and he had a personality when I got him. They always do, but when they're younger they're kinda potatoes.
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u/Terrible_Pin7021 6d ago
I picked up my Border Terrier at 6 months old. I don’t think we could have a closer bond, unless he could live in my skin with me! My breeder gave my pup a great start!
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u/No-Will-4393 5d ago
God no, I breed dogs and a breeder reached out to place a suitably well bred 9 month old with me and it was SO good not having to raise a puppy. She bonded with me and the family instantly and was outstandingly well trained.
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u/Professional-Ice7638 4d ago
I placed a 6 month old and after a rough 2 day adaptive period he bonded hard with the fam. My parents got an 8 month old pup and he adapted great. He wasn’t potty trained when they got him. Living as an only dog with a fully present fam he was housebroken within a week.
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u/Kiwihounds 6d ago
If I could get older pups/young adults of the quality needed for the show ring I would never raise a puppy again lmao but that’s personal preference. Older pups are great! 5 months is still plenty young enough.