@renaultf1:
Hey Pat, can you elaborate on what happens in puppy socialization, learning, etc. between 8 and 10 and why it is better to wait to 10 weeks. I've heard quite a few stories of pet people trying to get responsible breeders to release a pup to them at 8 weeks. Also, when you say, an exception can be made if there is another dog in the house…is that because that other dog will still keep the manners training up with the pup that the mother or siblings would do. Just curious.
Well, I can try… and this is just my personal opinion. As far as the exceptions, yes you are totally correct. The other dog will help with the training and manners (and believe me..it is a blessing with those little "needle" teeth of pups). Also many times the pup will follow the other dog, so even things like house training and crate training are easier. And if the humans have a Basenji already that they got as a puppy they "know" the ropes...
As far as the 10wk window, first I don't do the first set of shots till 9wks, I also to eye exams and that is between 8 and 9 wks. In the litters that I have raised, I believe that the true personality of a B pup really develops between 8 and 10 wks. It makes it much easier to be able to decided what pup would go to what home (as I do not let people just choose but try and place the best pup in the home that suits that pups temperament). I believe that at at 8wks a B puppy just has not developed socially enough to remove from the pack situation... they are just at that age figuring out what is going on around them for longer periods of time, as opposed to being sleeping little lumps... that sometimes get up and move around. They play more, they develope a pecking order within the litter, they continue to learn social skills from their litter mates... and as the breeder you can keep introducing new things that go on every day in the house...
And believe me... it would be much easier to "send" them to their new homes at 8wks for breeders... by the time that you have 8 wks olds, you think that if you had a litter of 6, you have 66 puppies!..ggg...