Getting First Cairn Puppy

[GIDGETSMOM]

Hi Everyone!

I've got a favor to ask of you. I need your opinion on a couple of things. First off, how old should my Gidget should be when I go to the breeders to get her. She will be 6 wks old 12/21 and I really want to have her for Christmas. I think my Min. Schnauzer was 6 wks when I got her from the breeder and she's turned out just fine, but I've always heard the longer left with Mom and siblings the better off they are. I think the breeder really wants to keep them until they are at least 7 wks old, but I would absolutely love to have her at my Parents for Christmas. This would give them all a chance to spend some time with her. I actually think my Mom is getting excited about her.

Secondly, I am worried about one thing. The breeder is intending to take them out of her basement and put them outside in the next week or so. She says they need to be outside and she is going to put them in a small fenced area that also leads into her garage where they will have a big bed and heat lamp.

The only thing I worry about is the fact they're going to be so young....isn't this setting them up for pneumonia? It's been really wet and cold here in East Tennessee lately.

Please give me your opinions on these two subjects. I need all the help I can get.

[kayharley]

I'd think 8 weeks and no younger for a pup to be sold....many breeders like to wait until 10 or 12 weeks.

As far as being outside.....I really can't comment on that. I live in New England and would never think of leaving my Cairns outside for any extended amount of time, spring, winter or summer. Warmer weather they play out alot but still sleep inside. During the winter my dogs go out for business, supervised playtime and then inside. Now if this breeder has a warm garage like you say and the pups can come and go as they like and the weather isn't extreme, it might be okay. I'm not a breeder, just a worry-wart of a Cairn mother.

[Kate]

Congratulations on your new puppy! I just got off the phone with my breeder and my puppy is ready - I'll pick her up Friday afternoon. She will be 8-1/2 weeks old. I'm just so nervous I can't believe it! I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and now the time is near and I'm getting scared! What if she doesn't like me, what if I don't like her? Oh I know that is silly but Friday still seems so far off, yet so close. Getting a new puppy is just so exciting.

If I were you I'd probably take a chance and have it for Christmas!

Good luck on your decision.

[Arf-arf]

In our state of Pennsylvania I'm told it's 7 weeks, but when we pick our's up later this month on Dec 21 he will be 8 1/2 weeks. If it was me, I would wait longer.

[derecskey]

We got ours in August at 7 weeks old to the day. Wish we could have waited until 9, 10, or 11 weeks, but every other pup in the litter was picked up, so we went with the flow and got her at 7 weeks.

[bradl]

The national club code of ethics is not prescriptive on that matter, but the code of ethics of one of our local clubs specifies 8 weeks as a minimum, with 12 weeks as the recommendation. Personally, we would not permit ANY puppy to be placed AT Christmas.

Just my opinion, but it sounds like your breeder is doing her job to ensure the puppy is socialized to different surfaces and environments. A breeder should be lightly stressing the puppy all during its development to ensure that it is ready and equipped to deal with the world. This usually includes as many stimulating and varied experiences as possible. Most seem to wait until four weeks or so before going outside, weather permitting. The weather can be a factor for sure. Without knowing the precise circumstances of her setup, who can really say? But provided the pups are provided all necessary care, warmth and shelter, allowing them outside access is generally desirable. Turning them out to live in the backyard obviously not.

I'm sure the anticipation is killing you! Patience, and rest up

[derecskey]

Oooh, good point I overlooked. I don't think many folks would have the time and patience to dedicate the attention a young pup needs over the holiday season. It's a lot of work, and takes a lot of life adjustment to have a youngin' in the house. Thinking back, I can't imagine having to do that around Christmas and New Years. Just my 1/50th of a Dollar.

[bradl]

We got our Barley (born Nov 2, ten years ago) in January. For Christmas we had a brand-new wire crate, decorated, with a life-size photo enlargement of her puppy picture propped inside, along with a small pile of toys.

Interestingly, one of the reasons we got Barley at all (we had been told no puppies were available and were just hanging around alot to enjoy watching them grow up) was because the family who was originally intended to get her had a remodelling project running past schedule and the breeder would not place a puppy into a household still in the middle of a remodel. The breeder told them they could have a puppy from the next litter - we essentially traded places with that family. Everyone ended up happy. All because the breeder insisted on doing what was best for the dog, period.

[derecskey]

So many parallels. My wife and I were remodeling our master bedroom while waiting for Bella. I think the project started long before we had decided to get her. It was our goal, no, requirement, that we finish it before we got her. We finished everything up, finished the several coats of paint, moved all of the furnature back into the bedroom for the first time in months on Friday Night. Saturday Morning we got Bella. It HAD to be done before we got her. Many long nights...

[CallisMom]

In the state of CT it is actually illegal to separate the mom and the puppies before 10 weeks. The breeder who rescued Calli won't let anyone take a puppy at Christmas time - she feels it is too traumatic for the puppy - all the noise and hoopla, etc. And I think the thought behind the age limit is that there are certain things that they learn being with mom & the rest of the litter - and it is actually "supposed" to help with the biting issue . . . I know it is so exciting - but I think it is best to wait! Congratulations! The time will fly by!

[hallswel]

We cheated with Rebel we got him at 9 weeks, usually it is 10 to 12 weeks but we visited his parents before he was born then went to see the puppies at 3 weeks, then went at 6 weeks and I think she knew how excited I was so as soon as the results of the bile acid test were in she told me I could come get him and he was just over nine weeks so it was a few days early.

When Rebel came home in mid January I had lots of time to spend with him because things were calm by then.

The two breeders in my area both over 1 1/2 hour drive from me said they would not let the puppy go until after the bile acid test and they had to be at least 8 weeks old before the test was given. I thought one of the reasons I waited was for this test and the other for maturity and general health of the puppy. When I picked out Rebel at 6 weeks the breeder told me if the test came back bad I would not be allowed to get him and would have to pick another from the litter or be given back my deposit. Has anyone else experienced that?

[Kate]

We brought our puppy home last night - she is 8-1/2 weeks old and seems to be doing great. She cried in her crate off and on all night, but today she is happy checking out her new home and seems to be adjusting. A few problems with accidents, but that is to be expected with any puppy.

I know it is Christmas but we really don't have a lot of hubbub going on. No little kids around except for Christmas day for awhile and the holiday is pretty low-key for us, so no problem. Actually I bought this puppy as a Christmas present for myself. I'm 50 years old and finally I got what I wanted for Christmas!

Happy Holidays to everyone.

[Scully'sMom]

Kate, I was at the 50 year old comment and getting what YOU wanted for Christmas. I feel your pain, I'm 51 and I wanted another Cairn SO badly. We got Scully two weeks after my 50th birthday!

[Kate]

I guess 50 ain't so bad after all is it? These dogs will make us feel young again. I have been laughing my head off at this puppy already. We play with her and she starts this running in a streak around and around, it is just too funny. After that she just konks (sp?) out and is sound asleep!

[hallswel]

How funny I was 48 when I got Rebel he was my answer for the perfect inside dog since my kids grew up with a Irish Setter who was wonderful but lived outside.

Of course my favorite show as a kid was Wizzard of Oz and since being very young I wanted a Cairn and now I have him!

[bradl]

Hmmm, this topic has morphed into, 'How old should WE be?" Count me among those who are enjoying a second childhood. I often tell people (truthfully) that Haggis is the dog I never had growing up.

[toomanypaws]

I too found the joy of owning a cairn later in life. I was 43 when my dh bought me Kiara for my birthday. Since then I've been fortunate, as most of you know, to add 2 more cairns to my life. I'm now 46 and I too feel like I'm living my 2nd childhood. I didn't have my dd until I was 37 so I feel so blessed to be so fulfilled not only w/ my cairns but w/ her too.

To answer to original question, we had Kiara shipped to us from N.C. at 6 wks. I doubt I'd do that again but she did fine. She came from a private breeder and had been kept inside a loving home environment. Normally the pup should stay w/ the littermates longer for socialization, but Kiara was coming home to a house that already had 4 dogs and she adapted well. Abbey was Kiara's pup and born here. Hannah was also brought home at 6 wks from a breeder 20 minutes away. I wasn't worried about her socializing being Abbey was only 6 mths and we had the other dogs. Normally it's recommended for the puppy to be 8 wks before being sold and should be up to date w/ 1st shots/worming and have a health certificate.

[wheezie23]

at Brad. So true when you said that your Haggis was the dog you never had as a kid. I have wanted a cairn since I was a little girl but for some reason we always had large dogs. Zoe was my first and I got her at 41. I am definitely like a kid in a candy shop where they are concerned!

thela

[Brigette]

Yoda was 8wks when I brought him home, but I will tell you he was really bad about puppy nipping and his puppy pre-school teacher told me that if he had stayed with his mother and litter mates longer he wouldnt have been so bad because they teach them not to do it or get bit back. He's almost 3yrs old now and is just the light of my life, so enjoy yours!