I read in a book that around the 8 week mark is “best” but depends on breed, larger dogs can be take a bit later.

Any experience out there? We’re looking at springers, Labradors would really like a cross of those two or similar.

While you’re here – where is best to search? I’ve been using Gumtree.

WARNING – There WILL be puppy photos 🙂

Happy Weekend!

May I make a suggestion based on having had 4 Springers? Unless you’re working them, you’ll find Working Cocker Spaniels much better as pets/trail dogs etc.

Oh and 6 weeks is a bit too early 7-8 is best.

http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/ is a good place to start to get an idea of breeders in your area. It’s how we found our puppy. Spoke to the breeder and asked for contact details of previous litter owners.

Spoke to them to get an idea of any problems etc but visiting the home of the breeder gives you a good idea.

We have a lab/springer cross. Excellent hound. Currently sat under my desk at work keeping my feet warm.

Collected ours at 9 weeks. Was to be eight but couldn’t make it over.

EDIT: Search for Springadors if you are after a cross. Great temperament. Will happily sit by the fire all day or run next to me doing the three peaks. We walk ours anything from 1 hour to 4 hours a day.

Ours looking a tad grey at 5 years now.

[/url]image by sandwicheater1, on Flickr[/img]

8 Weeks minimum really. I would advise searching for a reputable breeder of the breed you are interested in in your area, and ideally meet at least one, if not both parents to get an idea of their temperament and physical condition. Probably not gumtree TBH.

There are a lot of puppy farms or people breeding for the money, where the animals are not well looked after etc. A good breeder should have had them vet checked, and used good quality flea and worming products as a minimum. Ideally they will have started getting them used to a lead and collar and started socialising them too. If they haven’t done this then I would not consider getting a dog from them.

Alternatively there’s always the option of a rescue dog, although that might not be the best option for everyone. We have had a rescue and an 11 week old puppy from Preloved. Not great (but not terrible either) experiences with either so we would go with the responsible breeder option should we get another one.

We got a Springador pup at 8 weeks back in November. Unfortunately he became really ill with a bacterial infection within a couple of days of coming to us and we had to have him put to sleep. Desperately sad time. We found out subsequently that the same thing had happened to another pup from the same litter – it was Leptospirosis which they had obviously picked up before they came to us. It was a horribly distressing thing to go through but we also ended up with a huge vets bill as it all happened within the 2 week no claim period at the start of the policy.

After that experience I’d always go for an older pup and preferably one which has already has it’s vacs.

The good news is that we now have Lucas who came to us at 12 weeks fully vaccinated and well socialized.

He’s a Springador too and he’s a cracking little dog (apologies for second pup pic of the day!):

Lucas looks ace SJ. Shame you had go through that with the previous pup 😥

@sprocket jockey , the breeder should have paid your vets bill and given a refund . Great looking pup 🙂

@CheesbeanZ

We did get a full refund from the breeder but covered the vets bills ourselves Not a professional outfit – just a farming family whose own dog had had pups, they were as distraught as us at losing 2 of their pups. We were just very unlucky – really wouldn’t want it to put anyone off!

We had Oscar at just under 9 weeks

He’s now 21 weeks

We got Fin when she was eight weeks old

Shes turning into a great trail dog.