I voted 8 but I would have been happy to take my confident well adjusted lass at 7.

However, I agree with Mo that it would be great if they could come up with a vaccination programme so that your condfident outgoing pup isn't effectively put in solitary confinement until the second vacc at about 12 weeks.

i must say I think my vet has a good attitude towards this. After doing the first jab and checking her over he told me not to keep her a recluse - just be sensible about where we went and who we spoke to. That worked well. If we were in very public areas where you had no idea what dogs might have visited, I just tucked her under my arm but visiting family/friends she was allowed to play as she wished.

The very first dog I ever bought came from a show breeder. He was a "pet" puppy and was 10 weeks. I subsequently bought other show quality puppies from her for showing but generally speaking they were all 10-12 weeks old. She would never have allowed any to go before 10 weeks. Those extra few weeks with mum and siblings did seem to make a difference.

When I became involved with rescue we had pups at much younger ages from 4 weeks. Far too young to leave mum but then again she had no milk and we were told the pups were going to be drowned unless someone took them away!

Most of the puppies I see advertised now are 6-8 weeks old. We got Katie at 7 weeks.

RV

I have put 9weeks as if think between 8-10 is right. I got Barney at 16weeks as his breeder was going to keep him. Reeno i got at 10weeks he had had his 1st injection then Reenos son i got at 10 weeks too, this was my choice, the breeder said i could take him at 7weeks as she knows im experianced in bring pups up and i reared Dissons litter from 5h old but i thourght best to wait untill the 10week mark. Im not sure how old next pup will be, prob 10 weeks again as its the same breeder as my other dog.

I know many Cav breeder who doesnt let go untill 10weeks of age, I can only think this is personal choice as nearly all are ready at 8weeks.

I'm not sure that there's a 'right' age...there's definitely too early (before 6) but to say a 'right' age would depend on too many things. The way the mother has taught the litter, the way the breeder has socialized them, the new owners experience with puppies...I would think that it would be a case-by-case basis. I've gotten a puppy at 6 weeks and I've gotten a puppy at 12 weeks.

i agree thats why one of mine left at 7 1/2 weeks and others at 8, it depends totally on the mother and the new owners, but never before 6 weeks

Now this is an interesting debate one I often wonder about and one many people "know" there way is right - and everyone else is wrong on.

Well we got Sal who was 1 of a litter of 6 at a day before they 7 weeks old it was a Friday and we had the weekend too. She was perfect puppy well adjusted - happy - confident - healthy - ready to go. She and one litter sister went on the same day the other 2 went a week/10 days later. Two were being run on by breeder the dog of those two went at 10 weeks and I think the bitch went at 14 weeks or so.
Sal was perfect puppy going age, ready for new horizons and by all accounts the leader of any puppy break outs from the puppy pen.

Then we got Tess, same breeder same mom as Sal just 2 years later. Tess was one of three bitches, all three ultra confident - happy - well adjusted - healthy - ready to go - again I appear to have chosen the "leader" of the gang - very very playful.
We picked her up when she was 6 weeks 1 day old and boy was she ready for the world - not sure the world was ready for her though We got her younger because we had Sal already. Tess has been like Sal no trouble house-clean within weeks slept through the night after 2-3 days, never a bother in any respect and well socialised with everything and anything.
Tess's litter sister went 1 day under 8 weeks to a family who had not had a puppy for many years having lost their previous dog and her other sister went at about 14 weeks or so again having been run on.

I think as long as the pups are healthy happy and the breeder is a good the they should judge each case on an individual basis rather than a set age.

Karen

I picked up Cassy from England when she was 6 weeks old, couldnt have asked for a nicer dog or breeder either. Never had any problems with her, great wee dog well balanced/socialised very quick learner, settled in very well never pined.

Laura

I think the later a pup leaves it's littermates and mum, the better. This is shown time and time again when pups that were adopted/bought at 6 weeks old come into our training classes with socialisation problems - that few extra weeks with their littermates and mum not only teaches them the beginnings of bite inhibition, but it teaches them how to interact with other dogs. They learn doggy manners basically

I disagree, if you take a puppy from its mother too late ie 12 weeks upwards, you miss out on those vital first few weeks of bonding. You would be surprised how many short lessons a puppy can absorb at the age of 6 weeks, and even younger.
I got my eldest collie at 5 weeks of age and he was trained to walk alongside me off lead, on lead and he was also retrieving a small toy back to hand by the time he was 7 weeks old. He was sitting on command within a few weeks as well. i have a very close bond with him and he is a very well adjusted dog with people and other animals. I think it all depends on how excperienced you are at training and handling dogs really. 6 weeks might be a bit young for a first time puppy owner.
providing a puppy is well socialised with people and other dogs, I think leaving mum at 6 - 8 weeks is the best time.
Bite inhibition can easily be taught by using the word NO every time the puppy bites - they soon learn not to play rough

Don't guide dogs go out to their puppy walkers at 6 weeks?