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View Full Version : Is 5 week way to young?


hehehottie09
Jan 14, 2007, 06:46 PM
I am getting a chihuahua from Mexico from a lady of a friend that breads them...
She is bringing her to us at only 5 weeks old!! That is the only time that she can bring her to the untied states! I am worried for the puppies health what should I do?
Please help me out cause I don't want this puppy to end up with health problems!

labman
Jan 14, 2007, 07:17 PM
Please don't do it. No responsible breeder ever removes a puppy from its mother and litter before 6 weeks, and 7-8 weeks is much better. At that age another week is a long time, 20% of the dogs life. There are important lessons on being a dog puppies learn from each other at that age.

This sounds like the Mexican puppy mills I have heard of. The breeder may not have chosen breeding stock likely to produce sturdy, healthy dogs. Poorly bred dogs have more health and behavior problems. Try to find a good American breeder.

One of the best sources for dogs with a predictable personality is the rescue
Dogs. These are dogs that lost their home, but were taken into a foster home
To be retrained as necessary and placed in the right home for them. You may
Find a rescue near you starting at
American Kennel Club - Breed Rescue (http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm) The rescues charge a fee to help cover their expenses, but is much less than the price of a puppy plus all its medical expenses the first year. Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten. (http://www.petfinders.org) have even more dogs, but don't do as much retraining or as careful placement as the better rescues.