shock!

[BabyBlonde]

A friend of mine owes me alot of money and has offered to give me a blue female staffie pup from his litter. After careful consideration I agreed. He brings her to my house and she is so tiny and defo shouldnt be away from her mum! I was so surprised!!! The pup turns out to be 4 weeks old and not even eating...I spoke to him and explained that she needs to be with her mum still and for quite a while! He seemed very surprised by this. I went back to his with him to see the rest of the pups also and told him to start feeding them weetabixs with goats milk (I am right, arent I?) I said I wont have her until she is 9 weeks old miniuim(again that is right,right?) but he refused and said they all need to leave in 2 weeks (when they are 6 weeks) as he is going away on holiday.
I was very shocked by this, he clearly bred his bitch without research thinking it was easy as pie. I even offered to have the bitch and pups whilst he was on holiday so they still had mum but he wasnt amused.
So Im having her when she is 6 weeks old or someone else will anyway, at least Ill know what to do with her... not sure what else I can really do...

Any suggesions and help for the pups. I cant convince hm at all
Also she is a right stunner!

[Marinam2]

Theres no telling people. I dont think pups should be eating food this early they need to be on mum for as long as possible, i dont think weaning from her should start till 5-6 weeks. Once they leave mums milk they wont need a replacement milk.
Yes rehoming is possible earlier than 9 weeks some do it at 7 week but it really doesnt do them any good its like detatching you from your mum at 8 years old, you'll live and eventually be happy but the trauma that early will leave its mark.

Marina

[KathyM]

If he owes you money, why is *he* dictating when you take the puppy? Tell him to keep them with their mum or cough up, the cheeky barsteward. Unless he's going to pay for the behaviourist you might need down the line too? Or will he pay that debt in dogs too, strange currency!

[LisaLQ]

I wish my friends would pay me in dogs. Mind you, I never lend money out lol.

I wouldn't take her to be honest. I would say he should keep them or you will consider reporting him to the kennel club (if they're full registered staffs) or RSPCA. If he takes the hump, take him to the small claims court for your money back, and pat yourself on the back for not funding irresponsible breeding.

[Tomcat]

I got my dog at 6 weeks without a problem, so did many people i know.

9 weeks is longer than the majoroty of breeders wait. The minimum is 6 i think.

[marthaMoo]

Poor little babies : (

He really shouldnt be breeding anything (but I guess you already know that)

Yes get him to start weaning them asap if he is planning on getting rid of them at 6 weeks. The worst thing would be for him to get rid of them at that age and them not being on soilds.
My friend has a bitch who has just given birth to 13 pups and at 2 and a bit weeks they are already lapping milk from a bowl and will be on mashed food as soon as they can take it.

Its up to you if you want to take her or not. She is here anyway.

Its not ideal at all that they leave that young, but if he is going away he is planning on getting rid of them anyway and I doubt anything you say now is going to change his mind if he has plans to go away already (but thats if he can rehome them all by then anyway). Apart from maybe trying to educate him as to how many unwanted Staffie types there are in the country and see if he will neuter his female.

I got Martha when she was 5 weeks old, I made sure she was well socalized and went to puppy lessons, she has turned out just fine.

[BabyBlonde]

right he has agreed to neutur his bitch if i pay for it :o so i am... i no it seems strange but it sorts it out right?

[lizardloverrach]

Hold on...he owes YOU money...he wants YOU to pay for HIS dog to be spayed...and give you a puppy you didnt ask for???
so what do you get out of this? do you even want a dog?
he gets his dog spayed and gets rid of a puppy. so technically you might as well pay him for it if your paying for the spay! any which way your out of pocket

[Amazon29]

Originally Posted by BabyBlonde

right he has agreed to neutur his bitch if i pay for it :o so i am... i no it seems strange but it sorts it out right?

going on holiday? plenty of money off the pups to! sounds like he should be neutered to me! horrible !!!!!

The pups should be atleast 8 weeks for their bennefit. If I knew him I would be sitting outside his house telling everyone who came for a pup that they were not ready to leave mom.

[BabyBlonde]

well we have had dogs previously and have been considering have another but werent sure... what can i do I mean really? I can just give a dog a good home