What Age to Bring a Puppy Home
Eight weeks is the accepted age, and in England it's the law for licensed breeders. What the one comparison study found, and what nobody has tested.
Written by thecanineledger
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In England, the rules for licensed dog breeders say: “No puppy aged under 8 weeks may be sold or permanently separated from its biological mother” (The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, Schedule 6).
While eight weeks is the accepted age, the research behind it is thin. One study compared puppies taken home at 30 to 40 days with puppies taken home at two months. We found none that compared 7 weeks with 8, or 8 with 10. This page sets out what the evidence shows.
1. Why age matters at all
The socialisation period. A 2022 systematic review describes “the socialisation period (3–12 weeks of age)” as one of the sensitive periods in a puppy’s development (McEvoy et al., Animals 2022). Much of it is spent with the breeder, because “homing happens from 8 weeks onwards.”
The accepted age. The review says “the current accepted time for rehoming stands at 8 weeks of age.”
A caution. It adds that “abruptly separating puppies at this age may cause acute stress and disadvantage the puppies’ development”. The authors call for research on socialising puppies well without moving them before they can cope.
2. The one comparison study
What was studied. Italian researchers compared “Seventy adult dogs separated from their dam and littermates and adopted between the ages of 30 and 40 days” with 70 dogs taken from the litter at two months (Pierantoni et al., Veterinary Record 2011, abstract). Owners filled in a questionnaire about their dog’s behaviour.
What it found. Dogs taken home early were more likely to show several behaviours. The authors list “destructiveness, excessive barking, fearfulness on walks, reactivity to noises, toy possessiveness, food possessiveness and attention-seeking”.
Pet shops. The difference was clearest for dogs bought from pet shops. “No significant differences were observed with dogs obtained from other types of sources.”
What it doesn’t show. Owners reported the behaviour, and they knew how old their dog was when it came home. The study compared about 4 to 6 weeks with about 8 weeks. It can’t tell us whether 7 weeks is too early, or whether 10 weeks is better than 8.
Our note: The pet-shop finding may mean the source of a puppy matters more than its age.
→ Puppy Farms and Pet-Store Puppies: What the Behaviour Studies Found
3. The law
England. For licensed breeders, the 2018 regulations say no puppy under 8 weeks may be sold or permanently separated from its mother. They also say “A puppy may only be shown to a prospective purchaser if it is together with its biological mother.” These rules don’t apply if separation “is necessary for the health or welfare of the puppy, other puppies from the same litter or its biological mother.”
Elsewhere. We haven’t checked the rules in other UK nations or other countries.
Our note: This page quotes the England breeding rules only, which apply to licence holders. Rules differ elsewhere.
4. What to ask the breeder or rescue
- How old will the puppy be when it comes home?
- Can I see the puppy with its mother?
- What has the puppy already experienced: people, handling, household sounds?
- If the puppy is older, say 10 to 12 weeks, how has it been socialised?
Our note: These questions are ours. A puppy older than 12 weeks that has had little contact with people or a home may need extra care.
Our note: Breeders often keep some breeds, especially toy breeds, longer. We found no study of this.
→ Socialisation Before Full Vaccination: The Risk Both Ways · → Before You Bring a Dog Home: The Decisions That Matter Most
5. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “8 weeks is the scientifically proven age” | Not proven. It’s the accepted age. One study compared 30–40 days with two months. |
| “7 weeks is fine” | Not tested. We found no study comparing 7 and 8 weeks. |
| “Later is always better” | Not tested. We found no study comparing 8 weeks with older ages in pet homes. |
| “Early separation causes behaviour problems” | Linked, not proven. The one study found more problems, mainly in pet-shop puppies, from owner reports. |
| “It’s illegal to sell a puppy under 8 weeks” | In England, for licensed breeders. We didn’t check other places. |
Sources
- The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, Schedule 6: Breeding dogs. legislation.gov.uk, read 4 November 2026. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Legislation
- McEvoy V, Espinosa UB, Crump A, Arnott G. Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review. Animals 2022: systematic review. Funded by DAERA Northern Ireland and the European Research Council; no conflicts declared
- Pierantoni L, Albertini M, Pirrone F. Prevalence of owner-reported behaviours in dogs separated from the litter at two different ages. Vet Rec 2011. ⚠️ abstract read. Owner questionnaire, 140 dogs
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.