at what age can a puppy leave its mother
Age isnât the only thing to take into consideration when determining when puppies can be removed from their mother. While 6 weeks is a standard age, maturity should be taken into consideration, as pups learn acceptable behaviors by playing with litter mates. For example, puppies teach one another when a bite is too hard and they learn to establish hierarchy within their pack. Allowing pups to remain together, with their mother, for as long as 10 weeks, can help to reduce the potential for behavioral problems down the road. A mother dog will help make the determination of when pups are ready to be weaned from her by spending more time away from them and encouraging their independence.