What is the optimal age for a CKCS to leave his/her litter?
People who are die-hard obedience types insist on getting their dogs at 7 weeks of age exactly; the theory is that the new puppy will “bond” to the owner rather than its littermates and mother. Anyone who knows Cavaliers, knows they will “bond” at any age to a worthy owner. They should never, ever be taken away from their home until at least this age. Depending on the situation, I personally allow mine to go after their 8 week shots and eye checks. However, I try to keep in close touch for a few weeks, to keep things on track. From 8 – 11 weeks is considered the first fear period and can actually go anywhere up to around 14 months. This is a crucial period as it will determine the dogs social wellbeing for the future; therefore this is a time to be careful with placements as a breeder and be kind and conscientious as a new owner. In humans this crucial time frame is currently considered to be about 5 years. If the puppy is to be flown to their new owner, the individial temperament of t
