The tested true age to socially wean a pup from its litter is between 6-8 weeks. That being said, interestingly enough, when dogs placed in homes with unrelated dogs, bonding and response to humans was unaffected. Litter mates raised together produced one successful (working dogs) and one unsuccessful every time, even though both pups would pass the Volhard and later aptitude testing. Pups raised with their mothers never passed. Pups raised in kennels but separated from relation were successful (which is why I assume Inar bonded as well as he did). The ideal of the Volhard testing between 6 and 8 weeks is the peak intersection between social attraction (lack of fear in a young puppy) decline and the social fear (often referred to fear imprint period) incline. You can judge the fear response and recovery without damaging the pup's secondary socialization permanently. Another interesting fact : Slabbert and Rasa (1997) have demonstrated that puppies (9 to 12 weeks of age) exhibited greater trainability as narcotics detectors by 6 months of age if they were permitted to observe their mother performing searching exercises. This has also been a long time practice of French Ring trainers who have been known to line practice fields with crates holding puppy prospects. Early weaning can cause "emotional rigidness, overreactivity, increased vigilance and anxiety. Such dogs are prone to develop attachment-related problems involving separation distress...Though they are more likely to develop aggression problems towards other dogs as adults, dogs forming overly exclusive bonds with an owner can become suspicious or aggressive towards strangers, viewing them as a threat to their attachment." Des, because of your constant care, your young pup developed a jealous streak, so to speak... Socialization, rearing, and development fascinate me.