New Puppy - Is it ok to let my friends take him for a few hours?

yes your puppy will be fine, give your friend some things of his from home so he knows his smells (it makes them feel safe) and give him lots of praise when u get home for being so well behaved and brave :)

I wouldn't recommend having your puppy stay over with your friends at least until he is old enough to understand you are the Alpha in the pack. If you want to work with him on not being around you all the time, leave him alone for a bit. He is still at a very impressionable age, you want to make it clear that you are his person and no one else's. Definitely socialize him as much as possible with other people and animals, and yes let other people play with him! But for now I'd say just have your friends come over and visit. Too many changes in environment could be stressful to a puppy. For instance, if he is in a place he knows (his new home with you), and you leave for a bit, he should still be fairly calm because he is in a familiar place. However, if you take him to a new place he's not as familiar with and leave for a few hours, he might get a little stressed out. Maybe after he's a little older and you've firmly mastered the Alpha position. But for now, just let them visit.

That would depend on a few things

a) 12 weeks.. he shouldn't have been fully vaccinated yet.. usually the last vaccines are at 16 weeks.. so there is some risk of exposure to pathogens

b) your friend... are they trustworthy enough? If something happened to the dog in their care, how would it affect your friendship? Would they be willing to pay vet bills for an accident that occurred while they were taking care of the pup?

c) Your friends knowledge of dogs.. the first few months in a dogs life shape the kind of dog they will be for the rest of their life. Do they know the training methods you want to implicate? Do they know how you have decided to discipline? Do they know any other stipulations you may have?

You can socailize your new pup without having him do sleepovers with other people. It's easy to find a doggy daycare to bring him to, take him on walks outside and let him meet other dogs, take him to the dog park. Make sure first he has all of his shots first. I really wouldn't let a friend take my new puppy for a few nights. My dog is a 80lbs german shepherd and I wouldn't let a friend take her for a few nights! Too many scary things could happen and to me it sounds like your friends just want to have a 'pretend' puppy for fun- not to actually help you in any way.

--even if it's not overnight. Nope. never. not taking my dog. What if something happened??? I would never forgive my friend, and i would never forgive myself!!!!!!

- I go to the dog park with my very large dog. I only go in when I see that the dogs inside are well behaved. As soon as I don't feel comfortable in the dog run, I leave. The dog run is a very fun place for both you and your dog so you have to base it on your personal experience. Not every dog run has dogs dying in it every day.

Play dates with other people and dogs should socialize him plenty. I never recommend allowing your buddies to take him overnight if you can help it. And yes, you should be the only person to feed him. I would love you to ask my buddies about all the crises that they have encountered and bills they have paid with other people feeding their puppies/ doggies.

I wouldn't. Would u leave a new born baby at Charlie sheens house? It may be better than a cage though

Don't trust anyone,

He might sell it to a Circus.