Eight weeks or twelve weeks?

There are two common points on the timeline when puppies are commonly removed from their dam -
eight weeks and twelve weeks respectively. Most professional breeders of pedigree dogs will not
allow their pups to go to their new homes until
they are ten to weeks old, although some breeders
see eight weeks as afair time to allow the puppies
to leave, and taking home a puppy at eight
weeks old is not uncommon.
 
While puppies are usually fully weaned at the
age of seven weeks old, and are able to eat
solid foods and no longer need to nurse from the
dam, there is a lot of merit in allowing the puppies
to stay with the dam until they are twelve weeks old.

The additional four weeks between weeks eight and twelve are very formative for the young puppy, and
their socialization, learned behaviors and personalities really come on in leaps and bounds during this time, which will help to provide the puppy with a firm foundation for the rest of their lives.

We allow mom to handle the weaning 

We do not get involved in our pup’s weaning process. That typically means that our pups nurse until 12 weeks. It quickly becomes obvious that mom does not have much milk and the nursing sessions are more for emotional support than physical. The pup’s attempts to nurse are often met with mom initiating a play session but if the pup insists, mom decides whether to correct or tolerate a sip or two. After 12 weeks, pup and mom tend to seamlessly 
transition to full weaning without much trauma and only the occasional correction.

8 weeks old.

Puppies can begin to be separated from their dam
​ at 6 weeks, but need to stay with their litter mates
until they are 8 weeks old, before they can go to new homes. The canine socialization period takes place between week 6 and 8, and is one of the most important stages of development of the dog. What they learn from their dam and litter mates during this period greatly influences the rest of their lives. 

During this stage the puppies learn bite inhibition
and canine socialization skills that are critical skills 
for a dog, and dogs that miss this stage often have behavioral problems which land them in shelters
later in life. They may have serious problems getting along with other dogs, and can have problems with biting, because they never learn to adjust the
pressure of their bite, and that teeth hurt.

While it is technically acceptable to remove a puppy from the dam once they are eight weeks old, it is infinitely preferable to wait that additional month and keep them with the dam and litter-mates until they are twelve weeks old. We do not sell puppies until they
​ are about 12 weeks in age given their eating progression and maturity.

Socialization 

A good dog breeder starts socializing their puppies
long before they leave for their new homes, providing 
different smells and textures before the puppies have even opened their eyes. Once the puppies can 
see and hear (3-5 weeks), good breeders take the puppies to safe locations to meet new people 
and expose their puppies to new sights and sounds.

Between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks is known as
the "critical period" for socialization. That is because anything that happens to your puppy during this time will be forever imprinted on his brain. 
So, if your puppy gets frightened by a man in a cowboy hat at 9 weeks and he doesn't have a positive
experience with other men in cowboy hats, he will
grow into a dog that is fearful of, or even
aggressive towards, men in cowboy hats.

This is why it is inadvisable to take a new puppy to a dog park (aside from the health risk) which is often full of dogs with poor social skills and bully play styles.

Socialization means making sure that your puppy
has positive experiences to as many people, places 
and things for the first 4-6 weeks they are with you -
but don't stop there! Your puppy will enter several fear 
periods during their adolescence, so positive socialization needs to continue through
18 months of age.
Failure to do so is one of the leading causes of behavior problems in dogs,
from separation ​anxiety to aggression.