Puppy School?

[Wing]

My vet suggested me to bring my pup to the puppy school, she said its important to get my pup to socialize with other pups. She said I should wait til the 2nd vaccination before joining the puppy school at the start, but becos of some sort of timing problem, they now asked me to join before the 2nd vaccination, they said it is fine to do so. And the puppy school is actually for free, so i understand the fact that they are not just trying to make money from it. Some people been telling me I shouldn't bring my pup out to interact with other pups before the 3rd vaccination. So I am now confused, I don't know should I bring him to the puppy school, or should I wait. What do you guys reckon??

[Kelpie_Pup]

Hi Wing

We took our Puppy to preschool when she was 10 weeks old, so she had only had one vaccination. All of the other puppies there were also of the same age, and had also had one vaccination-they were not a risk to our puppy.. nor was ours to them.

NB. Why is your puppy having 3 vaccinations??

Some people might have issues with it, but really I personally don't think it would be a problem.

The period of 8-16 weeks is crucial for socialisation-not only with other dogs and people, but places and noises too.

Hope that helps

[Wing]

Thx for the advice Kelpie. Deeply appreciate it.

Well isn't they suppose to have 3 vaccinations in total? What sort of problem will it has for having 3 vaccinations tho? Sorry to sound like an idiot, but I don't have much ideas on puppies as this is the first time having a pup on my own... I just want to do everything right.

[lilyandjazz]

I agree, I think by the time the 3rd vaccination has been done you lose that window with socialising and noise.

I have shelties who are quite standoffish so i get them out as soon as possible.

Also the other puppies at training will all have had the same vaccinations, so you are not bringing your puppy into contact with dogs who have not been vaccinated.

I would go if i was you.

Good luck

[Guest Tess32]

Thx for the advice Kelpie. Deeply appreciate it.

Well isn't they suppose to have 3 vaccinations in total? What sort of problem will it has for having 3 vaccinations tho? Sorry to sound like an idiot, but I don't have much ideas on puppies as this is the first time having a pup on my own... I just want to do everything right.

Taking a puppy out before his/her puppy shots have been completed is basically

a calculated risk. It IS a risk as most puppies are not immune to parvo until up to two weeks AFTER their *second* vaccination. However, there are ways to minimise the risk and this includes carrying your puppy out and about to populated areas, and only mixing with dogs you know. Do not allow the puppy to run around in a dog park or places heavily frequented by other dogs.

You don't NEED puppy school and it IS a risk but thousands of puppies do go every week and socialisation is very very important.

There are other safe ways to socialise your puppy without puppy school, but it will depend on if you have access to some stable, friendly dogs or other known puppies.

Puppies only require two vaccinations however some give the third to 'guarantee' the shot has worked - in most cases the second vaccination works and the third is an irrelevant booster.

[Erny]

My vet suggested me to bring my pup to the puppy school, she said its important to get my pup to socialize with other pups.

Not only other pups, but other dogs, people, noises, different surfaces, unusual people (eg. costumes; face masks) and the list goes on and on and on and ......................

IMO get your pup out early so you have time to 'gently' (ie gradually increasing exposure intensity) socialise and habituise to these sorts of things (including traffic noises etc. etc). Use common sense by avoiding areas that are heavily populated by dogs that you have no knowledge of and I would suggest keep your pup away from all of that for 7 days clear of each vaccination.

There's no guarantees in life but IMO there is a greater risk of behavioural issues arising as a result of insufficient and inappropriate socialisation if kept away than there is of catching disease if you don't. Of course, this depends on your area as well - check with your Vet as to cases of parvo etc. etc.

Remember that keeping your pup at home doesn't completely keep him/her safe from disease either.

[StaceyB]

If the puppy classes are being held at the vets then the environment will be fairly clean, and the other pups around the same age will be at about the same stage of vaccinations.

I took Gypsy to puppy school at our vets, it was ok for some basic training tips but was mostly info sessions for owners.

[Wing]

Thank you very much guys... I was very worried that he will build up an inappropriate behaviour by not giving him the chance to socialize with other dogs and things etc. After hearing much advice, I am definitely going to the puppy school tomorrow night.

Yea I heard about the same thing too StaceyB, its more like info session for the owners, like teaching the owners to train them, like how to reward them and etc... i will see how it goes tmr... will update u guys tmr night..

THANKS AGAIN!

[Dogsfevr]

im not a fan of puppy schools as too many are run by unqualified people.Some vets certainly have qualified people so the lessons are educational but many are free for alls where in many cases owners dont return after the first lesson or end up with a pup that is terrified .

I would be asking what qualifications the puppy teacher has .

For many vets puppy preschool is about pushing there vet & sucking you in.For the small mniority its about doing right by the new owners.

Even if its free ask questions.

[Kelpie-i]

I just came back from the USA where I attended a 3 day seminar with Prof Ray Coppinger himself at Wolf Park on this very matter.

Did you know that puppies who are NOT socialised (ie: exposed to their entire world) during their critical socialisation period which is the first 16 weeks of life, actually have smaller brain sizes and fewer "connections" (in layman's term: the capacity to 'learn to learn') that those pups who are exposed and well socialised from a young age."??

Socialisation is not just about creating a "friendly" dog, but more so creating a dog with a good size brain and is capable of learning and processing information faster and on a more permanent basis.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Kelpie-i

[Wing]

Thanks again for the advice, I will still go to the puppy school as I planned. At least to find out what's going on there. There will be a 2nd session, if I find there are anything doggy in the 1st then I will just stop going. I might just seek alternatives for letting my pup socialize, maybe bringing him out and meeting up with my friend's dogs etc...

Thanks..

[luvsdogs]

I think its important to take puppies to a qualified behaviourist for puppy pre school. The puppy pre school I took Tilba to is run by CertIV Delta trained teachers. It's more about your pup seeing different puppies & having a chance to socialise with them in a controlled manner.

Tilba had 3 vaccinations because my vet still does it that way.

I went to this years APDT conference in Sydney a few weeks ago & one of the speakers, a vet, told us that the newer 2 vaccination method has a stronger concentration of the vaccines & equals the 3 vaccination routine. As long as you carry your pup in & out of the vets & they disinfect the floor, your pup should be fine.

Edited November 26, 2008 by luvsdogs

[Patters]

Re: 3 vaccinations: 6 weeks - C3

12 weeks - C5

16 weeks - C5

This was the schedule my vet gave me years ago if wanting Kennel Cough vac. They need 2 to start and then 1 annually.

I don't know if this has changed, re: over-vaccinating info now.

[Kelpie-i]

It's more about your pup seeing different puppies & having a chance to socialise with them in a controlled manner

Partly correct, the main aim of socialiation is to "socialise" the dog to everything, not just other dogs. This the mistake some puppy schools make in that they only expose and socialise the puppies to other puppies but fail to socialise and/or to advise the owner to socialise the pup to the world around it.

As Erny pointed out, people, noises, cars, buses, skateboards, children (on skateboards and bikes).....etc etc etc. The list goes on and on.

[Erny]

I went to this years APDT conference in Sydney a few weeks ago & one of the speakers, a vet, told us that the newer 2 vaccination method has a stronger concentration of the vaccines & equals the 3 vaccination routine.

OT ..... but, huh ?????? A vaccine either vaccinates, or it doesn't. Not the place to discuss here due to it not being relevant to the thread topic, but you might want to check out THIS thread on Vaccinosis. Is this "2=3" vaccine the same as the "3 year" vaccine that I believe is the same as the annual vaccine but 3 times the cost?? Think twice about the level and quantity of chemicals we have been pumping into our dogs. The aforementioned thread will give you some interesting reading on this.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Erny