Should I Send My Puppy To Preschool Now?

[nikitaken]

Our puppy is now a little over 10 weeks old, and she just received her 2nd vaccination 3 days ago.

We emailed our local dog school and they said we can join their puppy class any time now with proof of vaccinations.

The first class will be this sunday, which is 5 days from her vaccination, is it too early?

I was told to wait for about 10 days before I take her out, and try to avoid grassy area, and the puppy class will be on a grassy are =(

So should I wait 1 more week? or should I just avoid the grassy parks completely?

[poodlefan]

Find out what is involved in the first class. Our club's first class is dog free. Handlers go and get an hour of general instruction and start with their pups the next week.

If the classes are held on the same grounds as adult dogs or in a public place, I'd probably leave her at home for the first week and go without her. You'll still learn heaps.

[tdierikx]

Many vet clinics have puppy kindergarten classes held at their clinics - you might try looking one of those up rather than starting your little one at a dog training club. Most training clubs I've attended won't start pups until they are around 16 weeks of age, and had all 3 puppy vaccs...

T.

[poodlefan]

Many vet clinics have puppy kindergarten classes held at their clinics - you might try looking one of those up rather than starting your little one at a dog training club. Most training clubs I've attended won't start pups until they are around 16 weeks of age, and had all 3 puppy vaccs...

T.

Quite a few vets don't do 3 vaccs anymore tdierikx. My youngest boy got two only.

[Diva]

Many vet clinics have puppy kindergarten classes held at their clinics - you might try looking one of those up rather than starting your little one at a dog training club. Most training clubs I've attended won't start pups until they are around 16 weeks of age, and had all 3 puppy vaccs...

T.

I'd choose club kindergarten classes, when run well, over most vet puppy schools. Just based on my own experience.

[Guest Tess32]

You can go, but it IS a risk up until 2 weeks after the vaccination.

[tdierikx]

I don't use vet clinic puppy preschool as a training ground - more as a controlled and supervised socialisation tool for pups not vaccinated enough to go out to "proper" training grounds where lots of strange dogs congregate... it's also good for a lot of vet advice on a lot of different topics pertinent to the healthy upbringing of your beloved baby... *grin*

T.

[Diva]

I don't use vet clinic puppy preschool as a training ground

No, me either. But many seem to be badly run, led by vet nurses with little behavioural understanding and the advice given not so sound. So even the socialisation objective can be compromised. IMHO.

Edited to add: Of course there will be some good ones, but I'd check out closely who was running it.

Edited August 14, 2009 by Diva

[Sky_Mel]

My girl started puppy school at 9 weeks of age, it was just mandatory that she had been cleared of her first vaccination, I wanted her to be as well socialized as possible and her puppy school wouldn't take puppies over 16 weeks.

:p

[Erny]

I don't wait for final vaccs. I recommend starting pre-school at 8 weeks (ie when owner acquires the pup). Mainly because attendance at pre-school is access to an outlet that can teach (especially) new puppy owners on the what to and what not to do's, and how to do it. Not to mention the proximity and interaction with other pups and different (unfamiliar) people the pup is exposed to.

However, I recommend that the pups stay away for 7-10 days clear of each puppy vaccination as during this time the immune system will be working to recover from the affects of the vaccine and creating anti-bodies to the diseases the vaccines guard against. Not only that the pup would be exposed to other pups, but also to reduce the stress (which in itself taxes the immune system further) that the pup will incur by merely being at school.

[Erny]

Quite a few vets don't do 3 vaccs anymore tdierikx. :p My youngest boy got two only.

This is good news, although I'm not so sure it's much of a majority or even many that are following that protocol as yet. At least down my ways. Must contact the Vets around town to see what their more recent approach is and whether it has changed since I last knew of them.

[ellz]

Not all vets follow the same protocol.

For many years, some have only given two shots, whilst others have given three.

And of course, not all owners bother to take their puppies back for their third shot either. :D

Because I don't give the first shot between 6 - 8 weeks like many other breeders, I don't always suggest keeping the puppy at home until the third shot. To me, correct and timely socialisation is everything.

And to be perfectly honest, a puppy can pick "something" up anywhere, vaccinated or not so after 10 weeks or so, I think the socialisation is far more important than being anal about disease.

[luffy4688]

I don't wait for final vaccs. I recommend starting pre-school at 8 weeks (ie when owner acquires the pup). Mainly because attendance at pre-school is access to an outlet that can teach (especially) new puppy owners on the what to and what not to do's, and how to do it. Not to mention the proximity and interaction with other pups and different (unfamiliar) people the pup is exposed to.

However, I recommend that the pups stay away for 7-10 days clear of each puppy vaccination as during this time the immune system will be working to recover from the affects of the vaccine and creating anti-bodies to the diseases the vaccines guard against. Not only that the pup would be exposed to other pups, but also to reduce the stress (which in itself taxes the immune system further) that the pup will incur by merely being at school.

Hi, in regards to not waiting for the 2nd vaccination, does that means your training school accepts pups without them? If so, I might be interested. =) Cause I reckon my puppy's too hyper and would do great with the mental stimulation and socialization.

[mrs tornsocks]

I don't wait for final vaccs. I recommend starting pre-school at 8 weeks (ie when owner acquires the pup). Mainly because attendance at pre-school is access to an outlet that can teach (especially) new puppy owners on the what to and what not to do's, and how to do it. Not to mention the proximity and interaction with other pups and different (unfamiliar) people the pup is exposed to.

However, I recommend that the pups stay away for 7-10 days clear of each puppy vaccination as during this time the immune system will be working to recover from the affects of the vaccine and creating anti-bodies to the diseases the vaccines guard against. Not only that the pup would be exposed to other pups, but also to reduce the stress (which in itself taxes the immune system further) that the pup will incur by merely being at school.

Hi, in regards to not waiting for the 2nd vaccination, does that means your training school accepts pups without them? If so, I might be interested. =) Cause I reckon my puppy's too hyper and would do great with the mental stimulation and socialization.

Of the two pre schools I've been to, both accept pups before their final vaccs, but all pups have to show the vacc certs. These have both been in the grounds of a vet so I guess there is some level of risk but you would think minimal. I would take him.

On another note, my vet reccomended 7 days between third vacc and going into the big wide world.

[luffy4688]

I don't wait for final vaccs. I recommend starting pre-school at 8 weeks (ie when owner acquires the pup). Mainly because attendance at pre-school is access to an outlet that can teach (especially) new puppy owners on the what to and what not to do's, and how to do it. Not to mention the proximity and interaction with other pups and different (unfamiliar) people the pup is exposed to.

However, I recommend that the pups stay away for 7-10 days clear of each puppy vaccination as during this time the immune system will be working to recover from the affects of the vaccine and creating anti-bodies to the diseases the vaccines guard against. Not only that the pup would be exposed to other pups, but also to reduce the stress (which in itself taxes the immune system further) that the pup will incur by merely being at school.

Hi, in regards to not waiting for the 2nd vaccination, does that means your training school accepts pups without them? If so, I might be interested. =) Cause I reckon my puppy's too hyper and would do great with the mental stimulation and socialization.

Of the two pre schools I've been to, both accept pups before their final vaccs, but all pups have to show the vacc certs. These have both been in the grounds of a vet so I guess there is some level of risk but you would think minimal. I would take him.

On another note, my vet reccomended 7 days between third vacc and going into the big wide world.

Thanks for the response! May I know which pre school did you go to? Cause I'm still new to all these and I'm looking for some recomendations in terms of puppy schools. ;)

[Cosmolo]

Most puppy schools require first vaccination, not full vaccinations- thats all we require.