Parvo Vax And Socialising

[pixie_meg]

So pup had his 8 week shots on Thursday and i'll be getting him on Wednesday. What i'm wondering about is the 8-12 week age is supposed to be the human socialising age but pup isn't fully protected yet against parvo now is he?

How am i supposed to expose him to everyday life and people? Do i just carry him around? Or do i just avoid other dogs. I want to take him to the kids school but there is a resident dog, do i just hold him in my arms and not let him on the ground or wait till way after his second vax to take him? But then it'll be towards the end of the 12 weeks.

I want to do the right thing by introducing him to a lot of different people for socialisation especially kids but don't want to put him at risk either.

So would you take him to the school in arms 8 days after his first vax?

When would you allow him to walk around town on leash?

Do i just invite people around to meet pup instead of him meeting them?

Just confused.

[pixie_meg]

What did everyone else do in that 8 to 12 week age?

[Staranais]

I invited other dogs around to meet my pup - dogs I knew were vaccinated and well behaved, so pup would be safe. And I invited friends round to my house for coffee or lunch, so pup could meet them too.

I took her to the "dog free" park with me in the middle of town and sat her on my lap to watch the ducks and traffic while we drunk coffee. If you're discrete, most council officers will overlook a tiny puppy on your lap. And little kids will come up and ask for a pat.

I also took pup out in the car a lot - we hung out in the car at busy locations like train station, service stations, outside primary schools, near sports fields, so pup could watch all the different people going about their business. Watching people is as good as meeting them when you're socialising, IMO.

I took her to work with me on the farm to see the stock, ride on the quad bike, and paddle in the creek (no other dogs lived or worked there). And to a friend's house who had chickens and calves, so pup could meet them too. Remember socialising involves exposing pup to different environments and surfaces, not just dogs and humans.

We also snuck into kids playgrounds at night to play on the different equipment and surfaces. Shhh, don't tell! :D

I didn't take her to puppy school, and wouldn't want to until her vaccinations were complete. Most are held at vet clinics, or in areas like parks where other dogs frequently go, so IMO they are parvo risks.

[corvus]

I carried Erik around. He was small enough that it was no big deal, and he needed the exposure. I sat on park benches with him and sat around on a bench in town with him and walked around with him in my arms a bit. And he went to puppy preschool. It's hard, but ultimately you either risk it or you don't, and I guess that is your choice. We stayed away from dog parks and the likes, but did let Erik run around on the mud flat that gets flushed by the tide every 6 hours. Not sure if that would take care of all the bad things, but I guess we were lucky.

Kivi was too big to be carried much, but went in the car to a few places. He was not nearly as leery of the world as Erik was, though, and I socialised Erik a lot more.

[Erny]

What did everyone else do in that 8 to 12 week age?

From 8 - 16 weeks :

Went to puppy school

Visits to the railway station (gradual)

Travelled on trains

Travelled on buses

Travelled on trams in the City

Rode a high rise elevator

Did a little walking in CBD Melbourne

Visited airports

Street cafe stops

Throughout - met people

Visited shopping centres/strips/stores

Visited friends

Did 'stay overs' with sister - both with me and without me

Kept away for 7-10 days after vaccination (not only to keep away from possible infection but also to avoid stress of learning experiences)

I carried my boy mainly for the sake of him feeling secure (socialisation process) and also when I figured he'd done enough walking

[alpha bet]

All my dogs have been out and about getting lots of social contact from the age of 8 weeks. Pups from my own litters have also had some limited socialising from birth.

It has always been believed that if mum is vaccinated the pups are born with some resistence then of course the 6 week injection is a top up. By 8 weeks pup should have reliable immunity. Now we are also finding that the fuss about annual vaccinations may be unwarranted.

One place I usually avoid is the vets. A bit like sitting in a doctors waiting room - all the sickies are waiting in one place and I do wonder whether a quick wipe over is enough to sanitise the area. I always pay the extra for the vet to come to my place to give the pups their 6 week checkup and vacc.

The risk of infection has to be weighed up by the need of the pup to gain the social skills required. However common sense applies, up till about 16 weeks I have been only allowed socialising with dogs that i know have good social manners.

In 30 years I haven't had a problem (touch wood).

Good on you for thinking this subject thru - Best of luck with your pup.

[pixie_meg]

Thanks so much for the replies. Lots to think about. I would just hate it if I took him out and he got sick. Think I'll be doing a lot carrying.

[Erny]

I would just hate it if I took him out and he got sick. Think I'll be doing a lot carrying.

Me too, Pixie_Meg. But on the other hand, I'd hate it if you didn't take him out and he spent the rest of his life with behavioural issues that were the result of lack of socialisation/habituation to our worldly things. So it really is a matter of weighing things up and using some common sense with respect to where you take him. Even if you kept him home, there's no guarantee he won't catch anything and IMO there is a greater risk of behaviour issues due to insufficient socialisation/habituation.

Of course you need to socialise/habituate with sensibility as well, so as to not cause traumatisation.

All experiences inside the pup's 'critical period of development' (ie up to 16 weeks) is permanent, and that includes good experiences, bad experiences and no experiences.

Carry him, by all means, if the area you are in at the time doesn't carry the likelihood of being reasonably safe from disease. But do allow him the opportunity to develop a sense of independence by letting him explore around on his own four paws as well, when possible, practical and beneficial.

Edited November 2, 2009 by Erny