Tralee Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 (edited) Hi Guys. I have been given the opportunity to take my pup to 'Puppy Preschool' at just nine and a half weeks of age almost 3 weeks before her final vaccination. The Veterinary Nurse who runs the classes informs me that there have been no complications in the past, that all pups there will have begun their vaccinations (and only preschool pups attend), and that the area the classes are conducted in is safe. Should I be concerned and avoid these classes? There are several others available when she turns 12 weeks of age. I'd feel safer if they were after her final vaccination. I was thinking of being a 'hog' and doubling up! There is such a difference between an 8 to 12 week old class, and a 12 weeks and older class! Edited January 6, 2005 by pewithers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vehs Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 My friends heavily recommend these classes to me for my little girl -- I didn't know they had puppy preschool (at vets) when I got my boy, but he attended puppy classes (at obedience club) after his final vaccination. Every vet differs, but she assures me the money was well spent and the extensive information pack she was given she still refers to. She doubled up with her two dogs -- infact I met her at my boy's puppy class and we have been friends since (some 2years on), and you will want to continue training and socialising your dog through their lives not just the first few months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Thanks Vehs. What I'm concerned about is whether the pup will be at risk, even though she will only be associating with other puppies, and will be confined to a disease protected area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystiqview Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Truth be told... most viruses are air borne and puppies can still catch it no matter. I have always taken mine to puppy school, either at the vets or a local private training place without any problems. Check with your local vets to see if they know of any particular outbreaks. If you take to a vet.. make sure they are clean. When you think about it.. I sometimes wonder about vet puppy schools.. why do most people take their dog to the vet???? Despite antibacterials and disenfectants.. you have to wonder - you get golden staff from hospitals and they have rigerous disenfecting routines. The risk of infection compared to an unsocialised puppy?? know what I would choose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Midniara~ Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 (edited) Hi Pewithers, It is my opinion that socializaiton is VERY important between 8 to 12 weeks of age so long as you are not placing your puppy in direct danger. It is my understanding that Veterinary Practices who hold such classess are very fastidious about steralising the area where puppies will be socialised. The risks if any to your pup will be very minimal and any benifit to your puppy in my opinion would be far greater. Edited January 6, 2005 by Midniara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElectraWoman Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 (edited) I have also signed my dog up for puppy classes at the vet [to be held in mid-January]. I agree with Skyes Dalimit - there is always a risk of infection [no matter how small], regardless of the precautions taken. You can either live in a bubble, or take the risk Edited January 6, 2005 by ElectraWoman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 (edited) Hi Skyes Dalimit. Hospitals do have anti-micobial resistant bacteria like Golden staphyllococcus. And there may also be some Parvo viruses lurking around the Veterinary surgery. It's not the same risk after your dog has been vaccinated as it is for a puppy. I think the veterinary nurse may be offering puppy preschool under 'Barrier Nursing' conditions. Hi Midniara. I am very enthusiastic about taking my pup to a 'pre-12- week-old' puppy school for socialisation. Granted that the Nurse is competent at barrier nursing there still remains the concern that one of the other puppies may have been contaminated by being touched by someone who hasn't washed their hands after having been in direct contact with an infected dog or a dog carring an infectious disease. Edited January 6, 2005 by pewithers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toohey Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 gotta love that search button http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...y+socialisation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 I would have thought vets would have been one of the safest places to take puppies? They go there for vaccinations so you are risking them at that time as well. Im taking Darcy to puppy preschool its unfortunately not for a few weeks : we have 2 vets in town both around the same time 1 free 1 not, so i decided im going to both mainly because the one thats not free starts before the free one. I have been taking Darcy everwhere at the moment, down the street etc. hes been to a nursing home already and he was very quite and just wanted cuddles, if there is a home nearby see if you can take your pup in, good for the dog lots of different people with wheelchairs etc. great socialization and its 99% risk free. Thanks Natasha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Thanks Toohey. You could have given me a summary. I have to read the whole 4 pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Thanks tollersowned. I live on the Redcliffe Peninsula in the Northern Suburbs of Brisbane. The whole place is one big nursing home. The ratio of pensioners to non -pensioners is about 3:1 I just hope 'Sooki' likes lots of grans and pops, and everything in slow motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Riayn Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Definitely take your puppy to the vet run puppy preschool. The more socialisation you can do with your pup, especially since it is a Maremma, the better. Also your pup will learn to associate the vet with good times and treats and will love coming to visit for vaccinations, desexing and annual check-ups. All my puppy preschool patients are a delight to have in the clinic, cause they love being there and are great at being handled by the vets and nurses. Also, I, and I am sure all other vet nurses that have puppy preschool class taking place in their clinic, go to extra trouble to make sure the environment is as contamination free as possible. I bleach the floor after the last patient leaves and before the first puppy arrives. No other dogs are allowed in the waiting room when puppy preschool is taking place either. Also remember that the pup still has antigens on board from mum and the 1st vaccination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Midniara~ Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Hi again pewithers, It seems that there is a lot of conflicting opinions out there after looking at the link that Toohey provided. I still stand by my original opinion. It has been through personal expereince that I have found early socialization beneficial. Once I listened to a person who "had experience" who storngly advised that I keep my puppy at home till 16 weeks. Needles to say this puppy became a complete and utter social reject. I tried EVERYTHING to help her and spent hundreds of dollars in training to help her but to no avail. Now I admit that she was probably pre-disposed to being a bit on the unsettled side but had I taken her out from day 1, I may still have her today. I won't go into details nor do I really want to just to say that for me I'd rather take the risk and have a well socialized well balanced puppy and take the very small risk of my puppy contracting something than to pay the price later on. Good luck in whatever you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Hey Midniara. I am intending to take my pup to another puppy preschool after her full vaccination at 12 weeks. But I hear what you are saying and I want you to know that your post struck a chord with me. Now I won't go as far to say that your dog made a sacrifice for my pup, but I will concur with you that your experience will not be lost if at least one dog is spared the same fate. I think Sooki will give a big thank-you Midniara bark when she graduates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fido666 Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Hi, I have taken my boy to Puppy Preschool at my local vet's with my puppy (who I did not get till he was 10 weeks old). Early socialisation is the key, I once had a hand reared pup who I could not socialise and he ended up with fear aggression. All pups at preschool had had their first vac at least and the room was a separate one, not even used for consults. Mine was run by an ex-vet nurse now a qualified dog trainer and well worth the money. regards, Corine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bindo Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Hi Pewithers, Lucy started at puppy pre-school when she was 10 weeks old. As others have said, the benefits of socialisation usually far outweigh the risks of infection. Unfortunately the classes stopped over Christmas/New Year but start again next week. The vet nurse also advised us to take our puppies out and about over the holidays (within reason) to get them used to new experiences. She just warned against popular dog parks and similar places, ie where there are a large number of unknown dogs). In our area, she said the vaccination rate was very high and they had only had 4 cases of parvo in ten years. Lucy (now 13 weeks) has been going for little walks, meeting other dogs and lots of people, and is handling it all very well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted January 7, 2005 Author Share Posted January 7, 2005 (edited) Hi All. This afternoon, I confirmed our intention to attend the 'early' puppy preschool. It's more like puppy creche really because it's before the mandatory post second vaccination/12 week old puppy preschool. Taht means we will also be able to attend another puppy preschool when she is 12 weeks old. There are two concerns that any dog guardian may have about taking a pre-vaccinated puppy to puppy school. The first is whether the pup will be exposed to a contaminated area. The Veterinary Nurse who is conducting the classes has convinced me that the risk will be no greater than the chances involved in taking the pup to any other public area. The second concern centres around the possibility that one or more of the pups in the class have been contaminated by another dog or handled by someone who is unwittingly transmitting an infection. This concern was quashed by the Veterinary Nurse who affirmed that any dogs feeling dodgy are not allowed to attend. So, socialization will be underway latter next week. As concerns socialisation with 'peoples'; I have a list of interested suitors that will take me until the next 'Brigadoon' to complete. Thanks to everyone. PS I think I can read your thread now toohey. Edited January 7, 2005 by pewithers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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