Risk Of Parvo Vs Socialisation

[Shakti]

Hi all - just wondering what most people's thoughts are on this issue. If you get an 8/9 week old puppy that has had one puppy vaccination and the second one is due at 10 weeks - do you keep your puppy in your home until the 2nd one? Do you take it to friends places, puppy school etc but not out in dog-shared areas such as parks etc? How do you balance up the risk of possibly contracting parvo vs the risk of a puppy that isn't socialised until 10 or so weeks of age?

[mumtoshelley]

theres actually 3 set of vaccinations for puppies first vaccination is done at 6 weeks old 2nd done at 10 weeks old third done at 16 weeks old. My male golden retriever Axel just had his 10 week old vaccinations done today, his due for his third in 6 weeks. Vet advised me not to take him out of our yard till he is 18 weeks old 2 weeks after his third vaccination.

[Shakti]

Thanks for the reply! So does this mean you won't be taking your puppy out anywhere until he is almost 5 months old?

[mumtoshelley]

Thanks for the reply! So does this mean you won't be taking your puppy out anywhere until he is almost 5 months old?

Yes that is correct but he is getting plenty of socialization here as there is 5 adults and 1 3 year old, A whippet,a chihuahua and another golden retriever to play with. Once his had all his vaccinations he will be attending obedience. For people who don't have other people or dogs in there home I will surguest to take them to puppy school which can be done as soon as you bring puppy home I think as they will only acept puppies that have had there first vaccination,

[Simply Grand]

There are different vaccination protocols, one comprises the first at around 6 weeks and the booster 4 weeks later, there is also one that requires three shots, at approx 8, 12 and 16 weeks. You should speak to your breeder and your vet about which protocol they are using, and generally your puppy isn't considered fully covered until 1-2 weeks after the final booster in either protocol. All three of my dogs had Nobivac C3 at 6 weeks and C5 at 10 weeks and did not require another booster until 12 months. This was also the protocol used for puppies at the shelter I worked at.

I generally kept mine at home until 11 weeks-ish for training, play etc but did take them out and carried them around to low risk places before then - letting them see, hear and smell things but not really walk around, particularly on grass and/or busy dog areas. I also took all three to puppy schools run at vet clinics from 8-9 weeks old, which I found great for socialisation, although I was both lucky to find a great one for my first two, and confident in not letting mine be involved in "free for all" type behaviour (plenty of info on here if you are not sure what that means, just ask if you are concerned :) )

Re. friend's places, I didn't really have any suitable "doggy" friends but if I did I would take a puppy to a friend's house to meet their dog inside but I would check that their dog's vacs (or titre testing) were up to date and their dog had not shown any signs of illness in recent weeks.

:)

Edited May 16, 2015 by Simply Grand

[mumtoshelley]

Axels 6 week vacc was c3 so was todays c3 and his 16 week old 1 will also be a c3. I wander if I demended the c5 to be done if they would have done it?

[Rebanne]

theres actually 3 set of vaccinations for puppies first vaccination is done at 6 weeks old 2nd done at 10 weeks old third done at 16 weeks old. My male golden retriever Axel just had his 10 week old vaccinations done today, his due for his third in 6 weeks. Vet advised me not to take him out of our yard till he is 18 weeks old 2 weeks after his third vaccination.

actually there are different schedules people follow. Lot's of breeders vaccinate at 8 and 12 weeks old and that's it until they need the boost 12 months after their last shot.

I would often take my pups up to supermarkets etc and have them in the back of the cars watching the world go by. They would been taken out to the front yard to romp around and see cars etc.

[Roova]

Those first few weeks are such a critical time to expose the puppy to different situations or environments and make them a positive (or neutral) experience I just don't think you can match this with them at home.

If you absolutely don't want them on the ground you can carry them places or take a blanket if you want to sit them down or even use a pram. Like Rebanne said you can do it from the inside of your car or have them on your lap or blanket at cafes,outside schools etc.

I think you have to use your imagination and common sense to keep them safe and having good experiences but if you want them blase about the world it means they pretty much have to be out in it (IMO) .

Edited May 16, 2015 by Roova

[pepe001]

I had my pup out at 8 weeks but kept him to 'safe' places and did lots of picking up and carrying. After having a previous fear-aggressive dog I wasn't letting it happen again. And it didn't, I now have a solid dog that I can take anywhere.

[Podengo]

Ping had his last vaccination at 14 weeks but still had plenty of new experiences before that. His breeder took him on lots of car trips and to work (vet clinic), then he went on a plane at 12 weeks! Once here he got go to work at my partner's office, go to my work (vet clinic) and meet all the staff there. He did a lot of car travel, went on a ferry, visited a car race track, traveled in a dog trailer, visited the houses of friends and family (with children and dogs). Ping also attended agility training and an agility seminar, both of which are places with a lot of dogs but they're not accessible by the general public, so I guess it's a measured risk.

[Christina]

I also do the 2 vaccine protocol. I take my pups out from 6 weeks old ( as long as they are not walking on the ground at all or anywhere with lots of other dogs its fine ) Either individually carrying them to visit people or meet with a friend & go to a cafe with outdoor tables to socialise or all together in a doggy pram. You can buy them on ebay quite cheaply now or make your own. Here is mine.

[Salukifan]

If you wait until 16 weeks to take your pups out, that's an entire critical socialisation period missed. Some prefer to do that and some pups don't miss a beat. Others would benefit from it.

I prefer to risk manage it after puppy comes home. Vaccinated puppy safe dogs and owners of same visit me. I take puppy to a few friend's places (not public). I think a change of scenery and new experiences are important. Theres usually a fair few car trips.

I also happily take a pup to a decent puppy preschool in a vet clinic that has appropriate hygiene practices.

Footpaths and non-dog frequented areas I'd also chance on lead. I've had to drive pups home from interstate and I've always avoided the popular roadside stops then.

Dog parks? NO WAY

FYI, my vet says you have some coverage 72 hours after a vaccination shot.

Pups are in the show ring and at most dog obedience schools from 12 weeks. Most people are careful about where they have them though.

Edited May 16, 2015 by Haredown Whippets

[Pjrt]

In my humble opinion managed exposure to many experiences far outweighs the risks of keepiing them at home! I'd rather manage the health risks and get out and about than end up with a wallflower.

[persephone]

By all means, take pup out& about - in a car , or a trolley, or by carrying . He needs to get to experience different sounds/sights/smells while a baby :)

[WreckitWhippet]

theres actually 3 set of vaccinations for puppies first vaccination is done at 6 weeks old 2nd done at 10 weeks old third done at 16 weeks old. My male golden retriever Axel just had his 10 week old vaccinations done today, his due for his third in 6 weeks. Vet advised me not to take him out of our yard till he is 18 weeks old 2 weeks after his third vaccination.

Some breeders opt to do one after 8 weeks of age another c3 around a month later and other c3 around 15+ months

I advise all of my puppy buyers to get their pups about and about as much as possible and expose them to as many people, situations and positive experiences as possible (avoid dog parks and high dog traffic areas), positive early life experiences and socialisation far out weight the risk of disease

[DeltaCharlie]

We have a 10 week old pup who is going absolutely everywhere at the moment. Agility trials and training, petbarn type places, local markets, the boardwalk, lots of visits to the vet clinic etc. He just stays in our arms and never goes on the ground. He can still get treats from people, have cuddles from vet staff, listen to traffic, hear kids screaming, watch other dogs, etc etc.

He is a pyrenean shepherd and they are a breed where early socialisation is critical. With the BC puppies they still do all of those things but not as often, being a more robust breed and more accepting of the unknown. They would get maybe one or two outings each week as opposed to the four or five that the pyr shepherd is currently doing.

[Podengo]

We have a 10 week old pup who is going absolutely everywhere at the moment. Agility trials and training, petbarn type places, local markets, the boardwalk, lots of visits to the vet clinic etc. He just stays in our arms and never goes on the ground. He can still get treats from people, have cuddles from vet staff, listen to traffic, hear kids screaming, watch other dogs, etc etc.

He is a pyrenean shepherd and they are a breed where early socialisation is critical. With the BC puppies they still do all of those things but not as often, being a more robust breed and more accepting of the unknown. They would get maybe one or two outings each week as opposed to the four or five that the pyr shepherd is currently doing.

Oooh you got one of the babies!! I met two of them today, their mums were running a seminar at my club :) Ping loved both of the girls! Which do you have? :D

[DeltaCharlie]

Small black male named Hype (Justice All Hyped Up). When we finally get internet back I am going to be making a photo thread for him. He and his brother Wookiee have been enjoying catch ups at the last few agility trials. They are such funny little dogs, I would own a whole pack of them if I had the money :)

[Jumabaar]

It is all about risk. My puppies go lots of places that are low risk i.e. places where it is unlikely sick or unvaccinated dogs are likely to be. So friends houses, car rides and time spent in a backpack are all on the cards. I don't go to ovals or dog parks.

The vaccinations are not 'boosters'.

The reason we vaccinate more than once as puppies is to try and catch all of them as soon after maternal antibodies drop and they can respond to the vaccination. This means some puppies will be completely covered after their first shot. Depending on the vaccination type, some courses finish earlier than others. I chose to do the last vaccine at 12 weeks regardless of when their first was given. Ideally you can then titre test a few weeks later to have a positive result and the pup is then free to visit all the 'icky' 'risky' places that I avoid while they are young.

[huski]

Thanks for the reply! So does this mean you won't be taking your puppy out anywhere until he is almost 5 months old?

Yes that is correct but he is getting plenty of socialization here as there is 5 adults and 1 3 year old, A whippet,a chihuahua and another golden retriever to play with. Once his had all his vaccinations he will be attending obedience. For people who don't have other people or dogs in there home I will surguest to take them to puppy school which can be done as soon as you bring puppy home I think as they will only acept puppies that have had there first vaccination,

Socialization is about much much more than dogs being exposed to other dogs.

If you are keeping him at home he most definitely not getting plenty of socialization, or near to it.

I take my pups out from day one, we aim for a new experience every day.