Puppies At Million Paws Walk

[samoyedman]

When my dog was a puppy and after he had all his shots I was told he couldn't be around other dogs until he was 4 or 5 months old.

So I was a bit surprised today to see two very young puppies at the Million Paws Walk Sydney. One was a Samoyed, 12 weeks old, and I politely told the owner he could be exposing his puppy to disease to which he replied he had 2 lots of shots.

Given all the vets and RSPCA people there I am surprised he was allowed in.

[WreckitWhippet]

Probably no different to showing pups at 3 months of age

[denali]

I took my puppy places from 9 weeks.

He is fine- hasn't been sick a day in his life :) *touch wood*

Granted not the million paws walk.. but still many dogs in my area.

I also groom from home- and don't question vaccination status- so my past two pups have been exposed to many dogs from day dot. Maybe some unvaccinated or ill.

Questioning vaccine status is something i should start doing with new clients- i had just never thought to until all these parvo outbreaks! All the salons i have worked in have never done it.

Edited May 17, 2015 by denali

[Willowlane]

I was always told by our vet that after their last vaccination they are fine to be going out.

[LisaCC]

I personally wouldn't risk something like the Million Paws Walk, but I take puppies out before they get all their shots, I'm just careful about it. No dog parks etc.

Socialisation is more important in those critical weeks than keeping your puppy under wraps.

[superminty]

Some vaccination protocols are 2 shots and finish at 12 weeks so he might have been correct.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I got told to allow two weeks after the final shot for immunity to be built up. It's not instant.

But it's not 4 months either.

I don't know what would happen if they had the million paws walk in a known parvo area, or if someone brought a sick dog.

I have seen some dumb things tho. Like someone taking their dog with obvious kennel cough out for a walk and encouraging it to say hello to other dogs at the park... and then saying 'the vet said it was a "doggy cold"'.

Personally I don't go to things like the million paws walk because I have strong opinions about what good dog care looks like and very few people at those events can manage it. eg

1. dogs pulling on lead

2. dogs pulling on lead in choke collars fixed the wrong way - not that it matters when the dog is out the front and pulling.

3. dogs pulling in face halters - with their eyes practically bugged out of their sockets.

4. dogs emotionally overwhelmed with fear or aggression - not being given the space to calm down.

5. dogs crapping and it not being picked up (for various reasons).

6. dogs peeing on other people's stuff including street lights and club flood lights - they cost thousands to replace and dog pee buggers them.

7. people allowing their dogs to random greet without asking

8. people allowing their dogs to jump on everyone and dog.

9. people bringing bitches on heat...

10. people letting their dogs off lead and out of control in an on lead area.

But the pulling on lead really gets me. My dog doesn't like it either. It's just a sign of so many bad things for us.

[mumtoshelley]

here there has been a fair few dogs with parvo. I wouldn't mind taking my 10 week old puppy down to the river for a swim but I don't want to risk him getting sick. His last lot of vaccinations are due when his 16 weeks old. Today I took my other dogs for a walk and Axel my puppy so wanted to come too but he had to stay home.

Edited May 17, 2015 by mumtoshelley

[Willowlane]

We were going to take my parents puppy as he would of had all his vaccinations by this weekend but we opted not to take any of our dogs for the reasons listed above.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Willowlane

[huski]

I wouldn't take a pup to the MPW but IME you have a much higher risk of developing severe behavior problems not socializing your pup until 4/5 months than you do getting parvo.

Edited May 17, 2015 by huski

[Salukifan]

here there has been a fair few dogs with parvo. I wouldn't mind taking my 10 week old puppy down to the river for a swim but I don't want to risk him getting sick. His last lot of vaccinations are due when his 16 weeks old. Today I took my other dogs for a walk and Axel my puppy so wanted to come too but he had to stay home.

I hope you understand that taking your other dogs to any popular dog area means they can bring diseases like parvo home. So can you and your family - on shoes and clothing. Don't go or take your other dogs to popular dog areas if you won't take the pup there.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Haredown Whippets

[MonElite]

puppies of 12 weeks are allowed to be shown, so I can't see a reason why not take a puppy out in public.

It was a great way to socialise those puppies, and keeping them locked up at home is only asking for trouble when it comes to their social development

[Teebs]

I'll be taking my next puppy out and about asap. I have a dog who hates other dogs, my next pup will be out meeting as many as possible.

I work in the pet industry, I'm sure I bring most of the nastys home with me every day

[Cavbox]

Nobivac has an early finish vaccine, so if given at 10weeks, pups would be considered fully vac by 12 weeks!

[OSoSwift]

Nobivac has an early finish vaccine, so if given at 10weeks, pups would be considered fully vac by 12 weeks!

Yep they may well have been covered. I wouldn't take them to theMPW at that age, too mnay numpties. But I would take them out and about.

[sandgrubber]

There's no hard cut-off. The probability of catching parvo, if exposed, drops off with each later vaccination. The specifics . . . how much it drops at what age . . . vary with vaccines, and with individual dogs/breeds (Rottis supposedly are higher vulnerability), and may also vary with the season. So, yes, taking a risk . . . but it may be a tiny one.

From recent findings on gene expression and season of the year, the immune system seems to work harder in winter, and there's less parvo around, so it may be fairly safe.

[swazzie]

I probably wouldn't bring a very young pup to the million paws, but the reason I'd be most worried is that it's 5kms - bit long for a growing pup.

In saying that at the Brisbane walk I only saw one pup and s/he was in a puppy pram!!

I wouldn't be worried about bad behaviour at that walk, as every dog that walked around us/ that I saw were so well behaved for the entire event - maybe it was the rain ????????

Disclaimer: when we got there , we heard a bit of a scuffle when everyone was waiting to go- rest of the event was issue free.

[Loving my Oldies]

Socialisation is more important in those critical weeks than keeping your puppy under wraps.

I wouldn't take a pup to the MPW but IME you have a much higher risk of developing severe behavior problems not socializing your pup until 4/5 months than you do getting parvo.

This how I feel, very strongly. I think we also need to remember that vets aren't god and are more focussed on treatment than the wider issue of a dog's socialisation and behaviour in society.

I would not take a puppy to MPW.

Mrs Rusty Bucket's list is very true and very depressing.

[_PL_]

The walk is nice for bringing people together on a happy day.

However;

If you look closely, the walk has adopted pound dogs being taken straight out of impound. Coughing, snotting and pooing.

Sometimes volunteers are also allowed to take dogs still living at the pound out to show them off 'give them exposure'.

Not everyone gets as wound up as I do about quarantine but that is hideously stupid and dangerous.

Some areas do get unpredictable virulent parvo going through, which can take down dogs halfway through their vacc schedule. Often (but not always) in country areas with a large unvaccinated pet population. IMHO, planned socialisation is safer than than random free run areas, not re just disease because I've seen little pups have terrible traumatic experiences. And the owners just haven't realised until it's too late that not every dog wags it's tail at pups.

[sas]

I wouldn't take a pup to the MPW but IME you have a much higher risk of developing severe behavior problems not socializing your pup until 4/5 months than you do getting parvo.

Amen.