I have been quoted by my vet today that he can give my puppies vaccinations at 6 weeks of age at the cost of £40 for each pup for the full set. However another vet i use, charges £20 for the full set but at 8 weeks of age. I have considered the 6 week age jab vet because it will give me some peace of mind that they are going to their new homes with some protection at 8 weeks of age but it will cost me £240 for the privilege. What do other breeders do? Do you ever have any comebacks from new owners that their new pup has caught a virus that the breeder could have prevented or that your hygiene practices are not up to scratch? Hope im making sense? LOL!!! 

My thoughts may be well out of date but I would have thought that a 6 week old pup would still be carrying antibodies from the dam so would advise vaccinations at 8 weeks, that is providing the dam was up to date with her boosters. However thinking may have changed and vaccination may now be advised at 6 weeks. Will be as interested as you in the replies.

The only time I've known of puppies being vaccinated that early is when they were hand-reared and therefore didn't have immunity via their mother's milk. What vaccine brand is it? I don't know of one that gives full protection from that early age, but there are many brands on the market now. Usually you don't give any until 8 weeks (it used to be 10 weeks) and then the second one between 2 and 4 weeks later, but the pup must be at least 10 weeks old. If they're given too early the maternal antibodies will cancel out the vaccine.

> If they're given too early the maternal antibodies will cancel out the vaccine.

That's exactly what I thought, in fact my daughter has recently got a pup that had been vaccinated at 6 weeks and when she booked in at her vet for what she thought was the second jab the vet said it would have to be the complete course as the first jab given by the breeder would have not been of any use.

I agree with others that a jab at 6 weeks is no use at all.  My bitches are all vaccinated, so passing on immunity to pups.

Why give a pup something that is going to be destroyed anyway.  Any pup that I keep doesn't even have a jab at 8 weeks.  I much prefer to wait a little later.  Just preference I guess, and what works for you.

Thank you everyone for your advice. I suppose i'm worrying because of a dog/pup I adopted from a rescue kennel a few years ago turned out to have parvo. She was only with me three days before she died. I just wouldn't want to see any dog go through that experience again. I will carry on as i was before the vet tried it on with the sales package.

Dosage and administration info for:

Nobivac DHPPi
http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Intervet_Schering-Plough/Nobivac_DHPPi/-29490.html

and Nobivac Lepto 2
http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Intervet_Schering-Plough/Nobivac_Lepto_2/-29521.html

I, like a lot of breeders do not give any vaccinations as it gives the new owners the opportunity to take their pup to vets within a few days of taking it home for a general check up etc as well.

I think your vet was trying to get some business - as I very much doubt all your pups would have gone back to him for the 2nd jab - so it would have been a waste of money!  The only breeders who may give both are toy people who keep pups for up to 12 weeks.

Never had a problem with a puppy leaving me unvaccinated - even when going to live with another dog.

There is not a great deal of point getting the first vaccine done too young as they can't have the second one before 10 weeks and therefore they won't be able to go out into the world any sooner by having the first one at 6 weeks.
With my recent litter, any pups that were staying with me after 8 weeks I had the first vaccine done, I also had a couple of pups staying longer so they got the second one done as well. I went through all the options with new owners and we worked it out together. It was fun taking that many 8 then 10 week old gundog pups to the vets!!

Both those prices are way better than we pay around here (£54 for the course and £28 for a single).

I don't do part vaccinated puppies so they don't have any unless staying long enough to have the full course.

I prefer not to start my own pups until 10 weeks with last at 12 weeks, but if doing a litter-mate earlier then do them at 8 and 10 weeks.

I would vet them at 8 weeks to, Iam sure the new owners can wait a bit. Atleast most breeders I have talked to do it this way :-)

Personally I think its awful that any vet would even consider vaccinating a 6 week old puppy :(

Their little immune systems are only just developing and they have the maternal antibodies circulating. The parvo vaccine is known to suppress white blood cells and the immune system.... and in my opinion leaves the puppy far more vulnerable to disease than allowing the immune system to develop gradually and naturally at such a tender age. I personally feel that 12 to 16 weeks would be a safer age to give the first parvo vaccine.

I choose instead to protect my little ones with Homeopathic Nosodes (DHLP - Distemper - Hepatitis - Lepto - Parvo) from 3 weeks old and then when they leave at 8 weeks old I provide a primary course of Nosodes and lots of vaccine information......so new guardians can make an informed decision on when to vaccinate.

Lots of vaccine information can be found here  http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petvacc.htm

If vaccinations at 6 weeks are bad for the developing immune system, surely nosodes (if they have any effect on the immune system at all, and if they don't then what's the point of giving them?) at 3 weeks would be even worse?

Very valid point JG :-)

There is a wealth of information out there for people to make an informed choice. The website link I posted has enough information on there to keep the avid researcher occupied for days. Once you have had your eyes opened to the dangers and side effects of vaccination..... whether by a young dog suffering from ill health...debilitating skin conditions......or losing a healthy puppy several days after being given its first puppy shot...... it becomes extremely difficult to automaticly trust the "men in white coats" with the lives of your animals.

Source for following - http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/nosodes.htm

Homeopathic Nosodes: a Better Alternative
A nosode is simply a homeopathic remedy that is made from a disease product. Nosodes are not in any way infections, and can be used in the same way as vaccines, that is, to prevent viral infection. Like vaccines, nosodes sensitize the body to a particular virus, so the immune system can react quickly and effectively to natural exposure. Nosodes are at least as effective as vaccines, and in some cases have been shown to be significantly more effective than vaccines in preventing infection. 
The biggest advantage of nosodes over vaccines is the fact that they are completely safe. There are no risks or side-effects whatever. And they can be safely given to puppies and kittens much earlier than vaccines can. In fact, the mother can be treated before she gives birth, giving the puppies or kittens protection from the moment they are born. 

Nosodes, like all homeopathic remedies, are very easy to administer: they are given by mouth, and don't even need to be swallowed. They are also very economical - far less expensive, in fact, than vaccination. 

vaccinations 6 or 8 weeks - what would you advise?

Neither, a puppy is covered by maternal antibodies until 12 weeks so one vaccination is all that is necessary at 12 weeks of age.

When vaccinations are given too early the first one cancels out the maternal antibodies, hence a 2nd one is given to protect the puppy again.  Wait until 12 weeks of age and one vaccination for Parvo & Distemper is all that is needed.

For Lepto, the puppy will need 2 vaccinations (2 weeks apart) but I was advised to give these seperately from the parvo/distemper.

Nosodes are at least as effective as vaccines, and in some cases have been shown to be significantly more effective than vaccines in preventing infection. 

Funny that, when I tried nosodes on my cats several developed the disease in question anyway and died.

Thanks for that interesting link,FreedomOfSpirit.

i second brainless, my pups dont leave here vaccinated as they leave at 7 weeks, which i personally feel is too early and also there is no point giving the first before they leave as if new owners vets use a different brand they want to start again so then you are over vaccinating a young puppy which is not a good thing either.

just the way i like to do things. The puppy i keep from my litter has its 1st vaccination at 9 weeks.

Thanks for the link Freedom, it's also doing the rounds on F/Book & a lot of people are changing their views on vaccs. I had my new boy vaccinated & it was £59 including microchip. My girls are due for boosters, but I'm considering the alternatives x