I have been advised (by my mentor) to give my puppies their first vaccination before going to their new homes (which will be around the 8 week mark) however, when I bought my last puppy (different breeder) he had had his first vaccination, but my vet said I would have to start the course again, as it was a different vaccine that they used. So now I'm wondering do I give them their first vaccs' or leave it to the new owners?

I've never vaccinated puppies that are leaving - unless I know that I'll have them for the second jab as well.

You just need to ensure that the new owners tell their own vet which one their pup has been given to ensure the second booster is compatible. No need to start afresh. Most vets use the Nobivac vaccine anyway, as far as I am aware.

I don't vaccinate pups before leaving either, unless I know the new vet will be using the same vaccine. It can cause problems (health) and often results in the course being repeated (money, and health issues again as far as I'm concerned). But then nor will I vaccinate under 10 weeks of age anyway. Most vets wont do the 2nd vaccine until 12 weeks and there needs to be a 14 day period in between vaccinations. I'm happy that the pups have more than sufficient antibodies from Mum up until the 10 week mark, and in truth probably a lot longer.

My breeder friend/mentor arranged with one of her last pups to have the first vaccination done at 10 weeks (pup left at 11 weeks) but first phoned the new vet to discuss which vaccine they would use ... her own vet made sure they used one that was compatible.

Both or neither I'd say - as you found yourself, it's too difficult to find a vet who has the same vaccines to just give a 2nd jab.

If you give the first, then the pups need to stay with you for about a week afterwards before they go to their new homes - a vaccination followed by the upheaval of leaving the familiar environment can be too much for their immune systems. Equally, a pup should be in its new home for about a week before getting its first jab, for exactly the same reason, and to make sure it's not incubating any bugs.

I'd say either give both jabs, so pups are rehomed at about 11 or 12 weeks, or give none, and they go to their homes at about 7½ or 8 weeks.

"it's too difficult to find a vet who has the same vaccines to just give a 2nd jab"

Not in my experience. Nobivac is widely used and I have never once had a situation whereby new owners vet has not used this (or at least one compatible with it) and my pups have gone all over the country.

Agreed that you have to keep back any vaccinated pups for several days or more to ensure no reaction and to minimise stress when going off to their new homes.

I prefer pups to be 9-10 weeks when they have their first vaccine, but that is just a personal thing.

>Nobivac is widely used and I have never once had a situation whereby new owners vet has not used this

Canigen is the vaccine of choice with most vets in this area.

With my current puppy, I wasn't collecting him until he was 9 weeks so asked my breeder to get his first vaccination done at 8 weeks. It turned out my vet used a different vaccine, but it was one which was compatible with the first vaccination (she checked) so the 2nd vaccination was given at 10 weeks.

I found it incredibly helpful that the first vaccination had been done at 8 weeks as the early socialisation window is so short. It was a struggle to carry my puppy around by 11 weeks so being able to walk him around to meet lots of different people was very important ( and also is a different experience for the puppy than being carried).

My last puppy was given her first vaccination by her breeder too. She got the whole litter done. I only needed to get the second vaccination done at 10 weeks - this time it was the same vaccine. With so many veterinary practices around, can it really be so difficult for buyers to find a surgery which stocks at least a compatible vaccine for the second jab? Or can't people request their vet to order it in (if you advise them it's needed)

Just to add - in each case I reimbursed the breeder for the cost of the first vaccine. I do think the cost of the vaccination should be the responsibility of the puppy buyer.

Can't see any need for you to do the first one if they're going at 7 or 8 weeks, but if they are staying any later you're giving them the best opportunity for lots of socialisation if you do.

"With so many veterinary practices around, can it really be so difficult for buyers to find a surgery which stocks at least a compatible vaccine for the second jab? Or can't people request their vet to order it in (if you advise them it's needed".

Indeed. There really shouldn't be a problem.

Jeangenie, I said I have never had a situation whereby new owners vet has not used nobivac or one compatible with it.
You have misquoted me there....

We all have our own views about when to vaccinate etc, as has been shown by the comments in this thread already, it is clear that there is an issue with some vets using the same, or compatible, vaccination for a 2nd jab. What I never understand is the reasoning regarding socialisation. Whether a 2nd jab is completed at 10 weeks (which my vet and many within my area will not give) or 12 weeks, puppies CAN still be socialised, and indeed they must!!

I have found that a lot of vets are now using Us vaccines, and I won't let pups go part vaccinated.  If unsold at 8weeks then they will be vaccinated then, and second at 10 weeks.  Any potential owner who then wishes to have the pup will have to wait until after 10 weeks to have theri puppy.

All other puppies due for homing prior to 10 weeks will go unvaccinated.

As for socialisation, pups of under 12 weeks should't be walking any distance anyway, 10 minutes at most, so ti is easy enough to take  them in yoru arms to peopel busy areas, that are not dog frequented.  I take mine to my local shopping precinct or outside a supermarket.

I prefer not to vaccinate my own pups until 10 and 12 weeks, but if I have to vaccinte others at 8 then will do mine at the same time.

> My last puppy was given her first vaccination by her breeder too. She got the whole litter done. I only needed to get the second vaccination done at 10 weeks

My vet no longer gives the 2nd vaccination at 10m weeks. They have had several pups come down with parvo etc and they have put it down to vaccinations not working due to maternal antibodies. They now wait until at least 12 weeks, regardless of the age at 1st vaccination

Not in my experience. Nobivac is widely used and I have never once had a situation whereby new owners vet has not used this (or at least one compatible with it) and my pups have gone all over the country.

When I got a pup once there was not one single vet within an hour and a half's drive that stocked the same vaccine. We ended up driving a very long way indeed to avoid having to start all over again. Hence I never sell with one vaccination, it's either both or none.

And I take it your own vet refused even to order it in for you then (or indeed one that was compatible) ? How odd and unreasonable.

Not really, if they have to order a whole box, not just a single dose.

Indeed -it would mean an entire box. My vet was actually extremely helpful and personally phoned several other practices for me to try to locate somebody with the right brand.

We always give first vaccination at 8 weeks, puppies leave for their new homes at 9 weeks. The new owners are given the make of vaccine (usually Nobivac)as soon as the first is given so they can contact their Vet and arrange for a compatible one if they don't use Nobivac. Never had a problem.

To goldmali : Ah I see, that is a shame. This subject has cropped up a few times when I have been discussing first vaccines with new owners (prior to first vaccine being given of course) and they have gone away and asked their own vets, who have always reassured them that it wouldn't be a problem to order in a vaccine should it be deemed necessary. In actual fact, this has never needed to happen as new owners vets have always used nobivac or at least one that is compatible with it, which is the one used by my own vet :-)

A lot of research is showing that pups have immunity at least up until 12 weeks and much longer in some cases. We ask our new owners to leave vaccination up until at least 10 weeks with second at 12 weeks. Its  a small breed so easy to carry around and we do stress that they can still be socialised around people and other dogs that have been immunised. I think a lot of people would prefer to immunise at 8 weeks so that they can get pup out walking personally i think its better to wait until you know that vaccine will be 100% effective at 12 weeks and possibly not as effective if given earlier. Will try and find the vet report i was reading about it a few months back

I do not vaccinate before 12 weeks old.