Hello again

I'm trying to arrange a socialisation plan for my soon-to-arrive (in two month's time) pup. I'm not getting him vaccinated until 10 weeks, and he obviously won't be able to venture outside for some time after his second jab. I'm wondering ... is it safe for him to meet dogs which have had all their vaccinations, and I know to be safe (ie my mum's dogs - they never meet other dogs and live in the country, so shouldn't come into contact with nasty viruses). I want to expose my pup to as many positive, different experiences as possible when he's still a "baby" - but without compromising his health. Any advice most welcome!

Thanks

Jo

We asked the vet this when my mother's dog was a puppy, and we were told that as our dogs were fully vaccinated and healthy, and they were meeting in safe gardens, either hers or ours, this should be fine. And luckily the vet was right.

I have also taken my pups to play with their litter brothers and sisters whilst they are all still "grounded" and that has been beneficial for all, as well.

:)

That is what my vet said too when I had delilah, as long as you are certain the other dogs are healthy and fully vaccinated it should be fine

Hi Jo, Any reason why your having the first jab @ 10weeks? Thirteen weeks is a long time not to be able to take him our on walks. So glad we could get Sydney out @ 11 weeks, both for short walks and to classes. Least now he is having his socialisation with other dogs on his walks out. Your lucky you can visit yr mum & socialise with her dogs.
Keep crossing those days off.

Hi again Jacky

Did quite a bit of research on the net about vaccinations, and realised that there was a fair bit of controversy in the dog world about the best time to do them to minimise the risk of adverse affects. Because there are quite a few places that I can take my pup which I can be confident are safe, I've decided to give him a bit longer than perhaps the norm for his immune system to develop.

Jo

Ditto to what everyone else has said. If you KNOW the dogs and the people and are introducing them in safe territory it's no problem. I went one step further though in early socialising and took my pups everywhere I could with me - just kept them in my arms. Though now there are a couple of companys that make a sling for small dogs/puppies which is what I would use in the future. This got her out and about meeting people and experiencing lots of new things.

Wendy

I'm with Wendy. Early socialisation is very important (dispite the virus dangers) and I too took my Giant Schnauzer puppy out daily with me (mostly by car because he was so heavy) especially to nice friend's homes. I'm an advocate of starting the vaccinations at 8 weeks (depending on the breed though, some can't handle it) and getting them done by 12 weeks JUST to allow even better socialisation (trains, malls, dirty downtown). My G.S. grew up to the most stable dog possible. He had seen so many things by 4months that nothing could phase him. At 5 years, I took him horse-back riding with me. He had never seen a horse before (I never thought he'd meet one!) but acted as if he was RAISED with horses. He was so comfortable around them it was puzzling. Impecable behavior. The horses loved him too! And what fun we had running and jumping side by side!

You have a great plan there. Stick to it. A friend with a dog de bordeaux went the other way (hasn't taken the 4 month old puppy out but once!) and has distroyed a wonderful dog in my oppinion. I don't think he will ever be able to make up for those lost early experiences. And that is a breed you especially need to 'stay calm' and fear-free.

MagicMountain
can I ask why your friend has only taken a 4 month old pup out once ???? :( Does she own a large field or suchlike because surley dog of that type needs plenty of excercise even tho it is only young
Poor pup !!
Without just missing out on socialising he /she must be missing out on so much !!
My Pup just loves to meet other people and other dogs !! :)

My "friend" is an idiot... male of course ;)
He lives in a small appartment downtown. I am really friends with the dogs breeder (who is also worried btw). The puppy is missing out on alot and so is his block-head owner. The dog is loved by the family but it seems to me that they would have been better off with a maltese or a stuffed animal -even better!
I visited the puppy 3 weeks ago and literally FORCED his owner to take the dog out at that very moment (I'm a total freak about socialisation). The puppy was terrified so we only went around the block with the (huge)puppy in the young mans arms. I assured him that this would pass in a few days if he took the puppy out often (with treats too) daily. I had told him to start taking the puppy out (in his arms, or for friendly visits at homes) as soon as he got him at 2months (they are alot lighter then :) ) but he didn't listen. His breeder says the puppy has been out only one more time since then! Dogue de bordeux are very dominant dogs (especially the males) and stronger than most breeds around. But they are very stable and pleasant dogs when well raised. I hate to think what will happen with this puppy down the road...

Poor pup
he is missing out on SOOOO much
They need to meet other dogs and get to know the dog etiquette and how to react with other dogs etc
We have a Staffy bull who are *meant* to hate other dgs . I think socialisation is very very important to all dogs . They need to meet a variety of people ( young, old , male , female ) and a variety of other dogs .
Gus just loves every body and every dog . So much so that I worry he may meet a *nasty* dog - which he hasnt yet .Thank heaven
Please try to persuade your friend to take pup out . It is essential they know howto react in all situations - plus they need to have fun !!!!!
Lel

Hi Jo
We got our dobe puppy at 12 weeks and he'd had no jabs so by the time he could go out he was 14 weeks -Trust me ! you need to get him out and about -I still feel as though Murphy missed out by not getting about much for that 4 weeks ,and we swore that when we get another it will be vaccinated and out as soon as possible ,So personally any risks with early vaccination I feel are out weighed by the benefits of getting your puppy out :)
Liz :)

On a different note I notice your parents live in the country. Are there foxes out and about. Do they have a totally secure back garden that no other animals can get into? If not then you still need to be careful as other critters can still carry stuff.

Wendy

I was told by the vet that country foxes tend to be healthier than town foxes because they're not such a dense population, so pup should be relatively safe in the garden.
:)

You should vaccinate your pup when you feel is right either 8 or 10 weeks. I didn't realise there MAY be a higher risk in getting the jabs at 8, I just saw a poster at the vets and took it that it was just as good as getting the jab at 10 but you could obviously socialise 2 weeks earlier, but having read recent posts I now see what the concern could be. However, I have to say that prior to the 8 week jab and during the next 3 - 4 weeks I took Taz everywhere, but just carried her, the school run, town, relatives just sitting on a bench watching the world and the cars go by. She is all the better for doing that, even if my arms are 5 inches longer now:D I walk her along the main road which is quiet but cars travel fast and she doesn't flinch as they drive past and I'm certain this is because she got used to everyday life early. We had a puppy party in our back garden last week, there are 5 puppies all under 18 weeks in our village, it was great, they ran, and rolled and played and had a real good time getting to know each other. So, Jo, I would say socialise early as much as you can, but get the jabs when you feel happiest.

I have said this before, but will illustrate what xocialisation in the arms can do.

I was sending a puppy to Australia, and due to the timing of innoculations and blood tests that were required it could not go until 14 1/2 weeks, and would then have to do a whole months quarantine (solitary confinement), meaning it would not get to see the World at large until 19 weeks of age.

From 6 weeks I carried her around in a Holdall whereeber I wnet, fetching kids from school to friends houses seeing their dogs, dobes, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies etc.

Even though she then had a month in confinement, she bounced off the plane (going from Quarantine station to the city where she lives), and went to a show withing days, and was best Baby Puppy in Show.

Have also imported a puppy, who the breeder had done her best with playing tapes etc, even though she is in the country, but pup well socialised to people. I visited several times a week, taking the Radio with me. He came out of Q. and 3 days later was a t his first show, with which he coped extremely well, though hadn't a clue about how to move in the ring. Two weeks later he went BPIS twice running.

Hi

A really really good place to take your pup is to the school at picking up time. I took Will in my arms before his jabs and afterwards I would take him up in the car then wait for my daughter with him on the lead. He got to meet lots of people, lots of children fussing him and the general hustle and bustle (not to mention cars everywhere). He now walks up with me, greets everyone and has no nervousness around people at all (I think we have all seen nervous Great Danes - not nice!)

hth
chloe

Just out of interest what breed of puppy are you getting? I ask because its a bit harder socialising the older breeds by carrying them to places at 10 weeks to 14 weeks.

I'll agree with that, lol, my dogs a dobe, same as Jo is getting, Taz weighed an absolute ton by the time she was 10 and 11 weeks, but I still carried her around, and as previously said especially to school, the kids surrounded us but she didn't mind at all and now Taz will greet people, without hesitating, we also always have loads of young children round and she is great with them. It's not easy, if you have a larger breed, but worth while.

Hi, thanks for your comments everybody.

My pup will be a dobe, so clearly early socialization is a key issue. Although my mum lives in the country her garden is very securely fenced ... which, together with her own dogs should eliminate the risk of fox-borne diseases. Because I'm going to wait until my pup is ten weeks for his first jab, I'm just going to make the effort to carry/drive him to busy places, and then sit him on my knee to watch the world go by and get used to noises and people. I also intend to persuade random passers by to give him a bit of fuss and a wee snack.

I've also arranged for lots of friends to call round in the first month, so he knows that strange people at the door are nice and friendly and may even carry bits of liver on their person! (I'll remind them not to wear the Prada ...)

Anybody know whether beaches would be risky, even if the tide had only recently gone out?

Jo

I'm told beaches are a good idea (between tides) because of course they are washed twice a day! If you keep pup below the hightide mark he should be okay there - but keep him away from strange dogs.
:)