On Monday 30th August, we got a GSP puppy called Monty, but we are not sure when we can take him for walks. A dog magazine said when they're 16 weeks, and they've had thier vaccinations, and our friend who's got a lab says 10 days after the vaccinations. What one is it? It may be something different! From fee fee :-)

Ask the vet who when he gets his last lot of vacs - they will be aware of local conditions and also there are variations between the different vaccine protocols.

I took my pup out for walks from the first day i got her,they say not to let unvaccinated pups around other dogs,so you should b careful just incase a strange dog has some exotic disease,but i dont see the harm in taking your dog out whenever you feel like it,going out for walks is always the FIRST thing i have ever done with ALL of my dogs.

I think early socialisation is so very important,much more important than worrying about the fact that he MAY pick up something,chances are he wont :) I have never wrapped my dogs in cotton wool,in the 26 years that i have owned dogs i have never had a problem in taking them out,pups and all dogs need the fresh air,exercise and new sights and smells plus the all important socialisation!!! There is no use in worrying about the what if's and maybe's,enjoy your pup :D You will hear a different theory around every corner but from MY experience i have always taken my dogs out on day 1.

Its generally 7 days after the final vaccination.  IMO its madness to take a puppy out without it being vaccinated Parvo can be carried on the ground and even if you meet dogs that have been vaccinated there could be another dog thats walked where you are that hasn't been vaccinated.  Its not worth the risk of not knowing.

Sorry forgot to add - you don't have to keep your puppy in.  If you want to take your pup out why not carry in your arms.  I've taken all my dogs everywhere from the day we got them home - just not on the ground.  I have to say though that it does become a struggle after a while - carrying a Rott pup around :-)

I would never dream of taking a puppy out for a walk before innoculation. I do take them out in my arms so they see the big wide world but never allow them onto the ground. Any infection can remain on the ground for quite some time after the infected dog has passed.

John

We waited until 10 days after the second vaccination with both our two before we would let them walk in an area that was frequented with lots of dogs (ie country parks). We did however take both of them to puppy socialisation classes, and allowed them to meet adult dogs which were friendly and that were up to date on all their vaccinations after ours had been given their first set of vaccinations.We also carried them around to get them used to all the different sights and sounds (this was especially important with our second pup as he had to wait an extra few weeks to have his second set of jabs and the socialisation was important).

However I would NEVER put socialisation before their health and I certainly would not take them to places where they could pick up an infection when they are not fully vaccinated (we cancelled a holiday, and only went on half of another one, as our pup had to wait to have his second set of injections).

Hi my puppy who was just twelve weeks old yesterday had his first ever proper walk today on his lead, I have taken him out every day but ive had to carry him.
everywhere i would much rather do that and know he is safe, rather than have him walk on the ground where he would be open to all kinds of infections let alone the dreaded Parvo, Fee Fee i would wait a couple more weeks till your puppy is fully vaccinated then take him out into the big wide world knowing he is safe
regards polly_45

When I got my dog (at 5 months) he wasnt vaccinated :( neither was his mother, brothers and sisters

The owners said they didnt believe in vaccinations, they let their dogs own natural defences build up. I must say that I dont agree with that, and I think that they were all very lucky.

How can a dog build up a deffence against parvo. Some people, honestly :(

Anyway, 1 week after he had the last lot he was able to go out. :D

I use Nosodes with all my pups and you can take them out within a week of treating them. I don't vacinate because of all the terrible reactions some dogs have to the vaccine. Did you know no tests have ever been done to decide how often a dog should be vaccinated, they just guessed at once a year. A friend of mine had her pup, who is now seven, vaccinated, then had his yearly booster done. Within 24 hours of that he developed colitus. The vets have admitted it was a good chance the vaccine caused it. I know of another dog who fitted after his booster. There are approx. 40 dogs at the clubs I go to and most them use nosodes, in fact there are only two who don't. They are all fine and benefit from early socialisation, which after all, is most important up to 12 weeks. So you can't let people say 'some people' to those of us who don't vaccinate. It's all about making personnal, informed choices.

I always keep puppies in my arms until 10-12 days after their final vaccinations. I do however allow some socialisation with friends and family dogs that I know are well behaved and have had all their vaccinations and booster jabs, I feel the earlier you can socialise a puppy the better behaved it will be as it gets older.

Alli

Edited to say: I only allow puppies to meet with other dogs in my home where there is a low risk of any infection being passed on.

My vet told me that although frowned on he felt that in our area it was safe to allow a pup to walk after its first set of jabs.

We took Buffy out on a lead after her first set with no probs. We were carefull tho, we only took her on pavement and on roads that i knew dogs rarely walked. On roads that i knew dogs walked regular we would pick her up and carry her.

I also beleive that if a pup is going to pick up an infection it is more than likely going to get it from the vets and she spent a lot of time there before she had had her second jab.

Debbie

Our pup needed an op when small and had to wait 7 days after first Jabs to go into the hospital. My vet (who I trust completely) told me to take our pup out as soon as he had recovered from his op and had his second jab.  He had his second jab and went straight out in the field.  He said there was no Parvo in the area and that his immunity would be good enough to compensate.

I have to say this was different to anything I had been told by my last vet and seemed alien to me, but worked well and pup is fine.