We have a new Labrador puppy (long story!!) and I'm wondering about taking him out before he's had his second vaccination.  I know I should carry him out and about for socialisation but he weighs a ton!!.  Would it be okay to carry him for a bit and then let him walk a bit, just to rest my arms.

What do other owners of larger puppys do regarding socialisation?.

Also anybody had good/bad results using dap diffuser?

Thanks all

Hi

We're taking our dobe puppy to our other dog's training class, but she's sitting on my knee!

I think you are doing the right thing - the only other thing I've done is take her round to my parents house who've got 2 dogs that I know are immunised and they are rubbed down first just to make sure there's nothing on them.

FWIW I take all my dogs out before even their first vaccination; not lost one yet and they have all have superb social skills.

Sorry to be dense Tohme but what does FWIW mean?

For what its worth :)

Do you take them out on a lead? Or carry them?

On a lead and off it mostly, they have legs; I only carry handbags! :D

lol@handbag. I think I will do the same with Douglas. 

tohme, do you let your puppies on the ground where other dogs have been, say the park or woods, or do you restrict their walks to pedestrian areas?

I would love to take the puppy to the woods etc but I'm a little worried about the risks of him picking something up.  I suppose though, that my other dog is just as likely to bring any germs home on her feet.

My puppy as been in the woods, on the beach, in the park, let out at motorway services, on the pavement, on the road, in a brook, by an airstrip.

At the end of the day if you live with an older dog and you don't take your shoes off outside what is the difference?

At 11 weeks old my pup has been on a bus, in a car, in a lift, at the shops, train station, seen fireworks, attended a clay shoot, in a hotel, garden centre, at a few competitions, met lots of people, played with loads of safe dogs, met swans, geese, chickens, sheep, cattle, horses, the list is endless.

But if you do not feel comfortable about doing this, then don't do it.  I have a really bold, confident puppy that has been exposed to loads of things and nothing fazes him.

I think there is far too much paranoia about germs

tohme, do you advocate this generally or do you live in an area where most people are responsible dog owners?  I'm planning on getting another pup and found it really difficult to keep the last one in the house until she was 12 weeks old as I have no garden.  I'm not sure how many dog owners in my area do not vaccinate but without appearing too judgmental would imagine it to be quite a high amount.  I have no intention of putting the new dogs health in danger but if I'm taking the older one outside surely she would need washed after every walk before coming into contact with the pup to prevent any contamination and presumably so would I. any comments gratefully received.  

Your vet should be able to give you a good idea of the prevalance of disease in your area that might help you balance the pros and cons.  Everybodies estimate of the risks and benefits is going to come out differently obviously house training is an issue in your circumstances but as regards the socialising, I did not collect my first puppy from her breeder until she was 12 weeks, she had been living alone, outside, since 8 weeks with just a view of the other dogs from her run and yet she was the most laid back, friendly, unexcitable dog I have had to date so in terms of temperament I have come to the conclusion that breeding has more bearing than rearing.

Exactly, unless you disinfect your older dog and your shoes etc every time you go in and out, and of course that of the rest of your family and visitors or ask them to take their shoes off what is the point.

I have breeds which are very "strong" and therefore it is essential to me that they get out and about from Day 1.

You must of course conduct a risk assessment for yourself depending on the environment and the type of dog you have and what your lifestyle will be.

More dogs are euthanised due to behaviour problems stemming from under socialisation than catching diseases.................

When you've seen a 6 wk old Border Collie puppy die from parvovirus maybe you'll not give such advice.

That is a shame, but the thing to remember that NO vaccination is 100% for ALL animals or people.

As I said, everyone must make their own risk assessment based on their particular circumstances, apart from which a BC pup should not have left its mother prior to 7 weeks any way but that is another issue.

Everyone here is free to take or ignore advice according to their wish.

It is interesting that we doi not sequester human babies prior to their immunizations, and many of these don't even have the benefit of passive immunity from their mothers milk with many women not breast feeding.

Quite........

Not many tiny babies mix with other unvaccinated babies to any great extent. ;) They don't go on the ground outside either.
:)

I don't think babies pick up measles, mumps, rubella, polio etc from the ground do they................... ;)

Who knows? I never let my new baby on the pavement to find out! :D I used to carry him around like I do young unvaccinated puppies ...

I was lucky, my daughter was born in a hot country, we had regular mum and baby mornings from Day 1 and they could be left on the grass etc.

Unlike babies puppies, kittens etc can walk......... therefore they do not NEED carrying :D

Ah, it was 10 days before we left hospital you see (my complications, not his!) and we didn't get to visit other mums and babies for quite a few weeks.

Seemed to work - he's now nearly 19 and hardly ever been ill.
:)

Same here, mine is 24, not even a filling! ;)

Another idea is to find out about puppy parties in your area for 'save' socialisation. Our vet used to run one once a week for all pups between their first and second vaccinations. All the pups play together and it's great for the dogs as well as excellent for the owners to see the having so much fun as well! If your own vet doesn't run one themselves, they may know of another local veterinary surgery that does, or of some experienced and responsible individual who runs one. I've seen extremely nervous pups come out of themselves and play uninhibitedly over 3 sessions, just as I've seen an aggressive little pup become calmer and learn to 'play nicely'. Howevery, make sure it's run by somebody who knows plenty about dogs, as some intervention might be required to help the more shy pups become confident and calm down the more rough pups! Our vetirenary nurse used to pick play 'partners' for the dogs when they first came to a pup party so that they could play with someone of a similar weight and play nature, and so that the smaller our more nervous dogs wouldn't become scared or overwhelmed by the larger, more confident or boisterous pups.

You can also take your pup to socialise with friends / family's dogs as long as you know they're friendly and vaccinated. My lab pup used to spend hours bullying our neighbour's full grown Bernese Mountain Dog when she was all of 11 weeks old! He had plenty of fur and long enough ears to get hold of and tug at (I swear he quite liked it)!

Good luck with your little one :)