Our new boy arrives this Sunday and consequently I am looking round
at Puppy socialisation and training classes.

I have been reccomended to a local trainer who apparently does an
excellent four stage four week course with socialisation and basic
training combined. I have spoken to the trainer and met her and she
seems to be very professional and proficient at what she does.
However, there is a potential problem.

The next set of classes start on the 20th, a fortnight today. At
this time our pup will only have had his first set of vaccinations.
The trainer only has small groups and assures me that all puppies
going to them will have been vaccinated at least once. She says they
have had puppies at this stage before and never had a problem. Now
on one side it makes sense as it is in that key 8 to 12 week period
where the pups are the most susceptible to learning and
socialisation and this could really give me a head start in his
learning.

On the other side I am scared to death that he may pick up something.

I have spoken to my vet and he has suggested that it would not be a
good idea, but knows the trainer and has never had any problems or
heard any poor reports from her classes.

To be honest I am in a bit of a quandry and would appreciate some
advice before I move ahead

James

If you are that concerned then you could always take the puppy and just sit with him on your knee not letting him down onto the ground. atleast that way he gets to experiance it all without being involved :-)

Personally I'd go with your vets recommendation and keep well clear until after your puppy is fully vaccinated.  It doesn't matter how good the trainer is you have no way of knowing if the other dogs there are healthy. 

Steve

At all the training classes I have taken my pups/dogs to they have requested their vaccination cards to be taken with them and they must of had their second injections.
All my dogs started training after their second injections and they have all done well.
I would sign up for the next class after your puppy is clear of his jabs. Why take the risk.
In the meantime there are lots of ways of socialising your puppy. While they're small enough to carry everywhere, do just that. Take him everywhere you can, to the shops, to the park, standing by a road and let him get used to traffic noise, etc. As long as he stays well away from other dogs and you carry him, he will be fine. Also at home, spend the next four weeks getting him settled in the house, getting him housetrained, playing with him, getting him used to you, your family, your friends (in small quantities) Out in the garden get him used to your collar, walking on a lead.
With the class you are describing you will have no chance of keeping an excited puppy on your lap while others are running round enjoying themselves. You'll probably be left with a nice wet message from your Pup! Take him along when he's old enough and can fully join in. Waiting a few extra weeks is not going to make any difference to the dog and the way he will react with other dogs.

Our training class was the same but the trainer does check everyones vaccination certs before she begins to train them therefore we knew they were all ok even though we did wait until ours had her second set some didnt mind

I've always taken my puppies to training as soon as I get them If they are very small (8 weeks or so)& they sit in a crate/on knee & older on the floor

Never had any problems in 40+ years