Sorry for the cryptic title!

I have a 10 year old miniature wire haired dachshund, whom I don't vaccinate anymore because of his age (we have lost 2 dogs in the family, shortly after their 10th birthday - and yearly booster - to unidentifiable mental and physical illness) Also, a 5 year old mini long haired dachshund who last time she was vaccinated (a few months ago) had such a bad reaction, I watched her head swell up. If it hadn't been for some the fact we happened to not have gone to bed yet, (it was 5 hours after her booster) and a very local fast acting vet, she'd be dead now.

For these reasons, neither of them get boosters anymore.

We're (hopefully!) getting a new puppy in a few months, and while of course I will get him/her their 8 and 10 week vaccinations, I am debating whether to get them boosters: at all, every 2 years, every 3 years, after blood tests etc

My question for experienced owners/breeders (especially of dachshunds/small dogs please) is does it matter if the puppy is exposed to 2 non-boostered dogs early in life? Will it affect my other 2 dogs when the puppy gets its vacs? (Can it carry any of the diseases in some way and pass them on?)

I welcome any and all replies and opinions on this, as I'm doing my best to figure out the best for the puppy, and of course my 2 dogs.

Hi Binxy, i wouldn't presume to tell you what to do, but I will tell you what I do. When I buy a puppy I have them vaccinated within a day or two of getting them, between the two vaccs (8 and 12 weeks) I allow them to mix freely with my other dogs.  I don't do boosters, ever. Neither do I do the extended quarantine after the second puppy vaccs. My puppies walk out of the vet surgery on the day of that second jab, and go to training class within the week. I have never had a problem in thirty odd years.

Enjoy your puppy :)

Regards Dawn R.

If you do not have the vaccination boosters done annually they are not effect anyway and have to have a full course again.  Providing you dont have to leave them in kennels I would agree with Dawn.  Years ago people only ever used to have the first course of injections and no boosters and in the 40 years we have had dogs in our family I have never known one to die of any nasties. 

Of course on the TV last night there was a 6 month old puppy died from Parvo even though it was vaccianted.

I only used to Booster every 3 years but over the last few years there have been a lot of cases of Parvo locally and a couple of cases of Leptospirosis so I have been boostering yearly.
Mainly for my own peace of mind.
But none of my dogs have ever had a bad reacttion to a vaccine.
If they had I would probably think differently.

I'd leave my adults dogs as they were (I don't booster either) and give the pup his normal ones as advised by the vet.

Don't forget that a recently boostered dog will 'shed' vaccine and this may be a risk to unhealthy dogs, so in theory your adult dogs could be more at risk from your newly vaccinated puppy than the puppy's risk from the adult dogs..

Previous dogs and cats I've had have only had the first vaccines and no boosters - none came to any harm through not having them.

The cat and dog I have now have had all injections and regular boosters because I have to kennel them at least annually.  Neither have come to any harm because of the injections. 

I think its your choice. Take into account the life they are going to lead and make your decision.  If mine didn't have to be kennelled I probably wouldn't take the boosters. You take your chances whatever you choose.

CG

remeber about insurance too As far as i know they wont cover a dog that hasent been  vaccinated  up to date

I don't vaccinate at all and not had any insurance problems ....

Have you ever claimed ?  I have claimed in the last two years and I remember one question on the form that the VET has to fill in is asking if the dog has been fully vacinated and if ALL boosters are up to date.  If the VET can't tick this box then you may well notice a change in your insurance i.e they wont pay out.