I have read 14 weeks you can start carrying them on walks and to parks and things. Does that mean swimming as well? Just wanted you guys opinion on these things.
Until the vaccinations are affective, I wouldn't let my pup swim just in case of Leptospirosis. Though that is just my view.
As soon as you get them at 8 weeks you can start carrying them on walks. They shouldn't go onto the ground outside (anywhere where other dogs have been) until their vaccinations are complete, usually about 12-14 weeks I think (double check with your vet). I'm curious about what others say about swimming. I would think it will depend a great deal on your location. Where I'm originally from (SF Bay Area) my vet said not to let them into creeks or rivers ever due to too much pollution, but the ocean was ok after complete vaccination. But definitely a lot of bad stuff can be water born, so I agree with @Stacia better safe than sorry. I had a little baby pool set up in my back garden for my pups. Fun in the water with toys, but you can be 100% the water is safe.
Our vaccinations were completed at 12 weeks and swimming/retrieving in the local lake on a walk at 14 weeks. It depends upon the all clear from your vet, local water conditions and whether you pup will actually go in the water or prefer to paddle.
I'm jealous that your vaccines were complete at 12 weeks, Remi just had his 2nd set at 11 weeks and has 2 more sets to go....he won't be done until around 17 weeks, seeing as he already weighs 16 pounds (7 kg), I simply can't carry him very long/far. Anyhow, sorry for going off topic, I don't know the answer to your question
Our Guide Dog pups are the same. Last vaccination 16 weeks, first free run 17 weeks. I carry them! I don’t find it affects their recall. I do lots of recall from room to room, house to garden, in other people’s houses/gardens etc. I follow Total Recall and all my pups have had 100% recall when they left me at 12 months old.
You might find this post I wrote interesting, as well as the linked article. The vaccines don't work on how many they have, but the age at which they are administered in relation to the amount of maternally-derived antibodies the puppy has. You shouldn't be jealous. Talk to your vet about this and the risks that you have locally. https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/late-with-vacs.23118/#post-353884
I've never had a pup that had the confidence to swim so young. They've all been very interested in water and liked to paddle and run in and out but the youngest I've had one swim at is 6 months and I had a sweetie yellow one from show stock who didn't pluck up the courage until 18 months. Difficult to keep her out of water once she'd started though!
Moo would, she was always confident I used fill a shallow bath warm and play with her with toys just enough to cover her toes and she was in the water as soon as she was able to just shallow ponds and trickles in rivers but she had other ideas she would dive in deep water like a swimmer she had no fear and I had to teach her to wait until I though it was safe.
