I want to socialize my dog significantly from 8-14 weeks but his vacines will not be done until 16 weeks. How would you go about socializing him? Carry him to the mall, starbucks, the park etc but just never put him down on the ground? How about other dogs? okay to put him with other dogs that have their vacine done?
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done Yes - lots of carrying I have a baby sling (bought second hand on ebay) for carrying my pups as they get very heavy by 12 weeks! It's fine to put them with other vaccinated dogs but be absolutely sure they are up to date.
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done If you know an older dog is friendly with pups (most are, but you don't want any unpleasant experiences at this young age), and that they're up to date with vaccines then this is a good way to socialise them. And, as you say, carry them everywhere you go! I used to like leaving hubbie outside Tesco holding the pup for me. Plenty of attention for him and the pup! He hated it doing it too, which was just a nice sideline for me, as the pup wasn't the only one that could do with socialising...! Whilst they're small enough to carry on, we also tried them a few times on public transport because in the past I've seen a few adult dogs scared out of their wits being dragged on board buses etc. Also a good idea to introduce them to different people too. Glasses, beards, children, teenagers - everyone you can find!
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done [quote author=tartanmouse link=topic=9082.msg130085#msg130085 date=1418473538] If you know an older dog is friendly with pups (most are, but you don't want any unpleasant experiences at this young age), and that they're up to date with vaccines then this is a good way to socialise them.[/quote] Pretty much, but it's important to be aware there is another dimension to this. I had a lengthy discussion about this with my vet, I wanted my pup to meet my friends older german shepherd pup only 3 days after the 2nd jabs (it was just how our schedules worked out). The other dog being fully vaccinated doesn't mean they haven't trod in some poop in walkies and could be physically contaminated with a potential killer like parvo. The other dog being immune to it is good for them but doesn't mean they can't pass it on to others. The vet would not say Do It or Don't, he was very clear it was a calculated risk and my decision to make. He also explained that we ourselves could do the same thing by stepping in something and bringing it home on our shoes, which helped add some perspective for me. So yes, we took the risk and got away with it just fine. But it needs to be an informed choice.
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done Yes, carry him as much as possible - a baby sling or backpack is good for this, especially if they are too heavy to carry in your arms. Take him lots of places- go and stand outside school at finishing time, children's parks, just go for a walk and sit on a bench or a bus stop to get him used to traffic. If there are dog friendly shops or cafés around that's always good too. If you have friends or family with dogs that you know are up to date with their vaccinations then you can allow him to socialise with them in the house or garden. You might be able to find a puppy class near you too. I'm assume you're not in the UK as your vaccinations aren't finished until 16 weeks?
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done There is definitely a risk associated with socialising your pup before vacs but personally I think the challenges of dealing with an under socialised dog outweigh these. Your vet should be able t tell you if there's anything particularly risky in your area. I carried our latest puppy in a bag. Good luck with your puppy
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done We took our puppy to a lot of friends houses and also introduced her to a couple of dogs that were vaccinated. We tried not to take too many risks but equally I'm really confident with how happy and confident she now is in all situations. Also took her into the centre of town a few time and sat on a bench with her. I don't know who loved it more, the children or her!
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done We went for our first carrying walk this morning with our 8 week pup. We took a short walk to our local shop. I waited outside while my OH went in for a few items. I was amazed at all the new encounters we had in a 15 min session. The pedestrian crossing came on twice with its loud noise. A delivery lorry was reversing. A little girl came along on a pink scooter and stopped to say hello. There was a delivery driver in a high vis jacket and about five other people who stopped to say hello. We plan to do another little outing tomorrow. Paula and Amber
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=9082.msg130104#msg130104 date=1418480556] Yes, carry him as much as possible - a baby sling or backpack is good for this, especially if they are too heavy to carry in your arms. Take him lots of places- go and stand outside school at finishing time, children's parks, just go for a walk and sit on a bench or a bus stop to get him used to traffic. If there are dog friendly shops or cafés around that's always good too. If you have friends or family with dogs that you know are up to date with their vaccinations then you can allow him to socialise with them in the house or garden. You might be able to find a puppy class near you too. I'm assume you're not in the UK as your vaccinations aren't finished until 16 weeks? [/quote] I am in Chile. Spoke to the breeder who is also a vet and she says he should have his last shot around 14 weeks. That helps a bit. There are many street dogs here in Chile so I am getting increasingly concerned about taking him out and putting him down. Seems like that will be a no go. Will buy a baby sling for him and go out and about a lot
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done I couldn't carry Elsie but a shopping trolley was brilliant, she could pop her head out to see everything and no heavy carrying for me.
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done Lots of carrying. Followed the vet's advice otherwise, which was not to mix with other dogs. This meant Chepi not mixing with dogs from 8 weeks to 12 weeks then really having to build her confidence. There's pros and cons either way but definately do the carrying. (She's a confident girl now who loves being around other dogs)
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done I took Willow on as many new experiences as possible. Watching the bin lorry at work; to our local village fair where she met sheep, horses, cows and geese; shopping where DH held her outside while I did the groceries - she met all sorts of sized and shaped people. She also met a couple of dogs I knew were vaccinated, in their homes to minimise any risk of infection. Yes, you can carry the nasties in on your shoes and clothes, but it really is a matter of making an informed decision and choosing what level of risk you're prepared to take. Socialisation is so important that you have to take SOME amount of risk. My other puppy wasn't socialised much in that window (we didn't have him at the time) and he's a lot more nervous of new things, whereas Willow is pretty bullet-proof.
Re: Socializing puppy before all vacinations are done I took Luna around the same age to the gas station (she just sat with me in the car), on walks in parks, in the cart at the pet store, and to some other random places. I didn't like the idea of putting her down in many places either, so it was really about her hearing new sounds, smelling new things, etc. I did let her play with my friend's dogs that I knew were healthy and up to date on shots. That was maybe 1 dog at a time, so it went really well. She's not fully vaccinated, so she's enjoying life on the ground now especially at the pet store. Puppy school has helped a lot too, so when you're dog is the right age (with at least bordatella) then I'd jump on that opportunity.
