Hi,
we are getting a new Staffie pup this weekend and, after reading up on general puppy stuff, I was very surprised to read, I shouldn't put the puppy on the floor to avoid him picking up diseases. The local vet said the same thing. Now, I have had a dog before and she just walked around in the woods and stuff from day 1. Our pup is also being raised with 3 other dogs (other than his mum and littermates).
Any opinions? Thanks.

The pup would be fine to be on the floor in your property, the garden ect. But I wouldnt be walking the pup until jabs are done, and if taken out no it shouldnt be on the floor.

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Zeus my little Staffy 14-02-2011

No, he should not be allowed to roam on the floor where unvaccinated dogs have been.

If your dogs have been vaccinated then you can do it at home and you can let him play in your garden but I would strongly suggest you don't let him walk on the floor in any areas where other dogs may have been (such as a pet shop, vets, park, woods and anywhere that isn't your house really!)

How old is he? He should have had his 1st vac by the time he comes to you.

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

ughhh it`s all down to personal opinion! i took my dog out a few days after his first jab and just made sure to avoid any strange dogs or dog poop that was on the ground - there`s just as much chance of you bringing an illness into your home on your shoes as there is of them picking one up outside so long as you`re careful. well that`s my opinion anyway and my vet admitted he also does the same when he has a pup as he feels they miss out on vital training that carrying them simply doesn`t cover. i wouldn`t have risked it before the first jab though but the 2nd one is just a top up of the first. i`m not saying what i and the others i know do is the right thing to do but then it`s like everything else these days - everyone has an opinion and no one can know for sure who is right or wrong.

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owned by:

jake - chocolate labrador
sydney - liver/white english springer
twix - dlh cat
lacey - dsh cat

never forgetting my baby banjo running free at the bridge, RIP baby xx

Hello

I've never heard anything of the sort...but it has been a long time since I've had a puppy (I've had lots of dogs, but older rescue ones).

That is very confusing - where are you supposed to put it if it can't be on the floor???

Thats not really the case, most breeders will either do both pup injections or none before the pup leaves. Theres to much going on with over vaccinating. Different vets use different stuff, and will alot of the time make the owners start the jabs again. I wouldnt advise a breeder to do the first unless the dog was going back to the same vet, or have already sorted it with the new owners present vet.

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The floor in your house is fine, as is your garden so long as it's enclosed so other dogs and animals haven't been in it But until it's had all it's vaccinations your puppy shouldn't really be where other dogs may have been e.g. on footpaths, fields, the floor at the vets etc. BUT you are fine to carry your puppy places to ensure he is getting socialised even though he can't go out on walks yet.

It's personal preference whether you choose to stick to the guidelines surrounding this. Personally I chose to play it safe rather than have my pup die a horrible death from Parvo or the like.

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Essentially it is personal preference and all about risk vs reward.

Going out whilst very young can be great for socialising, but it means you run the risk of the pup catching parvo, distemper etc, all of which will be pretty much fatal for a young pup, which is why most people take the safe option of keeping them inside until they have completed their vaccs. I'm on the safe side and would always recommend waiting until they have completed their vaccs. I know I would've never been able to forgive myself if I'd let Izzy go out and she caught parvo and was dead before she even made it to 3 months just because I couldn't wait 2 weeks to go for a walk!

Enclosed gardens are generally considered ok for pups as long as you know no unvaccinated dogs have been on it recently. And as someone has said, your pup can meet vaccinated dogs fine, as long as it's somewhere you know is safe (someone's house/garden).

All this is assuming you mean going on the floor outside! Obviously I can go on the floor in the house, otherwise you're going to have very tired arms after 4 weeks of constantly holding him!

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hi guys
thanks for all your answers. he will be about 7-8 weeks. generally, the advice i have found is very conflicting, so i'm very unsure what to do. one of the vets in the area won't even vaccinate till pups are 9 weeks, the next person says 8. confusing or what!!