Hi,

After reading several forums some saying one thing others saying something else Im now at a loss as what to do.

I have a 9wk old Labrador/Setter, he has had his first jag, been chipped, wormed and deflied and is pretty much learning puppy pad training really well in the house.

My question is, do I take him out for little walks to help his socialisation and toilet training or do I wait until 2 weeks after his second jag?

People are saying different things in different threads and I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

You thoughts would be really appreciated.

This is a balance between the risks of infection and the risks of poor socialisation. Fortunately, the main risks are associated with unvaccinated dogs, and the places they have been, so you can still socialise in a risk free way.

For toilet training - do you have your own garden? If so, you can begin teaching him to toilet there immediately, so long as it is not visited by other dogs which may be unvacinated.
If you have no garden and would need to take the dog to areas frequented by other dogs, then you should wait until he's fully vaccinated.

As for going out and about, socialisation is highly important and needs to be started asap - however, this does not mean walking the pup. You can carry him around, take him out in the car etc. This way you can expose him to a wide variety of sights, sounds and smells; introduce him to lots of strangers, etc without putting him at risk. Just avoid other dogs for the time being, until he's fully vaccinated. Going into town, standing outside the supermarket, sitting at a bus stop etc will help acclimatise him to crowds, traffic, etc. What you do not want to do is walk him in public, especially in areas where unvaccinated dogs are likely to have been.

In terms of training, I would suggest starting lead training in the house - just getting him used to wearing a lead at first, then walking on a loose lead. If you have a garden you can obviously train there too. This will make it easier when you come to walk him in public for the first time, as the walking on a lead itself will not be completely alien to him.

Hope this makes sense!

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"For all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world"

Yes Colette.....I agree and have practised similar. We also started car trips from his 8wks (with our Lab) as this gives stimulation and new noises/sounds/sights etc. I have however also taken him up the road and back (quite quiet and picked a time when most folk aren't exercising their dogs as they're usually in work!) and have had success with that. Yes a bit of a risk but there was no stopping to smell wee/poo or whatever AT ALL as I am all too aware of the consequences.

Puppy classes; we're hopefully about to do tomorrow (having had others booked cancelled by the trainer who no longer wished to do the course - ughhh). So I can't wait for him to meet some other puppies. He has his 2nd jabs tomorrow and the vet said to me I should still be cautious for another week-10 days after. Sooooooooo frustrating!!!! Anyway these classes go till he's 16weeks and then he would go up to the next class. Good luck with finding some in your area.

I know I'm always harping on about the beach but it's great for socialisation, plus, vaccination wise - the beach is washed with salt water twice a day

Em
xx

Carry him to places like pets at home, the shopping mal, stand outside a school at home time - just tell people not to stroke him as he hasn't finished his jabs. That's what Mal owners do as by the time they've completed their injections they can be a bit nervy.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

2nd this my Mal came at 11 weeks, No Jabs, lived in middle nowhere, never been off the property. I used to carry him about and take him for trips in the car. even though I did all this I still had problems when he starting walking about at 14 weeks or so, so gently introductions asap are the best idea.

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What if the infected dog is out at the same time as you are?

Will this protect your puppy from in the case of parvovirus is 80% fatal?

It is worth the risk of waiting two more weeks?

If an infected dog has laid a poo up to two weeks ago, and your pup walks over it, he could still pick up the infection in theory. I carried my pup everywhere, but was aware that I was walking where infected dogs might have been, and then pup and I walked on the same floor at home - I might have tracked the germs in off my shoes.
Your pup can safely meet dogs that have been vaccinated (ideally against kennel cough as well). Be careful but not paranoid. Ask your vet if parvo is presently infecting many dogs in your area, if yes be extra careful.