Puppy Socialization BEFORE all puppy shots?

[rubysoho]

New puppy was supposed to arrive yesterday but was delayed a week (*pout*) so she will be 9 weeks when she comes on Friday or Saturday this coming week. Anyway, she has had her first set of shots but obviously not all and won't have them all (like Parvo) until she is 3 or 4 months old.

My question: I work on a farm that is open to the public - and their dogs. We have bluestone pathways and 99% of the time people pick up after their dogs or we (the staff) do. I'd love to take my new puppy out to the farm for socializing ASAP. But I worry about disease/infection/parvo - not because we have any known incidences but because I just want my pup to have a perfect life. :lol-sign:

There is at least one fox on the property - she is a beautiful momma. I know that a fox can be a carrier of parvo.

My last dog - 10 years ago! - went with me to a private farm right from the start (vet said he was 9 - 11 weeks). I never considered parvo or anything else and he was able to run with the farm owner's pack of water spaniels and out in the fields while I was retrieving horses (but he stayed in a horse stall while I was riding or when I could not watch him). Did I just get lucky that nothing bad happened?

Am I being a worry-wort and it is okay to take my pup to the farm to help socializing or should I wait until she has had all her shots?

If I need to wait, what can I do in the meantime to help her socialize? She was pulled from her mother at approximately 6 weeks (she is a rescue and it had to be done for health reasons) but is hanging out with pups around her age and older dogs. I want to make sure she gets the best socialization after a rough start in life (feral, wormy, and pulled from mom early).

Thanks!

 

[Maxy24]

Whether or not you take him is up to you, is it a risk? Yes, of course. Depending on how much dog traffic you get it could be a small risk or a big risk. If you have other, less doggy places, you can take him I'd do that for now. Bring him to human parks/playgrounds, bus stops while kids are there, if your home depot allows dogs go there, etc. Until he gets his shots let him have playdates with dogs you know have their shots. I would allow my dog to still meet strange dogs (on leash) during walks, some people won't even do that. So basically do whatever you're comfortable with, there are risks both ways, not socializing is a HUGE problem so make sure even if you don't bring him to the farm you bring him other, safer, places still.

 

[Doberluv]

If you wait until he's 3 or 4 months old to begin socializing him to all kinds of people, places, dogs, environments, equipment, things people do, etc, you'll have a bigger problem on your hands than him dying from a disease. He'll live a life time with fear and mal-adjustment. So, take reasonable pre-cautions, make his experiences as safe and as pleasant as possible...no over-whelming, fearful experiences but get him out and about in as safe a place as you can. Good luck.

 

[rubysoho]

Doberluv, that is what I thought. I'll take precautions. I know when the peak hours are at the farm so I can avoid that. And we can stay on the bluestone paths (so not in the tall grasses where someone may not have picked up after their dog or a fox may have left their droppings). If anything, I can carry her while she is small. Especially in places like petsmart (because dogs seem to poop and pee in there a lot....).

 

[lizzybeth727]

Here's an article that I go by with regards to puppy socialization: RK Anderson letter

Yes there is a risk of parvo or other diseases, so I'm not going to tell you what to do; it'll have to be up to you to decide. Personally, though, I'm of the opinion that you can't do too much socialization at this age. Good luck!

 

[drdamian]

I think it would be better if you waited till your puppy is a bit bigger and more strong...then the chances of your puppy catching an infection might be less.

 

[Renee750il]

I think it would be better if you waited till your puppy is a bit bigger and more strong...then the chances of your puppy catching an infection might be less.

You're a little late. That pup is six weeks older already. You might want to look at the original posting dates -- not that anyone here is likely to make use of the link in your sig since we don't know you -- other than the borderline spam you've been posting.

I haven't banned you -- yet -- because a) you haven't been completely blatant -- close, though; and b) my people here are smarter and savvier than you'd imagine and you'll get called out publicly on bad or self-serving advice in a hurry.