When to take a puppy to kindergarten class?
- Thread starter Heather170277
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It's a really tricky balancing act, because the most important socialization age is between 8-14 weeks, and most vaccinations aren't complete until 16 weeks old. If you can find places you know aren't frequented by many other dogs, use them. Avoid the dog park, pet stores, etc. until all shots are done.
It depends upon where you are. Currently, some of the big trainers are recommending starting at 10 weeks for puppy kindergarten. I have started that early. In reality, the risk of contracting something from healthy puppies in a class environment is small, overall. The only thing that I have ever brought home from a puppy class was kennel cough (one puppy had it, but was not showing symptoms yet) - I don't vaccinate for that, and it was my adult demo-dog that brought home the illness. None of the other puppies in the class contracted it, and as soon as the owner of the ill puppy knew that his dog had kc, he pulled her from class.
Now, my dog club has a rule that the dog cannot start until it has had it's second set of shots. They don't need the full course, as the third shot should not be given before 16 weeks (following the Dr. Jean Dodds protocol).
Now, my dog club has a rule that the dog cannot start until it has had it's second set of shots. They don't need the full course, as the third shot should not be given before 16 weeks (following the Dr. Jean Dodds protocol).
The general rule of thumb these days (no matter where you are) is that they are safe after the second series of shots plus Bordatella (kennel cough). Unfortunately, that can vary quite a bit depending where the puppies come from.
I've had very few MINOR health issues in class (can count them on one hand) over the past several years. I don't provide community water bowls, owners are asked to bring their own (after one pup came to class with canine oral warts (pap virus), which thankfully no one caught) and due to the many strains of kennel cough there have been a few cases. The pups who did have kennel cough did not transfer it, the owners called to say that their pup was coughing and I did the remainder of instruction for them in home.
I am very careful during the phone registration process to ensure that people know that pups MUST be healthy in order to attend. Again at the first class I cover the minor health risks and the owner responsibility to keep their pups at home if they show any signs of illness (and of course to visit their Vet).
I've been very lucky but I think when you're drawing on a pool of healthy pups, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Personally, I'd love to get pups into small classes after the 1st series of shots and I think that's where the future will take us.
I've had very few MINOR health issues in class (can count them on one hand) over the past several years. I don't provide community water bowls, owners are asked to bring their own (after one pup came to class with canine oral warts (pap virus), which thankfully no one caught) and due to the many strains of kennel cough there have been a few cases. The pups who did have kennel cough did not transfer it, the owners called to say that their pup was coughing and I did the remainder of instruction for them in home.
I am very careful during the phone registration process to ensure that people know that pups MUST be healthy in order to attend. Again at the first class I cover the minor health risks and the owner responsibility to keep their pups at home if they show any signs of illness (and of course to visit their Vet).
I've been very lucky but I think when you're drawing on a pool of healthy pups, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Personally, I'd love to get pups into small classes after the 1st series of shots and I think that's where the future will take us.
As a rule, I require puppies be a minumum of 12 weeks of age before entering group class, approaching the 3rd in their series of vaccines and 6 months or more before entering group play. (large breed pups, in puppy group) Vaccines are no guarantee though. I've had a higher incidence of kennel cough in my adult class, than in puppy class, with dogs owners all showing verification of these vaccines before being allowed to enter class. It still occurs, regardless. If your puppies healthy and you do not use community water bowls, or community potty area (as Dr2 said) you should be fine!
I wish more breeders felt this way. I've come across some absolutely wonderful breeders who begin a puppy program in their care that better prepares puppies for their new homes. I agree Grammy, proper social heredity should include more than the bitch and sibs. Breeders can have such a positive impact on pups.