Is it safe for my 6 week-old puppy to be around other dogs?
I got a puppy at 5 weeks because her mother did not want to feed her and the owner could not deal with a litter of 9. Anyway, I know that my puppy could have used a little more time with its mother and litter mates to learn about socialization. We took her to get her first set of shots today, and I am wondering if it's safe for her to be around other dogs at this point. I read somewhere that puppies that are taken too soon from their mothers can learn socialization from other dogs. I'm afraid of her getting sick from other dogs, but I want her to gain socialization skills as well, what should I do?
cm303242011-01-11T06:18:20Z
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Normally yes but it's questionable now since she was vaccinated so young. I would enroll in puppy classes. that way it's safe, you get training and socliazation and everything is good.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recently released a position paper ( http://AVSABonline.org/) outlining the importance of early puppy socialization, preferably before the puppy reaches 12 to 16 weeks old. The AVSAB encourages owners to take their pets to puppy classes as early as possible, even before puppies have completed their full vaccination series. Source(s): http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vet…
http://www.4pawsu.com/vaccinations.htm
Puppies receive antibodies through their mother's milk (colostrum) the very first time they nurse. This natural protection can last up to 8 - 14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should not be vaccinated at less than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine & only a few (0 -35%) will be protected(6, 7, 11, 13, 20, 21, 23). Unfortunately, taking this unprotected baby out of the house and to a veterinary clinic will expose it to parvovirus without protection. Vaccination at home by a breeder at 6 weeks may provide protection for some puppies (0 -35%) It is the not the vaccination at 6 weeks that is objectionable, but the increased risk of exposure to the Parvovirus you are trying to protect against. Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, delay the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccination of dogs for Distemper at too young of an age has been shown to cause Hypertropic Osteodystrophy, especially in Weimaraners. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart suppress rather than stimulate the immune system (6, 27, 23).
No, it is not safe for her to be around other dogs until she has been fully vaccinated. The only time I have heard my vet I work for say this is okay is only if they are around family animals that are FULLY vaccinated and in your house, not a community area where other animals have been. Socialization is key to instill by the age of 12 weeks but you can start with fully vaccinated family dogs and also introduce to healthy children under your supervision and take on short car rides so they can become accustom to the car. Those will be a good start to socialize your puppy until it can be fully vaccinated and then once that has happened, you can enroll your puppy in an obedience class with other vaccinated puppies to begin further socialization and learn basic obedience commands.
Absolutely not unless those dogs live in your home and the contact is pretty much unavoidable. Your puppy is not done with her parvo vaccines and is still at risk.
The best thing you could do is have it around other dogs. It will help so she is not aggressive to all the other dogs she meets...I doubt she is going to get sick from them.