The immune system of a puppy
While puppies are on their mother’s milk, they get antibodies that keep them safe from illness. But once weaned, that protection ends, and their immune system is still developing. That’s why puppies need vaccinations.
Vaccinations start around 8 weeks of age and the full series is complete around 16 weeks of age. These vaccinations build up their immune systems to protect them against common puppy illnesses like Parvovirus, Distemper, Leptospirosis, and parasites.
When puppies go outside and come in contact with an infected dog, or sniff or lick any feces or urine on the ground, they can pick up the disease. Not all dogs are symptomatic either. Some can be carriers, meaning they can carry the disease while showing no signs of illness.
Parvo is especially notorious for latching onto objects and can remain active for up to one year. One sniff from your puppy can be enough for the canine parvovirus to enter their system and wreak havoc.
All of this to say, sticking to your puppy’s vaccination schedule is crucial for keeping your puppy safe from these awful diseases. Veterinarians suggest you avoid contact with all unknown or unvaccinated dogs until their vaccination series are complete. But what about socializing them? Do you need to keep your dog isolated until they’ve had all their vaccines?
Enrol In Puppy Classes
Puppy classes are great for a lot of reasons. They give you the basic tools needed to train your puppy and they are also a sympathetic environment where other members should be accepting of you, your puppy, and your puppy’s habits. They are also packed full of other puppies in the same situation and they are a good opportunity to meet male and female dogs, different breeds, and puppies with a range of different temperaments.
Tips For Socializing A New Puppy
Regular walks are a great tool for socialization. Not only do they introduce your puppy to the outside world but they are likely to include new situations that your puppy isn’t prepared for. It will be exposed to cyclists, cars on the road, other people, and even dogs and cats.
When Can My Puppy Play with Other Dogs?
When you get a puppy, you of course want to bring them places to play with other dogs. However, it’s not a good idea to have them interact with other dogs right away. Here are some factors you should take into account when deciding when you want to introduce your puppy to other canine friends.
An important thing to consider when allowing your puppy to interact with other dogs is its size. It’s advisable to only allow your puppy to play with dogs of similar sizes unless you are very familiar with the other dog. If you decide to take your puppy to dog parks, there are usually designated areas for large and small dogs.
Even during play sessions, a dog that’s not much larger than your puppy is capable of causing serious injury entirely by accident. For this reason, you should never allow unfamiliar dogs around your puppy. Large dogs that are calm and fully vaccinated are safer bets when deciding whether to allow supervised play sessions with your puppy.
The most important factor to consider for your puppy is the status of their vaccinations. If your puppy isn’t up to date on all their vaccines, there’s always a possibility of it contracting one of the many common bacterial diseases. Parvovirus, Bordetella, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Respiratory Disease are just some of the bacterial diseases that can be deterred by two simple vaccines. You can get both the 5-way puppy vaccine and the Bordetella vaccine administered by your puppy’s veterinarian.
Studies have shown that puppies under 20 weeks old are more susceptible to disease. The very common diseases listed above are easily preventable yet possibly fatal if contracted. You should try to limit your puppy’s exposure to not only unvaccinated dogs but also outdoor areas where stray dogs frequently travel until your canine has completed their vaccinations.
Still, its highly important to start socializing your puppy between the ages of seven to 16 weeks of age. Of course, this means allowing your puppy to interact with other dogs.
Luckily, puppy classes may be available to you in your area. Puppy classes help you jump-start socialization of your puppy. Not only will your puppy interact with other people and dogs, but it also serves as a controlled environment where every puppy is required to be vaccinated.
Your dilemma as a puppy owner is that socialization is every bit as important as their vaccinations. Remember, a vaccinated puppy having safe interactions with other vaccinated dogs will be a happy one. Follow the guidelines above and you can make sure that your puppy stays healthy while still being able to socialize with other dogs.