Vaccinating a puppy and when to take him out...

[topbannana]

We pick our new pup up in a little over 2 weeks when he will be a couple of days off of 8 weeks old :)
It seems like a million years since I last had a pup and I have a question re- vaccinations.
In the past my pups have had their first jab, normally on their first check at the vets, just after pick up. There is then a 3 week? gap before they are allowed "out"
Every pup I have ever had has come everywhere with the others, firstly tucked in a jacket then later put down in low volume dog areas (often on estates we beat on so no footpaths, basically a very large back garden) Now we live in a small village with as many dogs as people. Presumably putting a pup down in these areas before the 2nd jab is more risky BUT surely if there are any nasties about then our older dog will pick them up and bring them home, not developing them himself as he is up to date?
Clearly the vets will never advocate putting the pup down before the full course is over just in case. So realistically, in a house with other dogs, how risky a practise is this (on more remote land rather than the popular walks behind our cottage)?

[topbannana]

Nobody? :)

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The timings vary depending on which brand of vaccine your vet uses so you need to talk about those with them. The risk from fully vaccinated other dogs in a household is very low and they will not contract the nasties to bring them home to the pup.
Out and about I would never put my own pup ( i'm a vet) down till it was fully protected particularly due to the recent rises in parvovirus cases. Not even in low dog areas as leptospirosis is in rats urine so there is risk area.

[idirdog]

The other side of the coin here. I do let my puppies out and about (in selected areas) before they are fully covered by the vaccines. I have a household of dogs so the puppies will always be at a slight risk.

Re Lepto the vaccine only lasts for 6 months in some dogs anyway so a large number of so called vaccinated dogs are still at risk.

I titre test my dogs and my vet and I have learnt a lot over the years from doing this.

Several of my dogs have only needed the first set of puppy jabs and have been fully covered for so far 7 years. Another two have needed the second set of jabs but no more.

It is a controversial topic and you need to study and way up all the risks of vaccinating and not vaccinating and make the choice that you can live with.

[topbannana]

Thanks, I would never NOT vaccinate, it's more a question of whether I adhere strictly to the recommended time frames.
TBH, DS is really excited about this little one (always had dogs, he has never been overly fussed about them till this one) so I think we will err on the side of caution- he would be devastated if anything happened to the pup.

[poachedeggs]

As vets we have a difficult line to tread - obviously vaccination is important to protect your puppy's physical health, but sheltering them from the world until the vaccination course is completed can be harmful for their social and emotional development. The critical period for socialisation is from 6 to 14 weeks, and most vaccines do not offer complete cover until 12 weeks.

My advice to owners varies depending on a number of factors, but I always recommend carrying puppies in arms to areas where they can experience vehicles, crowds, children etc. Avoid putting them down in highly frequented places, but try to introduce them to nice, vaccinated dogs in a safe environment such as an enclosed garden.There is always a risk but that has to be weighed up against the very real risk of behavioural challenges in later life if they are closeted away during this critical period.

[topbannana]

Thank you poached :)
I fully understand that my vet is NEVER going to come close to advocating putting the puppy down before the course is complete, just in case there is a problem.
My pups have always come everywhere with me, as you say tucked inside a jacket initially. In my lifetime I have never (touch wood!!) had a nervous dog that I have had from a pup, largely I think due to this fact, as well as learning from my existing dogs.
Fingers crossed :)

[Booboostoo]

Personally I take the risk after the first vaccination so that I can get as much socialisation done between picking up the pup at 8 weeks and 14 weeks. Like you suggest I carry the pup in areas where there might have been other dogs.

As far as I remember it's 2 weeks between vaccination and booster and then a further 2 weeks so that would bring you to 12 weeks in the house/garden which is not very good for socialisation purposes.