Puppy can't go out for another month!

[Shia]

We were under the impression that yesterday when we had our second vaccination that we had to keep him off the ground for another week and then start going out properly.

WE ARE GOING out with him and holding him but he is increasingly frustrated that he can't get down out of our arms. HE IS A VERY WRIGGLY whippet!

Yesterday we were told he has one more vaccination in two weeks time when he will be 12 weeks old and then we must wait two whole weeks before he can go out!

We don't know anyone with a dog, so can't invite any round to socialise in our garden nor can we visit anyone.

Puppy classes won't have him until all vaccinations are complete and then two weeks after, so again we must wait a month.

When we take him out he is very friendly and loves everyone but as he is growing rapidly it's getting harder to hold on to him as he wants to get down when he sees another dog.

Any tips please?

I advise my puppy buyers to use common sense, tbh.

It's not the ground that's dangerous, it is the germs which could be picked up from unvaccinated dogs if you happen to come across them. In many areas of the country, the risk is slim, but it does depend on where you live!

Are you somewhere densely populated & urban or more rural?

I live in Swansea.

Planning to go to rural and populated areas. Beaches, parks, woods, you name it!

Iirc Swansea has a high Parvo risk - I wouldn't risk it, personally.

It's a very difficult situation. My boy wasn't allowed down until he was almost 17 weeks old - he's a sighthound, but much bigger than a Whippet. We carried him absolutely everywhere and he weighed a tonne by then, but of course he didn't get to mix with other dogs and it has taken a long time to catch up with his socialisation as a result. We started training classes as soon as he was able to go out and that was the best thing for getting him used to other dogs under controlled conditions. You can then make some playdates with other dogs/pups from the classes and continue the positive experiences in different locations, whilst taking him out as regularly as you can to make sure he meets lots and lots of dogs in all sorts of situations.

It's far from ideal, but having seen what parvo can do to young pups I just wouldn't risk it. Carrying them is a real pain in the rear, especially when they're a wriggler, but it's the next best thing to interaction with other dogs and at least they are getting to see and be around them.

We had this too and it is a pain, but we live in an urban area and at the time there were definite cases of parvo in the area so we could not risk it. As I understand it the rationale for the third vacc is that parvo vaccines before 12 weeks aren't reliable enough in giving protection. Your dog does not have to meet another dog with parvo to contract it. It can be picked up from contaminated faeces and can live in the environment for a long period.

Mine was also a horrendous wriggler and I was scratched to pieces during this period. I would recommend getting a cheap pet carrier to cart him around in and repeating to yourself over and over "this too shall pass".

I'm definitely not going to risk it. I love him as much as I do my human children.

I bought a dog bag to carry him in but it's been too hot and he doesn't like it.

His lets are so long! He's like Bambi!

I find the best way to carry him is the rear of his body on my right hip so that his back legs and tail hang down. He is then forward facing with the front half of his body higher than the back. My right hand then goes under him and up through his front legs so he is supported on my forearm.

The majority of people stop and make a fuss of him, he must have a world record for little old ladies kissing him!

I suppose I should be grateful that he isn't a large, heavy breed as I can't lift anything too heavy, being a whippet he isn't going to be too heavy!

Moosemama, we're starting classes as soon as he is allowed. One is a puppy class and one is an all ages class.

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findaclub/display.aspx?id=944

Probably at the end of carrying him about, I'll have one arm like Popeye's!

Stroller?

Spicy, that is exactly what I was just googling!

Actually I was looking at the suitcase type pull alongs and then came across this

www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=151&pf_id=8130

The picture of Meesha the cat is priceless!

Actually, I have a human pushchair in the garage that my daughter had for her reborn dolls, I might have a go at converting it!

This is Meesha. Beautiful cat but the look of utter contempt at being wheeled around says it all!

Sadly, you're going to have to keep carrying him - the risks are too high, which is why your vet is being cautious.

It won't be for long!

Oh gosh poor Meesha. I can't work out if she's thinking "that's right, push me around human slaves" or "I'm a pedigree, how very dare they humiliate me thus".

Sorry to butt in ... we live in a very rural area. There is a field behind our house where I haven't seen another dog for years. Presumably that should be fine for puppy to let off steam ... if not full of experiences for socialising?

Shia, I swear one of my arms is still longer than the other - even after all this time!

LaBelle I wouldn't risk it. Foxes and badgers can carry some of the nastier virus that affect dogs and a young, unvaccinated pup would be extremely vulnerable.

Oh ... didn't know that.

But it makes sense ...

Labelle I would do it. I believe it's a balancing of risk, and would, and have taken pups into similar situations for a run about and some training. I do it a few days after they've had their first jab and ensure there are no piles of poo and then work closely with the pup while I'm there.

It is an unbeatable opportunity to train recall!

OK ... need to think about this ... sure there are no badgers in the field, but have, very occasionally, seen a fox ... when I got my last dog, 13 years ago, there seemed no great list of 'dos and don'ts' ... we walked her from day 1, never a single day's illness and she is still very fit looking and recently beat dogs half her age in the village dog show ...

Back in the day there was none of this vaccination palaver.

In the 1970's a high percentage of dogs we're let out in the morning and came home for their tea later!

I am seriously toying with the idea of the stroller!

We have a big garden but he needs to be out and about and see people. Just not walk on the bloody ground!

LaBelle, best thing to do is to ask your vet as they will have a view on what diseases are currently around in your area.

I have 2 GSDs, as pups I would put them in my sons stroller. A friends gsd has also had pups a few weeks ago and she has just started doing the same with them.

Our vet was adamant that he should not go on the ground for another month.

I've just bought a pet stroller! I will update with photos.

I will start by pushing him around the garden to get him used to it!

Oh the embarrassment! Ha ha

Sadly in the 70s a lot of dog, particularly pups died from parvo - I remember it wiping out an entire litter of our neighbours pups, it was horrific. Unfortunately, it's on the rise again in many areas of the UK, I've seen so many rescue dogs and pups go through it recently.

Shia, you are an awesome owner! I think it's fantastic that you're willing to go as far as buying and pushing dog stroller to make sure your pup gets plenty of socialisation.

I'm also ordering oversized dark sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat and will pretend not to speak English if anyone ridicules me!

The pushchair bit can be taken off the wheels and used in the car, so it won't be a waste of money.

I expect a few photos will surreptitiously taken whilst we're out and about and posted on Twitter and Facebook under the title, 'Saw a mad woman pushing her dog around in a pram!'

If you are near a beach, a nice walk when the tide has JUST gone out is okay too, or so a vet told me about 20 years ago!

Shia, I'm from Swansea originally. I can vividly remember horrendous outbreaks of parvo when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s, with several neighbours losing pups and the town is still a hotspot for it - sadly because there are always a few numpties who don't vaccinate (rather like kid's vax, actually), so there's always a reservoir of the disease around. For pups, it's often fatal, and always horrendous.

Stay strong and please don't be tempted.

LOVE the idea of the dark glasses.

Thank you scuttlebutter.

I see that BonnieCaley's friend will be wheeling around her GSD puppy, so I don't feel as bad now!

Another idea will be to make the dog wear a bonnet or hat so I can pass him off as an ugly baby!