Socialisation vs vaccination

[Halliabaloo]

How do you juggle this? From what I’m reading it seems to be that puppies have a window where they are most receptive to new experiences at 8-13 weeks, but should be kept away from other dogs until after the second vaccination.
How have people juggled this?

Socialisation involves a lot more than just meeting other dogs.

Your puppy should be given as many experiences as possible during the socialisation period.

Puppy can be carried or put in a dog pushchair and taken out to see lots of different places and people and to hear as many different noises as possible.

Carry your puppy to a busy street and sit on a bench to watch the traffic to get him/her used to the sound of heavy traffic.

Go into shops that allow dogs, Pets at home is very good for this as people will want to stop and stroke a puppy, to get him/her use to seeing other people and other animals even if he can't interact with the animals.

Visit your vet if they allow it at the moment, just to get used to the sound and smell of the place and just get a treat without anything unpleasant happening.

Do as many different things as you can so puppy get used to all the sights, sounds and other things he/she is likely to encounter in the future.

Hundreds of ways to socialise before vaccinations are complete

Think of smells, sights, surfaces, sound.

Carry your puppy to different areas, country areas, towns, petrol stations, outside pubs and cafes, sit at the side of the road and people watch. Try to see young people, older people, people with hats on, people with crutches, people with prams, people in wheelchairs, people wearing crash helmets and all nationalities

Let your puppy see different animals so visit pet stores to see small animals try and go to see sheep, cows and horses.

A trip to the sea again carry the puppy or keep in the car to see the surrondings.

Take your dog to a supermarket car park and either sit in the car with the boot open (on lead obviously) and watch the trollies, people, children, disabled people and different smells

Surfaces at home,encourage your puppy to walk on wet grass, to paddle in a safe paddling pool, to walk on wood, to walk on surfaces that may wobble, to walk on things slightly off the ground to walk on metal surfaces, to walk through a ball pit, to walk on hard pitted surface, to walk on sand.

Smells encourage as many smells as possible from town smells, fish&chip shops, petrol and diesel (at a distance obviously) barbecues, smoke, perfume, flower smells, animal smells paint smells. Smell o all vehicles inside and out.

Consider the season so if you have a puppy now hopefully they will not see a lot of umbrellas so set this up. Get your puppy used to be touched with a towel for when it does rain. Wear hats, wear boots that make a noise, wear shoes that squeak. Take your puppy out in the dark maybe see the car lights in the dark.

Noises, bangs, machinery, diy machinery firework noises, animal noises, loud lorries and dust carts, tractors etc.

Think about what you do want your dog to do when they see dogs.Personally I want them to look at me and ask me if they can go and speak to a dog. Start this training when they are being carried, let them look at a dog and give them a treat each time.

Remember socialisation is not about making them experience everything it is about how they feel so constantly check out for stress signals. ears back, lip licking, yawning whale eyes. If you see any of these then move back from the trigger.

Enjoy your new puppy

You tube has some good dog desensitising noise videos for things like fireworks, traffic, thunder storms, roadworks etc so I sometimes just put them on for my puppy to get used to noises.

You can carry pup to a duck pond/lake to see ducks and geese. Like others have said it's just getting them used to different environments while they are young and not anxious.

'Polly Roulson' this is so helpful thank you. We've just got a spaniel x so smells are super interesting for her!
Thanks!

Another thing you can do is visit a puppy-friendly, fully-vaccinated dog in its own garden. Just be cautious to begin with as some dogs are great with other dogs out and about, but more protective on their own turf.