Keeping a new puppy safe from parvo before full vaccinations

[TheLivelyCat]

Picking up my new puppy soon. And was wondering how you keep them safe from parvo ect before fully vaccinated. Obviously I'm not going to let her on the ground for walks outside. But I was wondering if you take any extra measures like disinfecting shoes when you come back home .... my front room is straight off the street.

Do you wear your shoes inside? It can live on the soles of shoes -and so contaminate carpets-for months.

Some advice on the attached pics, once they load.

Could you put a small shoe rack by the door and ask everyone to take off their shoes as they come in?

Advice will depend on tte parvo risk in your area generally. I know some vets who are SUPER strict just to be ultra safe (ie puppy must not go in your garden either) but others are more circumspect.
It’s worth noting however, that under socialisation is a statistically significant risk to the development of your puppy. Far far more likely to cause issues than the risk of parvo (any outbreak in your area not withstanding) So any ‘keep them at home until they are fully vaccinated’ advice should not be taken too literally
So caution but not hyper vigilant is the way most professionals weigh their advice.After all, lots of us have multiple dogs. They walk in and out daily with no option to not tread dirt in!

I have bought a puppy sling to carry her in for the first couple of weeks, to allow her to socialise outside. I think I was more concerned about people bringing pravo into our home from the outside. Lots of people walk dogs right outside our front door. Probably overtaking it.

Took shoes off at the door and put them in a shoe cupboard in the hall but beyond that really didn't think about it! Every now and again Raptor Pup snaffled a stray shoe and gave it a good munch if we weren't careful and I didn't panic about it. He went out in our garden loads and we carried him in a sling for daily walks til fully vaxxed. Getting a puppy is stressful and takes a toll on your mental health so it's really important to not catastrophise and worry too much or make yourself hyper vigilant against every possible threat.

Is the mother vaccinated? Should have some maternal immunity from her for the first 6-8 weeks.
as others have said it’s good hygiene and be sensible. No socialising or outside except private gardens until fully vaccinated.

Remember the vast majority of those dogs walking past will be vaccinated. So try not to overthink it

Most modern research suggests that leaving a puppy with its mother / siblings until it is 12 weeks is beneficial, by which time it will be fully vaccinated. Your breeder will be able to advise.

@HappiestSleeping the horror that washed through me at the idea of having 11x 12 week old Golden Retriever puppies 😑Going to have nightmares about that tonight!

OP, I would be cautious but really not overthink it too much. I've never sanitised my shoes coming into the house...not would I think to! Just be sensible and follow normal guidlines.

It's amazing the difference it makes. Most people get their puppies at 8 weeks, so only a few of my customers have had them at 12, and the difference it makes is huge. It is only recently that I've seen it for myself.

Maybe more challenging from the breeder's perspective, but it seems that tha majority are adopting the science.

Depends on the breeder though. That’s an enormous amount of socialisation to do with an entire litter and many (BYB especially) just wouldn’t bother. Which would be a disaster.

A knowledgeable committed owner of one pup can put the hard graft in. I’d personally run a mile from a breeder who insisted on this for me …..but then I have other well socialised adult dogs to teach a puppy and know what I’m doing.

As I said, not all are adopting the science. And of course, it is emerging. Also, there will always be outliers and exceptions.

Absolutely. And I’m probably catastophising given my job. I see the problems more regularly than the success stories. My view will definitely be warped by that.

It is only recently that I have had any real world experience. The difference is huge. I have two running side by side at the moment. One picked up at 8 weeks, the other at 12 weeks. The difference is marked.

Interesting. In what ways are you seeing differences? And could it be personality/breed/age now if they aren’t identical number of weeks?
Sorry, lots of questions! But I’m always open to a new approach if it’s more than anecdotal

It's not simply challenging. It would be downright impossible for most breeders?

I absolutely would not be able to adequately socialise and train a litter of 11 puppies (which was the size of my last litter), and so those extra 4 weeks with me would be completely detrimental to the start of those dogs lives tbh.

I can't imagine a single breeder I know wanting to do that given the possible damage it could do to socialisation and early training...

Tbh it sounds more like new owners not knowing how to socialise their dog and train it and wanting the breeder to do the hard work for them. That's the only sort of person I can imagine not wanting their dog for those first four crucial weeks...

It isn't a question of the owner not wanting the puppy at the soonest time. Or what the breeder wants to be honest either. It is more that the emerging science is that the puppies are better adjusted and more balanced, so owners are selecting breeders who are prepared to do this.

Two of my owners had to search, so you are not alone in being unwilling. Ultimately, the market will decide. I will be interested to see further research, however it often takes a while before science is adopted. Look at how many people feed raw, and still think dogs are descended from wolves. It takes time.