I was pretty shocked when I took my new puppy to the vet and they told me not to take her off the property until she is fully vaccinated.
By the time puppies are fully vaccinated their socialization window has closed and you've missed the easiest time in a dogs life to acclimate them to the world!
Ironically, this vet deals with a lot of behavioral cases. Including my own two dogs on behavioral meds. One of them is a classic under socialized dog, who is suspicious and fearful of new things.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists have a very clear position statement that you should NOT wait until a puppy is fully vaccinated. Source below.
Should you willy nilly go anywhere? Probably not! But there are lots of ways to minimize risks.
Should you take your puppy into the dog park? No.
Can you observe dogs at the dog park from your car? Yes!!
Can you go to a park and put some towels down and observe the world pass by? Yes!!
Socialization is often mistaken as interaction. Don't make that mistake. Taking your puppy places to observe safely from a distance is fantastic!
I also highly recommend this book if you're new or unfamiliar with socialization. "Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It" by Marge Rogers and Eileen Anderson
My puppy observing people at a dog friendly coffee shop https://postimg.cc/dh8vFzQW
Observing cars and people at a playground from the backseat https://postimg.cc/WD398kyM
AVSAB statememt: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...EQFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2XurNlfNBdo52xkVahO4P5)
By the time puppies are fully vaccinated their socialization window has closed and you've missed the easiest time in a dogs life to acclimate them to the world!
Ironically, this vet deals with a lot of behavioral cases. Including my own two dogs on behavioral meds. One of them is a classic under socialized dog, who is suspicious and fearful of new things.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists have a very clear position statement that you should NOT wait until a puppy is fully vaccinated. Source below.
Should you willy nilly go anywhere? Probably not! But there are lots of ways to minimize risks.
Should you take your puppy into the dog park? No.
Can you observe dogs at the dog park from your car? Yes!!
Can you go to a park and put some towels down and observe the world pass by? Yes!!
Socialization is often mistaken as interaction. Don't make that mistake. Taking your puppy places to observe safely from a distance is fantastic!
I also highly recommend this book if you're new or unfamiliar with socialization. "Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It" by Marge Rogers and Eileen Anderson
My puppy observing people at a dog friendly coffee shop https://postimg.cc/dh8vFzQW
Observing cars and people at a playground from the backseat https://postimg.cc/WD398kyM
AVSAB statememt: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...EQFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2XurNlfNBdo52xkVahO4P5)