Puppy Training Outside

[Dame Aussie]

We're about to start puppy training with an obedience club but I'm just a bit concerned as our pup has only had 2 shots so far.

If it was indoor I wouldn't mind so much but it's held outside in a public place.

They use the same place each weekend but I've been very careful so far not to let my girl walk on any surfaces which may have been frequented by unknown dogs.

She is almost 14 weeks and had a C4 at 7.5 weeks (done by the breeder) and a C3 at 11 weeks.

In everyone's experience is it safe to take her?

Obviously all the other dogs will have had to be vaccinated at least once but I'm worried about unknown dogs walked through the area.

I'm a bit paranoid about Parvo etc as I work at a shelter and know how easy it is for them to catch but I also know how many dogs are PTS due to no socialisation and bad behaviour...bit of a catch 22 I guess

Any advice would be great

Cheers

[LoremIpsum]

Hmm. I hope you weren't looking for reassurance, because I would also worry about that.

Perhaps you could look for another school? Are there others in your area? Martha's puppy school (at the vet's) was inside on a tiled floor with a mop and bucket handy! The pups only socialised with each other. The puppy trainer was adamant that she wouldn't train outside, for a myriad of reasons. It's distracting, the pups haven't learned recall yet, older dogs may have pooed on the ground and so on.

I reckon you should see if you have any other options. You can always go back to obedience after puppy school.

[Guest Tess32]

Many people are now are only giving two shots anyway. If you're extra worried, you could titer test her to make sure her vaccination worked and she is now covered.

[TerraNik]

I would ask your vet if you are worried about that sort of thing.

My pup only got 2 shots and was out doing obedience training at 11 weeks. He got C5 done at 10 weeks.

[LittleRock]

Now l took my puppy out quite early and he had only had the first 2 injections. I even showed him. As another people have said some people will be against this but others wont. The breeder l got him from said that these days after the first 2 injections provide enough coveage, the 3rd is not always necessary but the vets do push it. I took my pup to show training (indoors) with other dogs, adults included. Also to the beach and everything for us turned out ok. But l suppose it easily could have been the opposite. Good luck as its a difficult choice to make between socialising and finding a safe environment.

[poochmad]

Talk to your vet about when it's safe to venture outside. Obedience clubs shouldn't allow you to come to class until your pup is ready.

Personally, I wouldn't be taking your pup anywhere (outside your house/yard) until completely safe. Parvo is rife here in Goulburn and Henshcke has never put his foot on the ground.

What's another couple of weeks (or days) until your pup is ready and you're feeling comfortable? It would be just awful if you decided to take her out and she got ill.

Just my thought.

[Cosmolo]

poochmad- "whats another couple of weeks"- the end of a dogs critical period for socialisation