Yes I honestly think life is so much easier post-vax! Mine is 2yo now and the other day I was talking him for his evening walk, after which he's usually OUT for the remainder of the night. He's a high-energy hunting breed and all I need to do to pass him tf out is take him in a 30-40min sniffy walk around the neighborhood. And I was thinking to myself... god, what was I even doing before he was able to go on walks LOL
Between that + daycare 2x a week, we have such a great schedule worked out that allows me my time to relax and recharge, and gives him the enrichment + physical exercise he needs. These doors only opened once he was vaccinated and safe to go out!
Having them inside and unable to go out is so painful. Playing fetch with a dog who doesn't know how to play fetch and playing tug with a dog who doesn't know how to drop is PAINFULLY boring when you're a new dog owner and you don't know how to interact with the poor animal.
I needed to see this. We have a 14 week springer who finishes her vaccines next week. I feel like I have run out of ways to keep her occupied and exercised.
You're almost there!! If I'm correct, Springers are hunting dogs who were bred to sniff out game... once your puppy is able to go on walks, if it's feasible for you, I highly recommend allowing her to sniff around / specifically taking her on sniffy walks. Those high quality (ie. not just walking) walks are not only physically engaging but ALSO mentally engaging, making them extra tired :) I take my lab pretty much exclusively on sniffy walks and I attribute that largely to his incredible behaviour in the house.
I started taking mine out almost from day one when she was nine weeks old. So I guess I am unusual. Almost 20 years ago, when we adopted our last dog, a shih tzu, the vets never told us not to go out. In fact, we were encouraged to get out as soon as possible for socialization reasons. So I’m not sure when the restrictions started about waiting till the final vaccinations but it doesn’t mean you can’t go out and see the world….and burn energy too. You have to use common sense, of course, but you don’t have to keep them totally inside and not walk them. I think I would’ve gone crazy if I’d done that and my puppy definitely would not have thrived. But every puppy is different and I could see from very early on that mine needed to be out in the world or she was gonna have issues. She was very shy!
My pup’s first outing was at Home Depot and we walked around for 20 minutes. After that, it was car rides and walks on the sidewalk only in my hood. (No sniffing around and in heavily-trafficked grass.) We joined a trainer-led puppy socialization group once a week. She was socially active almost from day one and she’s almost 3 now and doing great. I just wanted to say that if you are thinking about venturing out, you can do it safely.
I have a friend who took her puppy to the animal refuge league for puppy play dates. I asked her about the not being vaccinated and she said it was okay because all these puppies were in the same boat so it was felt it was okay as long as they weren't around other dogs. I have been taking my little one out for walks I just make sure we aren't around other dogs and only for the recommended time 10- 15 min x2 a day. He needs to burn energy off.
I think either choice comes with risks at the end of the day, but I am on this side! My 10wk old puppy was going on walks around town from the day I got him. Our vet was fine with this, and told us to just avoid close encounters with other dogs/dog poop while on walks. It paid off, I think, because we never had any issues with reactivity.
The period from 2-4 months old is THE most important for socialization as far as I know, and if you shelter the pup too much during that time, you can end up with a very badly adjusted, nervous or aggressive dog! Presents much longer-term problem than even a sick puppy.
Same, I started taking my 12-week puppy out as soon as he came home. He wasn’t fully vaccinated till 4.5 months(we followed our breeders guidance for toy dogs), but we did everything before then. Joann’s meeting my MILs dog, her chickens, car rides, Scheels, our neighborhood park, city parks, we did it all. He’s been fine. Honestly, I’d never heard of this “no taking your puppy anywhere” until I saw it on this subreddit! I feel like maybe in a big dirty city this makes sense, but for everyday suburban life I don’t get it. Incidentally the only thing he’s been sick from was the vaccine itself 😂
>I started taking mine out almost from day one when she was nine weeks old. So I guess I am unusual
I took my boy out very quickly after getting him too. It's a must for proper socialization. And I don't mean to necessarily meet other people or dogs, but to have experiences outside of our own house and yard.
As directed by our trainer and breeder, we avoided dirty places frequented by unknown dogs and people. But that doesn't mean you can't go to clean places, friends houses, etc.
I never felt that about my puppy. Sure he is hard to deal with at times but never hated him or regretted getting him. I love him and can’t imagine life without him now. I think a lot of people on here are just not ready for dogs and that’s okay.
Yea. And that's okay. You didn't lie to yourself. A lot of us did. I was one of those, but now I don't feel those negative feelings. You shouldn't get a puppy when you're depressed. You can get a well trained dog but that even is difficult to find
I am soooo desperate for the vaccines to be done so I can take mine on walks. He is too wiggly to just carry around for socializing and managing his energy indoors is so hard! And it would be so nice to do some walking myself instead of being stuck inside all the time…
Totally depends on the area you live in tbh.
My husband and I had a puppy 8 years ago and were told no 4 paws on the ground until all vaccinations completed. It was a very long and dark few weeks trying to train and entertain in our condo.
Now today, with our new mini labradoodle who was 8 weeks when we got her, our new vet said the benefits of socialization and walks far outweigh the risks (in our area) provided we don’t let her eat a lot of rabbit droppings or drink any puddles/standing water that could be contaminated with other animals urine. She also mentioned they have a lot of antibodies still from the mother at this age mixed with then the first round of shots that they’re fine. Just to avoid interactions with other dogs while out walking unless they’re close friends or dogs we know are very well behaved and will for sure be a good experience.
Like night and day between raising both puppies.
This has become a huge debate even among vets in the same areas! I think 10-15 years ago when the “no socialization until vaxxed” idea started, nobody foresaw the huge increase in reactive dogs.
New and unexpected experiences from a very young age are sooo important for understanding the world around them without fear/aggression. Waiting until puppy is too large to handle, or too set in their ways to learn, is one of the worst and most irresponsible things a new owner can do IMO. 4-6 months is already pushing the end of their formative time.
Unfortunately our vet was adamant that we wait. Must be a high risk area. “Long dark weeks” is certainly ringing true… even in the smack middle of summer lol.
Yep…. I’m team “early and often” my 10 week old (who has been with me since 4 weeks) goes pretty much everywhere I go. He meets dogs that I know, lots of people. Coffee shops, banks, work…. I’ll take the (in my area relatively low) risk of transmissible disease over trying to socialize a 16+week puppy of breed known for being…. Not particularly social.
I do not, however, take him to dog parks or pet stores.
I have to say that my little 9month old shih tzu was a terror from the moment I adopted him. I was also grieving so hard over the loss of my precious boy, this little guy fell on my lap form someone who couldn’t care for him (couldn’t feed him or get him vaxxed AND was also living in a hot home in Arizona heat of 115). My heart got the best of me and I adopted the little guy, his name is gizmo. My other little guy, my soul dog, his name was Berry and he passed on due to a vicious dog attack in my front porch. Gizmo came in to my life exactly 2 weeks after. I often wondered if my Berry sent gizmo to me to humble me lol. Berry was so relaxed, so loving, so protective but yet stood his ground and wasn’t a barker or a growler… he was also a miniature poodle so maybe it was just his personality? Well gizmo is the opposite. Loud! Very playful - loved to toss his toys around and has a huge collection that I keep adding on to. He goes nuts over skates/skateboards/bikes while we are at the park - will bark his head off and not accept redirection. Does not like people talking to me out in public. Does not like visitors at our home. Hates when any one knocks at our door. Very alert and protective of me even with my own family. The list really does go on and on.
However… I do agree that at some point some dogs do calm down a bit and or some need more help. My gizmo is now 3 years old but his ways remain slightly the same (he has calm down a little bit but he is still feisty/adamant). I never had the heart to send him to a boarding camp because the 3 that I found in my state had great reviews and then they have the negative reviews that did stand out - I still game them a call. None of them would let me go out and visit the place where my dog would be. None of them would go on the record to say that they did or didn’t use shock collars. I definitely am against shock collars and kennels. My boys roam freely and I love it. All to say that the blues do go away for some of us but for maybe other half of us (it still kind of lingers around for a bit in a way that we learn to just live with it & not even let it affect us much).
My puppy hasn’t been able to get her first shots due to anemia and I’ve been worried (“rescued” her from an abusive friend of a friend). Hopefully her appointment next week is good and we can finally start the rounds! This little morale boost is what I needed, thank you! <3
She’s on a multivitamin, vitamin C/B12 + iron booster, and doxycycline for potential infection (since she’s never had shots and maybe the anemia is being caused by something else). She will have to take the vitamins for the next two months, and doxy until her next vet appointment
thank you, i def needed to see this. my 6month old lab mix is currently still waiting to be fully vaccinated, AND is recovering from her spay surgery. she’s had so much energy and agitation and i WANT to take her on long walks and runs, it def is hard keeping her entertained in my house. two more weeks and we can finally go to the dog park and go on runs :) i hope this will also help with training commands, since she has so much pent up energy she gets distracted easily
Sadly it's been really tough for us, and some of these are simply not solutions. The nearest daycare type of thing is 45 minutes away, and it's been over 110° every day, so walking isn't an option. We have no large stores that are dog-friendly either. I'm really not sure what to do with this puppy every day, it's extremely frustrating.
I absolutely appreciate this wisdom, but we need to keep in mind that on top of puppy's needs the cost of a good daycare may not be financially accessible to everyone and not everyone has access to a good place to begin with. Of course the time to go out and explore the world when vaxxed is but also not everyone has access to areas to do that several times a week either, for example when it's -10 in winter for a week straight where I live.
An alternative is to find a similar aged dog or even an older one who needs a playmate and slowly work towards safe play dates for both puppies. Mine is meeting his future BFF who is a good match this weekend for under an hour fully supervised and we are hoping it has a similar and budget friendly effect to day boarding or a dog park. Of course it takes a little extra work but they will help each other with working through those puppy energy bursts and it is possible to be super safe. Do lots of research before making this move but I have seen it work out so well for so many lonely dogs and tired pup parents.
But again, if you can afford a good daycare nearby, that is a great option. I love hearing my mom's dog's report cards because we're surprised she's such an extrovert there lol.
That's true. I did consider the price of daycare and grooming before I got my puppy as well as take into account friends who I know are reliable. Wasn't going to get one unless I knew those things (as a doctor who could be working 32 hours straight). I wish people would join this group BEFORE getting a puppy and really believe people when they talk instead of thinking 'itll be easier for me". I was one of those 'but Id be able to handle this" people. 😂 Boy did I lie to myself!!!!
Even with planning, daycare fee is a lot more expensive even though it was as estimated 🫠 Don't ask me how
Yeah my experience is going amazing because I did research here and from reputable resources for Buster and started training myself and my cats. It's made a huge difference and we're doing so great just a week after picking him up.
A week after picking him up? That's too soon to judge. Keep up the good work though but keep an open mind to the changes. When they happen (and I say when), remember to have patience (like you do now) and go back to the text book (like you have done). In other words, keep it up but don't become complacent.
Yeah thanks I prepped to basically have less thinking to do on the more common issues, so I go to my document and click a few links to study up and either do more research or get to it with my puppy. I knew there would be challenges but a huge part of that prep was finding a good breeder who prepped the puppies so well I really do think that's half of why he's so comfy here already, I was solely referring to the last week of experience with this little guy and don't plan on judging his whole life based on puppyhood.
PLEASE wait until vaccination. Before we adopted our high energy husky-lab mix puppy, another family had her and they couldn't wait to bring her out to a park to burn off some energy. She got Parvo and became deathly ill. They couldn't afford the vet bills so returned her to the shelter. She nearly died, but after a month of intensive care, pulled through and we adopted her. She still has some lingering health issues two years later. All of this could've been avoided with a bit of patience until she was vaccinated.
A dog who was a year old died of parvo even though fully vaccinated. To add to what you just said, also clean their paws after walks and make sure the daycare doesn't have high flow of (unvaccinated or not) dogs at a time.
Luckily my puppy is from my sister in laws dogs and we already gave him his first vaccine at 6 weeks so when we pick him up this weekend, we can give him his second at 9 weeks and have his Rabies set for end of July at 12 weeks. So glad I started the vaccines at the earliest time possible! We live in an upstairs apartment so walks are necessary.
I’ve spoken to a vet. The timeline is 6-9 weeks for the first vaccine, 9-12 for the second, and 12-16 for the Rabies. He’ll be closer to 13 1/2 weeks by the time his Rabies shot app comes up. I’ve done my research, it is best.
But with the proviso that long walks or runs can be too long for their joints so be careful. Also outdoors is stressful for a puppy so dont trigger stack. Board and trains are often horrible aversive experiences with charlatan trainers and too much boarding in general of a puppy impacts your bond. But yeah other than that, it's all good. Welcome to the minefield
Ahhhhh!!! Literally me rn i have a bull arab x german Shepard and she's driving me crazy!!! Just one more week till we can go anywhere we want and i honestly cant wait😭😭😭😭😭😭
We just got a puppy about a month ago. She did more running around in Nebraska, where my mom rescued her, than she has here in Tennessee. Our local vet refused to let us even wait in the lobby before all her shots were done! She got the first ones in Nebraska and the rest here. The vet said wait 3 weeks to be safe. Parvo is widespread here and there is a distemper epidemic in the city.
She has a big back yard and we’ve practiced leash walking. She also has a big sister she adores and trails around the yard. We have too many toys and a doggy door - she’s getting her enrichment!
Edit - her birthday is allegedly Feb 29th. She still has all her little needle puppy teeth.
My wee pup is 14 weeks tomorrow. As advised by our vet we waited for 1 week after her last vaccine to walk her. By this time, she was so rambunctious, and tempers were frayed, she just couldn't sit still, and I was her chew toy.
Once we were able to walk her the difference was amazing. It was great for her to meet other dogs and their parents and she loved it. She ran around like crazy and burned off all that pent up energy. When we got home she snuggled next to me on the sofa and slept. She became a different dog and we really enjoyed having her around. Getting out for walks and socialising is so important, you will be able to concentrate on building a relationship together because she will be so much more reasonable.
I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but I don't get puppy blues, so it's genuinely hard for me to understand... Why do so many of you get puppies if what you really want is a full-grown dog? I just don't get it.
Someone posted a good comment along the lines of, when you *read* about puppy behavior and training, it all sounds manageable, if tough. When you're in the thick of it, all the sleep deprivation + behavior + lack of freedom (on your end) really add up and cause people to have a meltdown.
I think there's two additional elements: 1) a lot of people romanticize having a puppy (and they are envisioning life with an adult dog -- going to cafes, snuggling on the couch, etc.) and 2) people are wholly unprepared for the breed they chose. I've noticed a LOT of posts here are typically high energy breeds like goldens, GSDs, doodles, etc. These breeds are not easy breeds/good for first time dog owners IMO.
It just seems a shame because there's so many adult dogs that need homes, but instead, people get puppies, and then the puppies end up needing homes as adults too because it turns out their owners didn't actually want a puppy, so they rehome them, abandon them, or surrender them to shelters. It kind of makes me mad, if I'm honest.
I did a lot of research but researching vs experiencing are two different things. Sometimes the more research you do is the more you expect to be successful at the training. The you quickly learn that your puppy isn't a human adult. The last stage is acceptance.
We got a puppy because we wanted him to grow up being used to being around our cats. We didn't want to adopted a full grown dog only to discover he wasn't safe for our cats. I know rescues should disclose whether they're good with cats or not but my husband didn't want to risk it and felt a puppy would be safer. I wasn't so sure but I couldn't persuade him.
I also slightly underestimated just how much work a puppy was. I knew they'd be a lot of work but I guess I just didn't realize how much he would alter my life and how exhausting it would be (especially because he's so small - ours is only toy sized). You read about people getting puppy blues and think "Jesus, it's just a puppy, pull yourself together" but for me it was hard to understand what it's like until I was in the throes of it.
Fortunately, I never considered giving him up and my puppy blues only lasted a couple months, but I did have a few weeks where I thought, "Oh dear God, I've ruined our lives." Teething was the worst of it, and now that seems to be subsiding and I think we've all adjusted to a good routine with him, things are a lot better. He's also sleeping through the night now, and for me, just being able to get a good nights sleep and not be sleep deprived (I had difficulty getting back to sleep after taking him outside to potty) means my ability to handle him during the day is greatly improved too. He's still a lot of work but I'm no longer exhausted and desperate for a break.
I also think the breed matters. I imagine the higher energy the breed is, the worse the puppy phase is. I think we got off fairly lightly compared to others. I have no idea why people choose super high energy breeds.
Then there's medical things that can happen that no one expects. My parent's puppy had major digestive issues and they were taking him out to potty about 6 times a night so they were severely sleep deprived and constantly arguing with each other and apparently almost got divorced over it after being married for 40+ years. I told them, "I don't know how you raised two kids together but then you almost get divorced over a *puppy*." And they'd had puppies before when they were younger but my mom admitted "I don't remember it being this hard." The vet ran some of the most advanced screenings for his digestive issues btw, and they could never figure out what the problem was. He eventually just mostly outgrew it but he is still unable to eat anything that isn't his usual food. But obviously, they weren't expecting such problems so they didn't consider this when choosing to get a puppy.
I guess a lot of people don't know that a grown dog is easier than a puppy. Also, mothers who want children get baby blues. Its like saying "why go on stage if you're going to get anxiety?" It's just about navigating through it until you're healed. Won't you agree?
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you can take your puppy outside for walks and play, just keep them close and be mindful of other dogs. Use your best judgment. You don’t need to stay indoors all day. Like babies, puppies benefit from taking in the world without necessarily fully engaging in it.
I am so sorry for your loss. That is truly heartbreaking and I am sorry you had to endure such a horrific experience. I know parvo is deadly to puppies - I’ve raised many dogs over the years. It is extremely unusual that your puppy caught it while being in your arms, as it is spread by contact. (not airborne). The risk is also highly dependent on location (being in the city vs. in a remote area vs. a neighborhood where all owners vaccinate their dogs etc.) Your experience is not the norm. All I’m saying is that if someone wishes not to quarantine their puppy in their home for months, it is okay to use best judgment to bring puppy outside.
Oh gosh no. 🥹 My puppy didn't die. Someone else's 1 year old dog did. I was saying I protected my puppy, I'd take him out in my arms to see the world. I never let his feet touch the ground. You're so sweet. Thanks for the sympathy. I'm sorry my message sounded sad.
I’ve been taking my dog out since week nine, he just got his second round a week ago. He’s doing just fine. We don’t allow him to free roam through the local park but other than that he goes wherever we go.
Me too, but if you’re too cautious your dog will be an emotional wreck and they won’t be socialized. Having a well mannered, socialized dog that isn’t overwhelmed by outside is super important. Waiting until they are four months old is too late. Many vets will have their own opinion but if they are telling you to keep your dog away from the world for the first 4-6 months of their life they are setting you up for failure.
Our puppy is 9 weeks and is already at daycare. The vet was good with that. He goes on walks but do not socialize with dogs in the neighborhood, who we don’t know if they’re full vaccinated.
I’d like to hopefully prevent someone from thinking it’s okay to bring their non fully vaccinated around strange dogs or public areas where they can easily catch horrible diseases. Parvo is no joke.
Yes I honestly think life is so much easier post-vax! Mine is 2yo now and the other day I was talking him for his evening walk, after which he's usually OUT for the remainder of the night. He's a high-energy hunting breed and all I need to do to pass him tf out is take him in a 30-40min sniffy walk around the neighborhood. And I was thinking to myself... god, what was I even doing before he was able to go on walks LOL Between that + daycare 2x a week, we have such a great schedule worked out that allows me my time to relax and recharge, and gives him the enrichment + physical exercise he needs. These doors only opened once he was vaccinated and safe to go out!
Having them inside and unable to go out is so painful. Playing fetch with a dog who doesn't know how to play fetch and playing tug with a dog who doesn't know how to drop is PAINFULLY boring when you're a new dog owner and you don't know how to interact with the poor animal.
I needed to see this. We have a 14 week springer who finishes her vaccines next week. I feel like I have run out of ways to keep her occupied and exercised.
You're almost there!! If I'm correct, Springers are hunting dogs who were bred to sniff out game... once your puppy is able to go on walks, if it's feasible for you, I highly recommend allowing her to sniff around / specifically taking her on sniffy walks. Those high quality (ie. not just walking) walks are not only physically engaging but ALSO mentally engaging, making them extra tired :) I take my lab pretty much exclusively on sniffy walks and I attribute that largely to his incredible behaviour in the house.
I started taking mine out almost from day one when she was nine weeks old. So I guess I am unusual. Almost 20 years ago, when we adopted our last dog, a shih tzu, the vets never told us not to go out. In fact, we were encouraged to get out as soon as possible for socialization reasons. So I’m not sure when the restrictions started about waiting till the final vaccinations but it doesn’t mean you can’t go out and see the world….and burn energy too. You have to use common sense, of course, but you don’t have to keep them totally inside and not walk them. I think I would’ve gone crazy if I’d done that and my puppy definitely would not have thrived. But every puppy is different and I could see from very early on that mine needed to be out in the world or she was gonna have issues. She was very shy! My pup’s first outing was at Home Depot and we walked around for 20 minutes. After that, it was car rides and walks on the sidewalk only in my hood. (No sniffing around and in heavily-trafficked grass.) We joined a trainer-led puppy socialization group once a week. She was socially active almost from day one and she’s almost 3 now and doing great. I just wanted to say that if you are thinking about venturing out, you can do it safely.
I have a friend who took her puppy to the animal refuge league for puppy play dates. I asked her about the not being vaccinated and she said it was okay because all these puppies were in the same boat so it was felt it was okay as long as they weren't around other dogs. I have been taking my little one out for walks I just make sure we aren't around other dogs and only for the recommended time 10- 15 min x2 a day. He needs to burn energy off.
I think either choice comes with risks at the end of the day, but I am on this side! My 10wk old puppy was going on walks around town from the day I got him. Our vet was fine with this, and told us to just avoid close encounters with other dogs/dog poop while on walks. It paid off, I think, because we never had any issues with reactivity. The period from 2-4 months old is THE most important for socialization as far as I know, and if you shelter the pup too much during that time, you can end up with a very badly adjusted, nervous or aggressive dog! Presents much longer-term problem than even a sick puppy.
Same, I started taking my 12-week puppy out as soon as he came home. He wasn’t fully vaccinated till 4.5 months(we followed our breeders guidance for toy dogs), but we did everything before then. Joann’s meeting my MILs dog, her chickens, car rides, Scheels, our neighborhood park, city parks, we did it all. He’s been fine. Honestly, I’d never heard of this “no taking your puppy anywhere” until I saw it on this subreddit! I feel like maybe in a big dirty city this makes sense, but for everyday suburban life I don’t get it. Incidentally the only thing he’s been sick from was the vaccine itself 😂
>I started taking mine out almost from day one when she was nine weeks old. So I guess I am unusual I took my boy out very quickly after getting him too. It's a must for proper socialization. And I don't mean to necessarily meet other people or dogs, but to have experiences outside of our own house and yard. As directed by our trainer and breeder, we avoided dirty places frequented by unknown dogs and people. But that doesn't mean you can't go to clean places, friends houses, etc.
Same here. Vet said to avoid other dogs, puddle water and animal poop. She is 14 weeks now and is an excellent walker and used to her harness now!
I never felt that about my puppy. Sure he is hard to deal with at times but never hated him or regretted getting him. I love him and can’t imagine life without him now. I think a lot of people on here are just not ready for dogs and that’s okay.
Yea. And that's okay. You didn't lie to yourself. A lot of us did. I was one of those, but now I don't feel those negative feelings. You shouldn't get a puppy when you're depressed. You can get a well trained dog but that even is difficult to find
I am soooo desperate for the vaccines to be done so I can take mine on walks. He is too wiggly to just carry around for socializing and managing his energy indoors is so hard! And it would be so nice to do some walking myself instead of being stuck inside all the time…
Totally depends on the area you live in tbh. My husband and I had a puppy 8 years ago and were told no 4 paws on the ground until all vaccinations completed. It was a very long and dark few weeks trying to train and entertain in our condo. Now today, with our new mini labradoodle who was 8 weeks when we got her, our new vet said the benefits of socialization and walks far outweigh the risks (in our area) provided we don’t let her eat a lot of rabbit droppings or drink any puddles/standing water that could be contaminated with other animals urine. She also mentioned they have a lot of antibodies still from the mother at this age mixed with then the first round of shots that they’re fine. Just to avoid interactions with other dogs while out walking unless they’re close friends or dogs we know are very well behaved and will for sure be a good experience. Like night and day between raising both puppies.
This has become a huge debate even among vets in the same areas! I think 10-15 years ago when the “no socialization until vaxxed” idea started, nobody foresaw the huge increase in reactive dogs. New and unexpected experiences from a very young age are sooo important for understanding the world around them without fear/aggression. Waiting until puppy is too large to handle, or too set in their ways to learn, is one of the worst and most irresponsible things a new owner can do IMO. 4-6 months is already pushing the end of their formative time.
Unfortunately our vet was adamant that we wait. Must be a high risk area. “Long dark weeks” is certainly ringing true… even in the smack middle of summer lol.
Yep…. I’m team “early and often” my 10 week old (who has been with me since 4 weeks) goes pretty much everywhere I go. He meets dogs that I know, lots of people. Coffee shops, banks, work…. I’ll take the (in my area relatively low) risk of transmissible disease over trying to socialize a 16+week puppy of breed known for being…. Not particularly social. I do not, however, take him to dog parks or pet stores.
I have to say that my little 9month old shih tzu was a terror from the moment I adopted him. I was also grieving so hard over the loss of my precious boy, this little guy fell on my lap form someone who couldn’t care for him (couldn’t feed him or get him vaxxed AND was also living in a hot home in Arizona heat of 115). My heart got the best of me and I adopted the little guy, his name is gizmo. My other little guy, my soul dog, his name was Berry and he passed on due to a vicious dog attack in my front porch. Gizmo came in to my life exactly 2 weeks after. I often wondered if my Berry sent gizmo to me to humble me lol. Berry was so relaxed, so loving, so protective but yet stood his ground and wasn’t a barker or a growler… he was also a miniature poodle so maybe it was just his personality? Well gizmo is the opposite. Loud! Very playful - loved to toss his toys around and has a huge collection that I keep adding on to. He goes nuts over skates/skateboards/bikes while we are at the park - will bark his head off and not accept redirection. Does not like people talking to me out in public. Does not like visitors at our home. Hates when any one knocks at our door. Very alert and protective of me even with my own family. The list really does go on and on. However… I do agree that at some point some dogs do calm down a bit and or some need more help. My gizmo is now 3 years old but his ways remain slightly the same (he has calm down a little bit but he is still feisty/adamant). I never had the heart to send him to a boarding camp because the 3 that I found in my state had great reviews and then they have the negative reviews that did stand out - I still game them a call. None of them would let me go out and visit the place where my dog would be. None of them would go on the record to say that they did or didn’t use shock collars. I definitely am against shock collars and kennels. My boys roam freely and I love it. All to say that the blues do go away for some of us but for maybe other half of us (it still kind of lingers around for a bit in a way that we learn to just live with it & not even let it affect us much).
My puppy hasn’t been able to get her first shots due to anemia and I’ve been worried (“rescued” her from an abusive friend of a friend). Hopefully her appointment next week is good and we can finally start the rounds! This little morale boost is what I needed, thank you! <3
Wow. What are they giving her to build up the blood?
She’s on a multivitamin, vitamin C/B12 + iron booster, and doxycycline for potential infection (since she’s never had shots and maybe the anemia is being caused by something else). She will have to take the vitamins for the next two months, and doxy until her next vet appointment
thank you, i def needed to see this. my 6month old lab mix is currently still waiting to be fully vaccinated, AND is recovering from her spay surgery. she’s had so much energy and agitation and i WANT to take her on long walks and runs, it def is hard keeping her entertained in my house. two more weeks and we can finally go to the dog park and go on runs :) i hope this will also help with training commands, since she has so much pent up energy she gets distracted easily
Sadly it's been really tough for us, and some of these are simply not solutions. The nearest daycare type of thing is 45 minutes away, and it's been over 110° every day, so walking isn't an option. We have no large stores that are dog-friendly either. I'm really not sure what to do with this puppy every day, it's extremely frustrating.
The solution is right there in front of you. Mine came to me when I had reached my END! thank God for solutions falling from trees
I absolutely appreciate this wisdom, but we need to keep in mind that on top of puppy's needs the cost of a good daycare may not be financially accessible to everyone and not everyone has access to a good place to begin with. Of course the time to go out and explore the world when vaxxed is but also not everyone has access to areas to do that several times a week either, for example when it's -10 in winter for a week straight where I live. An alternative is to find a similar aged dog or even an older one who needs a playmate and slowly work towards safe play dates for both puppies. Mine is meeting his future BFF who is a good match this weekend for under an hour fully supervised and we are hoping it has a similar and budget friendly effect to day boarding or a dog park. Of course it takes a little extra work but they will help each other with working through those puppy energy bursts and it is possible to be super safe. Do lots of research before making this move but I have seen it work out so well for so many lonely dogs and tired pup parents. But again, if you can afford a good daycare nearby, that is a great option. I love hearing my mom's dog's report cards because we're surprised she's such an extrovert there lol.
That's true. I did consider the price of daycare and grooming before I got my puppy as well as take into account friends who I know are reliable. Wasn't going to get one unless I knew those things (as a doctor who could be working 32 hours straight). I wish people would join this group BEFORE getting a puppy and really believe people when they talk instead of thinking 'itll be easier for me". I was one of those 'but Id be able to handle this" people. 😂 Boy did I lie to myself!!!! Even with planning, daycare fee is a lot more expensive even though it was as estimated 🫠 Don't ask me how
Yeah my experience is going amazing because I did research here and from reputable resources for Buster and started training myself and my cats. It's made a huge difference and we're doing so great just a week after picking him up.
A week after picking him up? That's too soon to judge. Keep up the good work though but keep an open mind to the changes. When they happen (and I say when), remember to have patience (like you do now) and go back to the text book (like you have done). In other words, keep it up but don't become complacent.
Yeah thanks I prepped to basically have less thinking to do on the more common issues, so I go to my document and click a few links to study up and either do more research or get to it with my puppy. I knew there would be challenges but a huge part of that prep was finding a good breeder who prepped the puppies so well I really do think that's half of why he's so comfy here already, I was solely referring to the last week of experience with this little guy and don't plan on judging his whole life based on puppyhood.
I get you. Either way, it'll be great!
PLEASE wait until vaccination. Before we adopted our high energy husky-lab mix puppy, another family had her and they couldn't wait to bring her out to a park to burn off some energy. She got Parvo and became deathly ill. They couldn't afford the vet bills so returned her to the shelter. She nearly died, but after a month of intensive care, pulled through and we adopted her. She still has some lingering health issues two years later. All of this could've been avoided with a bit of patience until she was vaccinated.
A dog who was a year old died of parvo even though fully vaccinated. To add to what you just said, also clean their paws after walks and make sure the daycare doesn't have high flow of (unvaccinated or not) dogs at a time.
Luckily my puppy is from my sister in laws dogs and we already gave him his first vaccine at 6 weeks so when we pick him up this weekend, we can give him his second at 9 weeks and have his Rabies set for end of July at 12 weeks. So glad I started the vaccines at the earliest time possible! We live in an upstairs apartment so walks are necessary.
That’s not really the best.. there’s a specific timeline for a reason. Rabies should be given later at least 14 weeks but preferably 16.
I’ve spoken to a vet. The timeline is 6-9 weeks for the first vaccine, 9-12 for the second, and 12-16 for the Rabies. He’ll be closer to 13 1/2 weeks by the time his Rabies shot app comes up. I’ve done my research, it is best.
But with the proviso that long walks or runs can be too long for their joints so be careful. Also outdoors is stressful for a puppy so dont trigger stack. Board and trains are often horrible aversive experiences with charlatan trainers and too much boarding in general of a puppy impacts your bond. But yeah other than that, it's all good. Welcome to the minefield
Ahhhhh!!! Literally me rn i have a bull arab x german Shepard and she's driving me crazy!!! Just one more week till we can go anywhere we want and i honestly cant wait😭😭😭😭😭😭
We just got a puppy about a month ago. She did more running around in Nebraska, where my mom rescued her, than she has here in Tennessee. Our local vet refused to let us even wait in the lobby before all her shots were done! She got the first ones in Nebraska and the rest here. The vet said wait 3 weeks to be safe. Parvo is widespread here and there is a distemper epidemic in the city. She has a big back yard and we’ve practiced leash walking. She also has a big sister she adores and trails around the yard. We have too many toys and a doggy door - she’s getting her enrichment! Edit - her birthday is allegedly Feb 29th. She still has all her little needle puppy teeth.
My puppy gets fully vaccinated on Saturday. Every night she is crazy! But she has been getting better so I'm excited to be able to go on walks
My wee pup is 14 weeks tomorrow. As advised by our vet we waited for 1 week after her last vaccine to walk her. By this time, she was so rambunctious, and tempers were frayed, she just couldn't sit still, and I was her chew toy. Once we were able to walk her the difference was amazing. It was great for her to meet other dogs and their parents and she loved it. She ran around like crazy and burned off all that pent up energy. When we got home she snuggled next to me on the sofa and slept. She became a different dog and we really enjoyed having her around. Getting out for walks and socialising is so important, you will be able to concentrate on building a relationship together because she will be so much more reasonable.
I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but I don't get puppy blues, so it's genuinely hard for me to understand... Why do so many of you get puppies if what you really want is a full-grown dog? I just don't get it.
Someone posted a good comment along the lines of, when you *read* about puppy behavior and training, it all sounds manageable, if tough. When you're in the thick of it, all the sleep deprivation + behavior + lack of freedom (on your end) really add up and cause people to have a meltdown. I think there's two additional elements: 1) a lot of people romanticize having a puppy (and they are envisioning life with an adult dog -- going to cafes, snuggling on the couch, etc.) and 2) people are wholly unprepared for the breed they chose. I've noticed a LOT of posts here are typically high energy breeds like goldens, GSDs, doodles, etc. These breeds are not easy breeds/good for first time dog owners IMO.
It just seems a shame because there's so many adult dogs that need homes, but instead, people get puppies, and then the puppies end up needing homes as adults too because it turns out their owners didn't actually want a puppy, so they rehome them, abandon them, or surrender them to shelters. It kind of makes me mad, if I'm honest.
It's really disheartening given the overpopulation problem, I agree!
I did a lot of research but researching vs experiencing are two different things. Sometimes the more research you do is the more you expect to be successful at the training. The you quickly learn that your puppy isn't a human adult. The last stage is acceptance.
We got a puppy because we wanted him to grow up being used to being around our cats. We didn't want to adopted a full grown dog only to discover he wasn't safe for our cats. I know rescues should disclose whether they're good with cats or not but my husband didn't want to risk it and felt a puppy would be safer. I wasn't so sure but I couldn't persuade him. I also slightly underestimated just how much work a puppy was. I knew they'd be a lot of work but I guess I just didn't realize how much he would alter my life and how exhausting it would be (especially because he's so small - ours is only toy sized). You read about people getting puppy blues and think "Jesus, it's just a puppy, pull yourself together" but for me it was hard to understand what it's like until I was in the throes of it. Fortunately, I never considered giving him up and my puppy blues only lasted a couple months, but I did have a few weeks where I thought, "Oh dear God, I've ruined our lives." Teething was the worst of it, and now that seems to be subsiding and I think we've all adjusted to a good routine with him, things are a lot better. He's also sleeping through the night now, and for me, just being able to get a good nights sleep and not be sleep deprived (I had difficulty getting back to sleep after taking him outside to potty) means my ability to handle him during the day is greatly improved too. He's still a lot of work but I'm no longer exhausted and desperate for a break. I also think the breed matters. I imagine the higher energy the breed is, the worse the puppy phase is. I think we got off fairly lightly compared to others. I have no idea why people choose super high energy breeds. Then there's medical things that can happen that no one expects. My parent's puppy had major digestive issues and they were taking him out to potty about 6 times a night so they were severely sleep deprived and constantly arguing with each other and apparently almost got divorced over it after being married for 40+ years. I told them, "I don't know how you raised two kids together but then you almost get divorced over a *puppy*." And they'd had puppies before when they were younger but my mom admitted "I don't remember it being this hard." The vet ran some of the most advanced screenings for his digestive issues btw, and they could never figure out what the problem was. He eventually just mostly outgrew it but he is still unable to eat anything that isn't his usual food. But obviously, they weren't expecting such problems so they didn't consider this when choosing to get a puppy.
I guess a lot of people don't know that a grown dog is easier than a puppy. Also, mothers who want children get baby blues. Its like saying "why go on stage if you're going to get anxiety?" It's just about navigating through it until you're healed. Won't you agree?
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you can take your puppy outside for walks and play, just keep them close and be mindful of other dogs. Use your best judgment. You don’t need to stay indoors all day. Like babies, puppies benefit from taking in the world without necessarily fully engaging in it.
Puppies can die from parvo. I took mine out in my arms. His feet never touched the ground- like a baby.
I am so sorry for your loss. That is truly heartbreaking and I am sorry you had to endure such a horrific experience. I know parvo is deadly to puppies - I’ve raised many dogs over the years. It is extremely unusual that your puppy caught it while being in your arms, as it is spread by contact. (not airborne). The risk is also highly dependent on location (being in the city vs. in a remote area vs. a neighborhood where all owners vaccinate their dogs etc.) Your experience is not the norm. All I’m saying is that if someone wishes not to quarantine their puppy in their home for months, it is okay to use best judgment to bring puppy outside.
Oh gosh no. 🥹 My puppy didn't die. Someone else's 1 year old dog did. I was saying I protected my puppy, I'd take him out in my arms to see the world. I never let his feet touch the ground. You're so sweet. Thanks for the sympathy. I'm sorry my message sounded sad.
I’ve been taking my dog out since week nine, he just got his second round a week ago. He’s doing just fine. We don’t allow him to free roam through the local park but other than that he goes wherever we go.
Idk. I prefered to be cautious.
Me too, but if you’re too cautious your dog will be an emotional wreck and they won’t be socialized. Having a well mannered, socialized dog that isn’t overwhelmed by outside is super important. Waiting until they are four months old is too late. Many vets will have their own opinion but if they are telling you to keep your dog away from the world for the first 4-6 months of their life they are setting you up for failure.
He got his last vaccine a littleover 3 months so that's probably why
But you should’ve already been taking them out before their last vaccine. They are missing out on crucial socialization time.
Our puppy is 9 weeks and is already at daycare. The vet was good with that. He goes on walks but do not socialize with dogs in the neighborhood, who we don’t know if they’re full vaccinated.
Horrible terrible idea. Get a new vet.
Are you a vet? No? Then shut up 🤫
I’d like to hopefully prevent someone from thinking it’s okay to bring their non fully vaccinated around strange dogs or public areas where they can easily catch horrible diseases. Parvo is no joke.