Parvo is a preventable disease, but even vaccinated dogs are not 100% protected from the virus.
Puppies can begin socialization classes as early as 7 to 8 weeks. Veterinarians recommend at least one round of vaccines 7 days before socialization and the first round of deworming. After the first 12 to 14 weeks of your puppy's life, continued socialization and introduction to new environments is important.
Here are 11 things you can do:
- Invite friends to your home.
- Take your pup to a friend's house.
- Introduce your pup to healthy, vaccinated, and puppy friendly dogs.
- Be sure your pup meets your cat and other animals that he will need to be comfortable around too.
- Take your pup on a walk in a stroller, wagon, or sling.
Dogs can be socialized at anytime of their life, but it's most important when they're between the age of 8 weeks and 4 months old. Dog socialization includes making your dog stress free with a variety of people and different environments and circumstances. The benefits are not only for your pup, but you too.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule
| Puppy's Age | Recommended Vaccinations |
|---|
| 10 — 12 weeks | DHPP (vaccines for distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus) |
| 16 — 18 weeks | DHPP, rabies |
| 12 — 16 months | DHPP, rabies |
| Every 1 — 2 years | DHPP |
If you receive your puppy at 8 weeks, you can safely take him outside, but with precautions. Once your puppy has had his final round of vaccinations (typically 14-16 weeks), you can extend the areas and dogs that he is exposed to. Overall, your puppy can go outside as soon as you bring home.
Typically, it's not recommended to take your dog for walks until they are fully vaccinated. Puppy vaccinations start from around 8 weeks old and they will need two sets of injections before they are fully protected.
When socializing, think about the everyday experiences that your family engages in; such as baseball games, going to the bank, playing at the park, and walking around the block. These sites, smells, and human interaction (outside of the family) are just a few places that will broaden their view of the world.
So your boisterous puppy may keep on trying to interact with your older dog when all your older dog many want to do is perhaps rest or enjoy some quiet petting time with you as you both watch the sunset. So if your older dog is growling when your puppy is trying to interact, it's likely his way or telling him to stop.
This behavior is perfectly normal. When jealousy occurs, it is important to deal with your dog's emotions, properly. If you change the routine and give your new puppy all of the attention, your dog will be angry and jealous of this new puppy and they may feel like they are losing their territory.
As much as it may be tempting to correct the adult dog for growling, try to resist this temptation. Always supervise any interactions of this nature, but as long as the adult dog is not making contact with the puppy, let the pup learn that a growl means – “leave me alone”.
An older dog can discern another dog is a puppy primarily through smell. A dog's urine contains hormones cluing a dog into the age of another dog. Dogs also detect a puppy by their size, shape, and behavior, which plays into their never-ending energy.
Use indoor room separating gates or baby gates, dog crates, closed doors, and tethers to give the dogs space from each other. Don't just let your dogs “work it out” – if the puppy is pestering the adult, the puppy needs to take a break. If the adult is getting irritable, give her a break!
It's more likely that your older dog would kill a kitten, but it can happen that a dog might kill a puppy. If you have a dog who has killed a puppy, you simply can't get another puppy until the old dog has died. The pup should not be allowed to jump on, bite, or bark at the other dog.
Many people do not give two dogs time to adequately adjust to one another before deciding that having two dogs will simply not work. It can take up to one month for an old dog and new dog to really settle in and accept each other's position in the pack.
Many older dogs will be upset, jealous, or even angry with a new puppy, especially if the older dog has been an only dog. It's going to be important to make sure the older dog gets lots (more than normal) of attention to alleviate potential hurt feelings.
Start off in shallow, warm water, where the pup can easily stand. You should introduce your pup to water only after he understands basic obedience skills and the two of you have developed a trusting relationship. No problem if you've had a kids pool in the dog's yard—actual swimming is different.
Exposure to new surroundings at a young age will help with the socialization process. Always supervise the furbaby, especially in dog parks and around children. Remember, you are your puppy's protector. If your puppy gets stressed out or frightened by rough housing with other dogs, remove him from the situation.
When vaccines are completed, and your vet gives the all-clear, your puppy can begin to go on walks, visit the park, and play with other dogs (under careful supervision, of course). After four months of age, most puppies will not need to see the vet for a routine visit until adulthood.
How to Socialize Your Dog with Humans
- Daily Walks Are Key. Just taking your dog out to a public place and walking around will help him grow more comfortable with the world and people around him.
- Mix It Up.
- Be Timely.
- Dog Classes.
- Stock up on Treats.
- Hit The Dog Park—or Pet Shop.
- Follow Your Dog's Cues.
- Exercise Caution.
Introducing a puppy to an older dog is more likely to go smoothly if you set yourself up to succeed by following these top tips:
- Swap scents.
- Use a Howdy crate.
- Meet in a neutral area.
- Take parallel walks.
- Play training games.
- Help adversaries become allies.
Parvo in puppies is caused by the canine parvovirus. This virus is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with a contaminated object. Your puppy is exposed to the parvovirus every time he sniffs, licks, or consumes infected feces.
Yes! Even if your puppy has not finished their vaccination course, you can socialise them with vaccinated dogs. Just make sure the place you're mixing them is safe, where any other unvaccinated dogs won't have been–like your back garden, for example.
When it comes to highly infectious canine viral infections, it's important nto ever make assumptions regarding safety. Dogs young and old potentially can contract canine parvovirus, even if they don't leave their homes and backyards.
Your puppy will vomit and have diarrhea if canine parvovirus is present in their system. Vomit may be clear or a yellow or brown color, and diarrhea will often contain blood and be a light yellow or mustard colored hue.
Q) When can my puppy meet other dogs? A) Puppies can meet vaccinated dogs at any age, but if the vaccination status of the other dog is unknown we advise that they don't mix until 2 weeks after the second vaccination.
How long before its safe to introduce a new puppy? Indoors: Inside, the virus becomes inactive after 1 month. So, wait at least 30 days after the infected dog is no longer shedding the virus (2 to 4 weeks) before introducing a new puppy.
Walk both dog and puppy in at the same time, with your resident dog leading the way. This helps to reinforce the pack structure, without allowing your golden oldie to get territorial. Then allow the two of them to interact as naturally as possible, with you supervising at all times.
Average costs for new puppy vaccinations3
| Core vaccines for puppies (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Adenovirus, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza) | $75-$100 |
|---|
| Rabies | $15-$20 |
| Bordetella4 | $19-$45 |
Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
Social play is interactive. In other words, social play involves playing with another puppy, the owner, or even the cat. Examples of social play include wrestling, biting, play-fighting, and chase games. Puppies begin social play as early as three weeks of age, with play-biting, pawing, and barking.
