socialization of pups

[venus74]

I know what you're saying. It would have been so much easier to NOT bring Venus to all the kids sporting events, but in the long run it has definetely paid off.

I love to see peoples' reaction at the dog park when they find out Venus is an Akita (everyone thinks she's a Husky). All that most people have heard about the breed is negative, so I love to change their views (at least a little)!!

[RedyreRotties]

What age do you start taking puppies out, Romance?

I have had quite a few visitors here to the house where I can sanitize shoes, and have hands washed before they come in, but I'm TERRIFIED of Parvo Virus. I am just too scared to take them out before they are vaccinated.

[Romance]

They don't leave my yard until 6 wks. and i don't let people in to see them until 4 wks. but between 4 and 6 weeks they get several children and adults visiting about 3 days a week. after 6 weeks is when we start going to parks, baseball games etc. and they start showing in puppy matches at 12 weeks.

[mike001]

Puppy matches at 12 weeks would be so cute to watch. I watch a lot of kindergarten classes for pups and it's just too hilarious to see some of those pups and the way they interact. Sure wish I was in the market for a pup.

[Romance]

Skye was showing at the Nationals today in the puppy match. She didn't do too bad, it was her first time out. she took second in Canadian pre jr bitch class. her half sister took first.

[Catlady711]

What age do you start taking puppies out, Romance?

I have had quite a few visitors here to the house where I can sanitize shoes, and have hands washed before they come in, but I'm TERRIFIED of Parvo Virus. I am just too scared to take them out before they are vaccinated.

You are doing a good thing, and Parvo is someting to be afraid of! Puppies do not have proper immunity against it until a couple weeks after they finish the full series of 'puppy shots'.

[Romance]

finely got some of these pictures loaded up.

[RedyreRotties]

That is my plan as well. They will be 6 weeks tomorrow. I did the puppy Parvo/Distemper shots last Tuesday on their 5 week birthday.

I used the ProGard vaccine made by InterVet that has a very high success rate with over riding material antibodies and getting an immune response to Parvo in Rottweilers.

So this week I feel a little safer in taking them out to areas where there is not a lot of dog traffic. They will get a second vaccine on October 2 at 8 weeks, and then 5 of them go home the following Saturday, followed by another who is flying out cross country first of the next week.

I lost my last litter to Parvo at 9 weeks, so I have been very very careful.

[gardengirl]

That's a fantastic list of socialization activities! Here are a few more that I do in addition to yours:

People who are:
walking
running
bending
hopping
crawling
swimming
bathing
carrying things


People who are riding:
bicycles
skateboards
wagons

Surfaces:
grass
concrete
gravel
asphalt
slippery floor
stairs
sand or dirt
rocks
snow
puddles

Sounds:
doorbell
TV
radio
pots and pans
vacuum
stereo
clapping
dropping things
whistle
sirens
singing
car honking
balloons popping
noisemakers (party)
popcorn popping
electric saw
blend