Socialising Puppies Prior to Finishing Vaccinations

The first 16 weeks of your puppies life are when our puppies are forming their initial picture of the world. They’re being introduced to a lot of things for the first time and the feelings they associate with them are incredibly powerful - sometimes lasting their whole life. This is called socialisation - and it’s not just about other dogs! It’s so important that we ensure our pups are getting out and having quality, neutral-positive experiences with different environments, surfaces, sounds, people and animals that will be involved in their life to make the most of this special developmental stage.

Unfortunately current vaccination recommendations have puppies as “fully vaccinated” upon their final vaccination post-16 weeks of age. This means sometimes we have to be mindful about where we take our puppies to keep them safe from pathogens.

But that doesn’t mean they have to stay home and shouldn’t be getting out to experience the world - we can still make the most of this time in a safe and sensible way! Here are some suggestions I like to do with my puppies. As always, double check with your vet for your specific puppy and location and be mindful about your puppies body language during these experiences.

One of the best ways to socialise your puppy is to join a trainer-run puppy class to build confidence and relationship. If you or a friend have a puppy in Waipa/Hamilton/Otorohanga, we run puppy classes in Pirongia. Message for the booking info!