I hear from lots of new puppy owners on a regular basis that they aren't going to take their puppy outside until the vaccinations are complete, as directed by their veterinarian. From a health perspective, this reduces the risk of your puppy contracting an illness that they are not yet protected against. The fear of our new puppy getting ill is a real one; the risk is higher when they are exploring public places where other unknown dogs (possible carriers) and animals may have wandered.
However there is another aspect of our puppy's health that is just as important; their behavioural health. Getting your puppy out into the world so they can see the going's on of everyday life is paramount, particularly in that 3 to 14 weeks of age window. There is a long-standing belief that puppies can't be 'socialised' until their vaccinations are complete. This is down to a common misconception that in order to socialise a dog, they must meet and interact with as many dogs and people as possible.
This isn't the case at all! In fact, let's look at what 'socialisation' means. When we use that term, generally we refer to the developmental window of 3 to 14 weeks of age (some may argue even shorter than that, ending at 12 weeks). During this time, your puppy is more receptive to new experiences, and new experiences may have long lasting effects on their behaviour. Whilst our dogs are able to learn new things at any age, what we really want to see happen during this developmental stage is our puppies learning that things exist in the world, it's normal and that's okay. What things you want to expose your puppy to will vary, depending on what you would like your puppy to be able to handle throughout their lives. Bear this in mind when considering what your puppy will need to cope with. There's no point in only exposing a puppy to the countryside and all that entails if they're destined for city life, and vice versa!
For most of us, our puppies will need to cope with the hustle and bustle of outdoor dining and coffee shops, with car journeys, with walking in urban or suburban areas. They will need to be able to cope with passing unfamiliar dogs and people of varying descriptions. They will need to cope with guests coming into the home, children, seeing birds and other animals. They may need to cope with traffic, and other motorised and wheeled objects from pram to pushbikes to scooters.
They will also need to cope with different environments and textures underfoot. Sand, grass, concrete, tarmac, steps, stairs, different levels and heights, water, rainfall, autumn leaves, forested spaces and open green parks etc.
The list goes on, and it is massive! We quite simply cannot expose our puppy to all of that in a few short weeks without overwhelming them.
What we can do, however, is we can carefully expose them to as much as possible in a controlled way, so they build up the resilience and confidence they will need. Whatever new things life throws at them as they grow up and mature, we can begin to buffer that and give them coping skills whilst they are young, and yes, whilst they are still waiting on vaccination completion.
Get them out and about
Car fun
Your new puppy needs to start seeing the world. Bring them out in the car, sit in a local carpark (such as Tesco on a Saturday morning or the beach carpark on a bright day) with them looking through the window or in a crate with the door open. Let them watch the world go by, from a distance. Provide a chew such as a stuffed Kong or a pizzle stick if necessary, and let them just be in the hustle and bustle of it all. They will see dogs going by, people, bicycles, scooters and cars etc all from the safety of your car. 20 minutes is all you need, then head back home for a nice nap.
Our puppies don't need to be interacting with others to be learning about the world. Simply hanging out in real and normal life is good enough.
Carrying your puppy
If you don't have a car, or if you prefer and your puppy is comfortable, carry your puppy somewhere. This might mean taking a short stroll in the town, sitting near a cafe and watching all of the goings-on, or sitting on a park bench and watching the Saturday morning football. Whatever will be relevant to you and your life with your puppy, they will need to spend some time experiencing that.
Each day, bring your puppy somewhere new and just hang out for a short time. Prevent other dogs and people from approaching and touching your puppy; it's all about watching for the moment.
We have to remember that the vaccination age of our puppies occurs at such a pivotal time in their lives, and we have to do all we can at that age to help them continue to grow into happy, well-adjusted dogs.
Contact a local qualified trainer if you require more help with your puppy, or email us at info@politepaws.ie for more information.
