[doberman1]

So I got a doberman male puppy around a week ago. He is now 7 weeks and one day old. Anyways, I took him to a dog park last week (Which was very stupid, never again), and he had an incident with another dog. At first I thought all the dogs were playing, they all sniffed him at first and surrounded him and he seemed to be having fun (running around with them). But there was this one dog that was considerably larger than him. He started barking at him, jumped on top of him and tried to bite him. I started going for him to get him off but his owner got him off a couple of seconds after it happened. He stopped for a while, but then it happened again and she got him off again. After that, my dog started crying so I just went ahead and left to a field empty to try to cheer him up. I know now that I shouldn't have taken him to a dog park at this age, especially because he hasn't received all his vaccinations. However I thought that since he was in the small dog section, that there will be no bullying.

My question is this: Do you think this incident will affect/has affected his confidence? Or is this a natural thing that he will forget about? Do you think this has caused him to lose trust in me as his owner?

I know I am being overly cautious but I just am worried. He's my baby and I felt like crap because I couldn't get to him before the other owner did (have a back problem so not a very fast walker).

Thanks.

 

[JulieK1967]

A 7 week old puppy has no business at a dog park. The risk of him contracting all kinds of very serious, potentially life threatening, diseases is high not to mention the physical danger posed by other dogs. At 7 weeks, he should still be with his mother & litter mates. He should not be at a dog park for a long time.

 

[Spook82]

I don't think this one incident will put him off other dogs for life if that's what you're asking.

 

[doberman1]

I understand that as I previously stated. I don't have a lot of experience in dog handling but after I went some people told me I shouldn't have taken him and will not do so again. Also, I did not know that the dog should not be separated from his mother. The breeder was selling them at 6 weeks old so I assumed it was fine since she has been doing it for over 30 years. Do you think I should take him to a vet and see if he is okay just in case? We only stayed at the park about 30 minutes if that helps any. Also, could you please address my previous questions?

Thank you.

 

[Spook82]

Just be on the look out for any signs of illness like lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. You can google parvo symptoms for further info.
And for your other concern, like I said previously, I don't think this one incident is going to put your pup off other dogs for life.

 

[doberman1]

"Vaccinations should start after the puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old. Up until that point, a puppy is typically protected against most sicknesses because its mother’s anti-bodies are still flowing through it’s blood." - From a website about Parvo. So since he was 6 and a half weeks at the time, do you think he was protected?

And no signs present. How long would they need to show up if he did contract something?

 

[Gally]

I don't think he'll be permanently traumatized by the experience as long as you give him positive associations with dogs in the future by introducing him to well socialized dogs and puppies in controlled situations. The incubation period for parvo is 7 to 14 days from exposure.

I believe the effects of a mother's anti-bodies wear off fairly fast after a pup is finished weaning but there are a lot of factors involved so it's not really something we could say for sure.

 

[doberman1]

I will call the vet in the morning and see if she gave him a parvo vaccine. You got me worried because he's still young and I don't want him to get sick. She did give him three vaccines two days before the incident and I want to make sure the parvo was one of them.

 

[Gally]

He has probably had one round of vaccines for parvo/distemper at his age. It's recommended to have all three rounds for full protection. It can't hurt to check with the vet. You can also ask what the incidence of parvo is in your area for an idea of what the risks are for your particular situation.

 

[Spook82]

I'm sure parvo was included but a dog isn't fully protected until they have had the entire series of vaccines. I believe it's something to do with the antibodies that are left over from the mother... they can actually make the parvo vaccine useless which is why it is given in a series of boosters.

 

[doberman1]

Okay I looked back on the papers and he was given the following vaccines:

Nobivac, which covered Distemper, Hepatitis (CAV-2), Parvovirus, Parainfluenza on 3/30/12.
Vaccine for Canine Bordetella, and Vaccine for Distemper Parvo DAPP on 4/4/2012.

Do those vaccines cover all possible things that he could have contracted during that time? Please reply as I am worried. The incident occurred on 4/6/2012.

Thanks.

 

[ThoseWordsAtBest]

Your pup can contract parvo at the dog park, and they can contract parvo when you bring it home on your shoes. The OP posted in his/her very first post that they made a mistake and feel really dumb about it. If I had a dollar for every person that brought a puppy too young to an inappropriate public place I would be a millionaire, so I don't really feel the need to harp on the OP there.

OP, just have to watch and wait. There would be literally NOTHING you could do right now, so there is no reason to panic. If he contracted parvo, he will begin showing signs of lethargy, refusing food/water, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, etc. Just say on top of him and watch for these signs. He also will not be ruined by this one bad experience, but it's important that puppies get socialization and good positive socialization at that. Organized fully vaccinated play groups after your pup has finished his vaccinations.

 

[LilasMom]

I just wanted to add on a sort of unrelated note, you should read the sticky "The Bite Stops Here". Dobermans are one of those dogs typically prejudiced against so it is very necessary you do bite inhibition training. Dogs usually learn this from their mother and litter mates but because your dog was sold too young you will have to teach that yourself. Also socialization is very important. I highly suggest you sign up for puppy classes when he is old enough, I think it could be incredibly beneficial.

 

[grab]

I'm not sure why the breeder would give him two vaccines against Parvo on the same day...that's pointless and needlessly taxing on an immune system...

Vaccines take a week or so to start protecting, and, they're not fully protected until their entire series is completed. So even having one vaccination against Distemper and Parvo isn't going to prevent his contracting those if he came into contact with them. Best to be aware of symptoms and hope for the best on that aspect of the visit

 

[spotted nikes]

Your pup can contract parvo at the dog park, and they can contract parvo when you bring it home on your shoes. The OP posted in his/her very first post that they made a mistake and feel really dumb about it. If I had a dollar for every person that brought a puppy too young to an inappropriate public place I would be a millionaire, so I don't really feel the need to harp on the OP there.

OP, just have to watch and wait. There would be literally NOTHING you could do right now, so there is no reason to panic. If he contracted parvo, he will begin showing signs of lethargy, refusing food/water, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, etc. Just say on top of him and watch for these signs. He also will not be ruined by this one bad experience, but it's important that puppies get socialization and good positive socialization at that. Organized fully vaccinated play groups after your pup has finished his vaccinations.

This^^^^^. Also, be aware that you will normally get a series of 3-4 sets of vaccinations about 2-3 weeks apart. your dog isn't fully protected until he receives his last vaccine. Avoid taking the puppy where other dogs have possibly peed/pooped, until he is fully vaccinated.

 

[Poly]

I don't think this one incident will put him off other dogs for life if that's what you're asking.

Actually, it might.

A seven week old pup may be in what is called the "fear imprint" stage. Hard to be precise, because the stage can occur almost anytime between seven and elevn weeks, and can last up to three weeks. Fearful events that happen during this stage ARE imprinted for a long time - perhaps years and perhaps forever.

This is still another reason to avoid social situations that may be fear-provoking and to introduce new experiences VERY carefully during this period.

The OP was very irresponsible in taking a puppy of this age to a dog park, for both physical and emotional health reasons.

 

[Hallie]

I wouldn't worry about parvo right now.

As for this experience 'damaging' him. It wont.

Puppies are like wet clay, you have the chance to mold them into almost whatever you want. I wouldn't worry about the incident much, just don't do it again. My pup got attacked by a pit bull when she was 6 weeks old. She still has a scar but it never affected how she interacts with other dogs. I would be more concerned with his pyscological development since he was taken from his mom so early.

Just sign up for a puppy class once he is old enough and he'll get plenty of positive socialization then and if he is scared the trainer can show you how to properly handle the situation.

You'll be fine. Good luck!

 

[doberman1]

I know it was irresponsible for me to take him to a dog park, I realize it was stupid and I should have looked this stuff up before I went. I took him to the vet the day after I got him and she never mentioned that he shouldn't be around other dogs (or where they peed/pooped) so I just assumed that it was okay (idiotic on my part). I am watching him very closely and he hasn't shown any symptoms.

The reason why I want to make sure that it hasn't affected him emotionally is because they are bred (for the most part) to be guard dogs, and I would like for him to be protective of my family in the future. An insecure guard dog, in my opinion, wouldn't be as effective as a confident one, or am I wrong again?

I called the vet office today and they said that symptoms would appear within a week of the accident. So I will keep watching him very closely. Hopefully he's okay.

And he didn't have both vaccines on the same day, they were 5 days apart. The vet did it just in case the first vaccines (by the breeder) weren't administered correctly (her idea).

Thanks again for the replies!

 

[denise3099]

Just relax. It's done. He's probably fine. If he gets sick you will deal with it but that's not likely and there is nothing you can do about it now anyway.

I don't think it's likely either that he will be forever afraid of dogs. If you live in the moment so will he. If you aare fearful and skittish everytime another dog comes near him, then he will be too. So relax and "forget" the incident. I mean, when you approach another dog in the future, do it with confidence, expecting the best so your dog will too.

Re gaurd dog. You want you dog to alert you to dangers, most will. And to be protective of your family, most are. You do NOT want a guard or attack dog. You don't want the "intruder" he attacks to be a paramedic trying to save your life or a delivery man trying to bring you a package. A dobie is deterent enough--keep him docile and socialized and sweet.

 

[Pawzk9]

You shouldn't be taking a 7 week old puppy anywhere that other dogs may congregate. Not even to a regular park. At 7 weeks he probably has no immunity to parvo (which is extra hard on dobes and rotties) or distemper. Wait until he is fully vaccinated to take him to public places. I suspect he'll get over this, but a 7 week old doesn't belong in a pack of strange adult dogs.