So I'm having a conundrum I'd be curious to hear how others solved.
I know you aren't suppose to take your puppy out and about until after she has had all of her shots. But I've also read that it's extremely important that you socialize your puppy as early as possible - well before she has gone through the full vaccination schedule.
The question is, how? How do I take my dog out into the world and give her experience in new situations without exposing her to risk? I know I can take her to friend's houses but that's such a controlled environment it won't give her the exposure of a crowd or a restaurant or any number of experiences she will have. I can take her to some places and never set her down, but she's a very active 9 week old and won't enjoy being held for long.
Is it just a calculated risk one takes and you avoid the high problem areas like the beach, dog parks, dumpsters (not that that is a high priority spot for me to visit anyway), frequently traveled corners, etc? Or do you simply invite people into the house and hope that's sufficient until she gets her last vaccination?
One person I read said, "just be smart, but take her into the world." Another said, "it's not worth the risk." Thoughts?
I know you aren't suppose to take your puppy out and about until after she has had all of her shots. But I've also read that it's extremely important that you socialize your puppy as early as possible - well before she has gone through the full vaccination schedule.
The question is, how? How do I take my dog out into the world and give her experience in new situations without exposing her to risk? I know I can take her to friend's houses but that's such a controlled environment it won't give her the exposure of a crowd or a restaurant or any number of experiences she will have. I can take her to some places and never set her down, but she's a very active 9 week old and won't enjoy being held for long.
Is it just a calculated risk one takes and you avoid the high problem areas like the beach, dog parks, dumpsters (not that that is a high priority spot for me to visit anyway), frequently traveled corners, etc? Or do you simply invite people into the house and hope that's sufficient until she gets her last vaccination?
One person I read said, "just be smart, but take her into the world." Another said, "it's not worth the risk." Thoughts?