The Trailhead: Dog Training Resources from Dog Adventures Northwest! Little Kids Puppy Vaccines

Puppy Vaccines

Most puppies begin their core vaccinations starting at 6-8 weeks of age and receive appropriate booster vaccinations every 3-4 weeks until they are approximately 16 weeks old, along with a similar deworming schedule. Vaccinating until 16 weeks of age is important, as this is when maternal-derived antibodies begin to wane and we rely on the puppy's immune system to mount an appropriate immune response to the vaccination.

Core vaccinations for puppies include Distemper, Adenovirus (hepatitis), Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, and Rabies. (We could also argue that in the Pacific Northwest, vaccinating for Leptospirosis should also be considered a core vaccination, as this zoonotic disease thrives in damp, wet weather.)

If your puppy’s physical health were the only consideration, it would make sense to keep them in a sterile environment until they have received all preventative care. Parasites, bacteria, and viruses are risky for developing puppies, after all. But because early socialization is a crucial component of a puppy's behavioral health, it's important to remember that your puppy needs positive exposure to the sights, smells, sounds, and situations of the human world... and that this is as important as their protection from illness.

A puppy's health considerations therefore must include both the physical and the behavioral, as both are vital for dog wellness.

But how does a puppy parent manage both vaccinations and socialization, especially during the times when they seem completely incompatible?

It all comes down to taking "calculated risks."

Being a puppy parent involves numerous risk assessments in the first few months of a puppy's life. At every given turn, you decide what is important for your puppy's development into a physically and behaviorally healthy adult dog.

Calculated Risks

Should an eight weeks old puppy romp through a field that has been recently visited by hundreds of dogs? That's clearly too much risk. But what about taking your eight week old puppy to the hardware store for quality (i.e. safe, positive, comfortable, fun) socialization to things like shoppers, shopping carts, the sounds of lumber being cut, the sight of a forklift driving by, and the smells of a million new things? That may very well be your happy medium, as the socialization lessons they would learn would be invaluable during their critical socialization period, while the chance of them contracting a deadly disease at Home Depot is minimal.

Puppy socialization classes are also a worthy risk, especially in a place like Portland where Parvo is not an endemic disease. (Check out this summary of a journal published in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association to learn more about the risk level of puppy socialization classes.) Early socialization as a crucial component to the health of a dog was officially endorsed by the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior in 2008. In their position statement, they write, "Behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age." (You can read their full position statement here! Definitely check it out, as it's a short read packed with invaluable information.)

Use the following guidelines when engaging in puppy socialization before full vaccination…

After Round 1
After the first round of vaccinations, typically given between 6-8 weeks of age, puppies are welcome at Dog Adventures Northwest Day Camp or Board & Learns. While there, puppies are only exposed to other vaccinated dogs.

Puppy socials, puppy training classes, visiting hardscape human-trafficked areas (where there is not likely residual dog feces and urine), and carrying your puppy out and about are all strongly encouraged.

Note that a dog's "Critical Socialization Window" is between the ages of 3-13 weeks, which means that by the time your puppy comes home to you, they are often over halfway through this period. It is essential that you use this time to safely and positively introduce your dog to the sights, sounds, smells, and situations of the human world.

After Round 2
After the second round of vaccinations, typically given around 12 weeks of age, the chance of illness and disease sharply decreases. Puppies can be walked on sidewalks and taken (on the ground) to many other indoor and outdoor locations where it is unlikely they will come in contact with an unknown dog's urine or feces. Puppies can continue socializing with puppies on a similar vaccination schedule and vaccinated adult dogs in controlled environments.

After Round 3
Freeeeeedom! After the third round of vaccinations, typically given around 16 weeks of age, most puppies are protected from serious and preventable illness and disease. Puppies can go anywhere and do anything, within the realm of what is behaviorally gentle, fun, and safe for a puppy. (This would be a good time to check out our blog post, "To Dog Park or Not to Dog Park.") Note that in places where Parvovirus and Distemper are endemic (not Portland), many vets recommend that the precautions listed under "Round 2" should be followed for two weeks after the Round 3 vaccinations.