Taking 8 week old puppies out for walks, etc.

[Pam 19]

I am getting an 8 week old Yorkie puppy. Is it OK to take a puppy that age out for walks, to begin housetraining, etc. before finishing their shots?

[Lee at Delayre]

NO . A puppy is most vulernable to the virses fron 7 to 9 weeks of age . I don't let my puppies go locally before 10 weeks and any distrance 12 weeks.
A puppy should not go anywhere other than to the Vet for shots until they have a shot at 16 weeks of age . The problem is that if there is any maternal anti
bodies in the puppy's systen they can interfere wth the shot but may not be enough to protect the puppy from viruses. My puppies start
their shots early under a reccomendations over 12 years ago from the Veterinarians at the Baker Institute at Cornel Unversity. The Vet had discovered the
Parvo virus and developed the vaccine . In California they recommended Parvo shots every 2 weeks from 4 weeks to 20 weeks In State with far less Parvo
than CA start at 6 weeks to 16 weeks .. Recommended Parvo , Distemper measles para influenza at 4 and 6 weeks , combination DHPP at 8, 10,12,and
16 weeks and addition al Parvo shotsat 14,18, and 20 . A puppy not in CA can get away without 4, 14 18 and 20 Parvo shots . Your breeder at
the very least should have given 2 wormings and the Distemper measles parainflueza and parvo shot at 6 weeks and a combination DHPP shot at 8 weeks.
Some breeders do combination dhpp shot at 6 and 8 weeks which include Corona virus instead of the Distemper Measle shot. Corona virus only infects
puppies under 9 weeks of age. If you breeder has not done any shots I would go to a different breeder . Most breeder don't let their puppies go before 10
weeks. Parvo is a made in America disease that kill 50 % of the infected puppies. It was spread world wide within 1 year . One gram of infected fecal mater
can infect 250 dogs It is not airborn but can easliy be carried to a puppy. It is stil one of the biggest killers of puppies . When you go to the vet for shots do
not let people other than the Vet touch your puppy. He is best to be in a carrier when going to the Vet where he will not come in contact with the floor.

[jude09]

Hello Pam I agree with Lee, don't take your puppy out yet when he's not fully vaccinated yet because
your puppy is still vulnerable to different diseases just like Parvo.

You can read more about this by clicking on the link below;

Some facts about Parvo

[Sarah]

Even though it is not safe to take your puppy out on the public streets for walking, it doesn't keep you from going in you backyard and practicing walking with your dog, and teaching your puppy to learn to listen to you for when you do get to walk in public. You can also immediately begin to teach the puppy to sit, stay, down or lie down, go to bed. etc.. Know though that while you are teaching your puppy good behaviour, the puppies attention span is next to nothing, so be patient and do not get frustrated. The point is to get the puppy to begin to listen to you, even for a split second.

Good luck and let us know how things go...

[Pam 19]

Thank you so much for your reply. It sounds like you know a lot about puppies & that makes me feel more secure. So you're saying keep the puppy inside until at least 12 weeks with shots up to date or maybe even 16 weeks? I want to do everything right for Teppi because I plan on having her in my life for a very long time & it would break my heart if she got sick or anything happened to her. Thank you again. I'll let everyone know how she does.

[Pam 19]

Thanks Jude: I appreciate your reply & the info you sent on Parvo. I'm getting ready to read it now. I'm sure it will be very interesting & I will learn a lot. Thanks

[mia]

Hi Pam,

I agree with every other post, NO, do not take your little one out in public yet. Get the shots and give her tiny body a chance to build up an immune system. My little Yorkie is going to be getting her last puppy shot this week and then she will be protected I hope. I do not do the rabies because my little ones are never out without me and I would get bitten before they ever would. We live out 3 miles from town and don't have a fence yet so we have dogs/cats/muskrats/ coons/squirrels and God only knows what else roaming and dropping their stuff around Plus we have hawks and owls and eagles that would snatch up a tiny puppy. We have a friend that had his little puppy carried off by a hawk, you have to be with these little ones all the time outdoors.

Talk to your Vet, he/she can advise you on what to do. My little one is going to have to wait till spring to see the ground, it is so cold and she is doing real good on the pads. I sorta rescued a older Yorkie, not really , but she was 6 months old and I started taking her out and she learned very fast that we are out to potty.

You are going to have so much fun. Just be careful.

Mia

[Pam 19]

Thank you for your reply. I thought a little bit of outside in the yard might not be so bad but I wanted to make sure. I want Teppi to stay very healthy so that she will be with me for a very long time. I know her attention span will be next to nothing but at least she'll get use to my voice & who knows maybe learn a cute little trick or two. Thank you again. I'll let you all know how she does.

[Pam 19]

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm going to talk to my vet but I wanted to get some advice from puppy owners (Yorkies especially). I've had a couple of other replies that have said to keep her in until she's through with her shots along with yours. So it sounds like the best thing to do. I don't want anything to happen to Teppi because I plan on her being my life companion for a long time to come. Thank you again. I'll let you all know how she does.

[Lee at Delayre]

.
Don't take her anyplace until she is 16 weeks old and has had that shot . Then she can go for walks , puppy pre school , and other places. If you back yard is secure from stray
dogs it should be safe. If you are not sure a good disinfectant is 1 part bleach to 30 part water . You can spay your outdoor area . It will kill Parvo virus . It is also good for
wiping you shoes prior to coming in the house after being off your property. Distemper the other major puppy killer is air born, so if a neighbor has a dog with the disease it can infect a puppy without it coming in contact. This is why I use distemper measles shots. It overrides moms immunities and will protect against distemper . Rabies I don't give until the dog is 7 months unless forced to by city government which wants it done at 4 months . IMO it is too rough a shot at that age . The only exception is if the dog is likely to come in contact with wildlife . Then 4 months