Kennel visitors??? - Page 1

What are your opinions with visitors on premises to look at puppies that have not been given a complete set of shots...I have never let anyone enter our premises until puppies are fully protected, since we had a bad experience while we were living in Memphis. Someone came to look at puppies and during our conversations they said they had lost a puppy to Parvo 3 weeks before. We had talked a couple times before and not once they they mention anything about having a sick puppy before. She had told me their dog died of old age.....One of the children accidentally said that. The parent gave that poor child a hateful look, and sent the kid to the car...Thank God my pups had two shots already.   Now I NEVER let anyone see our pups until they are FULLY protected..

first shots given at 7-8 weeks, thats awfully old to have people come see them for the first time -

I let people come whenever they want, at every age.  I just don't let people see the mother with the pups before 1 week old - I like to keep the mother stress-free for that first week.  If people come, I put mom outside for a few minutes while people look in (they don't handle the puppies at that age though) - starting at 2 weeks, I invite anyone and everyone who wants to come see (and handle) puppies to come one come all.  It's great for the puppies to be held and handled and smell and see new people. 

IMO if they are healthy puppies they are healthy puppies.  Of course I wouldn't let someone handle them or come near them if they are kennel workers, animal control people - or anyone who is likely to have handled puppies from another location.    And when puppies are really young I make people take off shoes outside the house, and wash hands before handling.

molly
Eichenluft
http://workinggermanshepherd.com

I agree with you Molly if they are healthy, they are healthy. But there is no way to tell if someone is telling you the truth when they say, they are not this or that. Or they have not handled any other pups before....My first shots are given at 6wks. I guess that experience in Memphis put a fear in me, that I think I would rather be safe than sorry. Also, since we don't breed very often, I guess it doesn't matter that our puppies leave us latter than sooner... As the saying goes, "Knock on wood," we have never had any problems with socializing puppies later, and with them accepting and handling strangers at an older age....

In other threads some breeders said they give shots against Parvo at earlier age if not mistaken 5 or 6 weeks !!!

Ibrahim

As a buyer, if I had chosen a pup from a certain litter, I'd certainly be happier with Molly's method, and watch the pup develop.

Maybe you can let them see the puppies without touching from a distance say 5 meters away, or put the puppies in a closed room with one wall with big glass window and they can watch them for a while without being in direct contact, what you think?

Ibrahim

I have always been doing it the way I stated in OP. It works for me. I was just trying to get a good thread going.  Just thought it was would interesting to see what works best for others.   I do not think that any way is the wrong way or a better or worse way. Just wanted to share different opinons,  to see what are other ways that work for others...

 I think it's funny that some people actually think a parvo shot or two equals "fully protected." 

I do not breed but I've been to my breeder-friend's many times.  I handle puppies of all ages, doing the neuro-stim exercises with younger ones, or starting to hand feed their first treats, or just handling and playing with them.  She has lots of people socialize her puppies but it's people she knows and we all have common sense.  For example, I won't go from the dog park to the whelping box with a one week old litter.  If the puppies are less than 4 weeks, I usually bring a change of sterile clothes and socks anyway.  We often dip our feet in bleach solution.  When my own puppy's litter was born, I didn't go because we had a parvo outbreak in town.  At the time I was not going near pet stores, dog parks, or the animal shelters but just to be dang sure I kept away.  I did not choose him until the day I went to take him home, but there were several other trusted people that came to socialize from about 3 weeks on (and one or two that were there for the birth and right after).

Please correct me...I didn't think pups were fully protected until their second set of shots?  So if a pup gets shots 6-8 weeks at the breeder and then another set a few weeks after with the new owners, wouldn't that mean they really aren't socialized at all until after the leave the breeder?

I know even after a a puppy goes home there is debate over safety vs. socialization and many people don't go anywhere with a new puppy until 12 weeks or older.  I prefer to err on the side of early socialization being really important, with common sense thrown in.  A new puppy I'd typically take to family gatherings since no one else in my family has dogs.  If we go to the pet store I carry the dog.  I don't go to dog parks so that's not a worry for me.  Honestly I worry most about going to the vet those first few times!  That's where all the germs and sickness end up.  There again I would be careful to carry my dog or just carry him in a kennel, only let him touch the sterilized table and then carry him out.

Jenni78,

Can you please explain a little more, thanks

Ibrahim