Should breeders vaccinate puppies in the UK?

The veterinary advice is not to expose your puppy to other dogs or places they frequent until they are fully vaccinated and that is very important advice to reduce the risk of exposure to life threatening illnesses or diseases. Ideally a puppy will be re-homed at around 8 weeks, receive their first vaccine immediately or within a few days and then their second vaccine around 2 weeks later – depending upon the type used. A week or so after the second vaccination puppies are normally allowed out to explore the world. Unfortunately there are a number of breeders that are administering the first vaccine on the day that the puppy is picked up by their new puppy parents thinking they are being very helpful – but instead they can be contributing to problems with the puppy’s behavioural development. When a puppy has been vaccinated without any record of the vaccine, or when the vaccine has not been administered by a registered vet, your vet will most likely want to start the vaccines again and rightly so to ensure your puppy remains safe and healthy. My advice is simply to say no when your breeder offers to vaccinate your puppy and instead take them straight to your vet for a health check and to start their vaccination programme as soon as possible. That way, as well as reducing the risk of infection you will maximise their opportunity for behavioural development through effective socialisation. For full details on health and vaccines you should always consult with your vet.