Can my puppy meet people before the 2nd vaccination?
Jada Fritsch
2025-08-27 19:00:58
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Maybe this should have been obvious to me, but by the time she has all her vaccinations she will be 16 weeks which seems like a long time to wait before introducing her to other dogs. We live in a rural area and the dogs she met belonged to friends of ours when we were at a picnic with a lot of people, so she got some good socialization in. She didn’t really play with the other dogs but checked them out up close and then mostly sat back and watched them play from afar. If you didn’t wait until your puppy had all their vaccinations, did you take any specific precautions? Safe to say we will be staying close to home for the next few weeks till she gets her next round of shots. Between this mild panic over exposure and the dead mouse she found in our woods yesterday, I feel like nowhere is safe!
Diamond Funk
2025-08-23 01:09:02
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Your pup needs to have had their full vaccination course before leaving the house to exercise and meet other dogs. But, you can start socialising puppies before their vaccinations. This doesn’t just mean introducing them to other dogs. It’s the time when they learn about life and what is safe and normal. You can do this by carrying them outside to start to introduce them to the sights, sounds and smells of the world. This will prepare your puppy for when they can walk outside on their own four paws and start to meet other dogs.
Jocelyn Lind
2025-08-09 20:55:59
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You’ll need to wait until your puppy is fully covered by their vaccines before they can meet most other dogs. By waiting, you will help to reduce the risk of them getting the nasty diseases that vaccines protect against. If you have friends with vaccinated dogs, or there are other vaccinated dogs in your household, then your puppy can start mixing with them at home straight away as long as they are otherwise healthy. Just remember to confirm that the other dogs’ vaccines are up to date before arranging a meet and greet! Taking your puppy for their first walk is a huge milestone, but you’ll need to wait until they are fully covered by their vaccinations to be safe. This is usually a week or so after their second jab in their primary vaccination course, but this does vary depending on which vaccine your puppy has had. You might want to carry them round the park so they can see and hear other dogs, without actually meeting them. Avoid putting them on the ground or letting other dogs approach to keep them safe.
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