"My vet said not to take my puppy anywhere until he:
a. has all of his vaccinations
b. is six months old"
These days, dogs are at greater risk of euthanasia for behavior problems than of communicable diseases.
One of the leading causes of behavior problems is lack of proper early socialization. Poorly socialized puppies turn into dogs who are afraid of everything new. Some dogs end up shy, others react with aggressive displays towards new people and dogs.
Unfortunately, some veterinarians are still behind the times regarding the risks of early socialization vs. the risk of disease.
Below are articles/letters by veterinary experts discussing the risks of socialization classes vs. full vaccination based on the latest research in health and behavior.
Since 2001, 4Paws has been offering puppy socialization classes and have had more than 1,500 puppies attend. Our class is held indoors where our floors are sanitized with CleanBreak™ sanitizer, which has been approved by veterinarians for kennel use. The facility is equipped with non-porous floors specially designed for kennel and daycare environments and is thoroughly sanitized before class. The puppy class is the first class of the day to minimize risk of contamination.
While we are not veterinarians and can not guarantee that there is no risk whatsoever, we keep up on the latest recommendations by the experts who suggest that the risk of behavior problems far outweighs the risk of disease.
If you have concerns about bringing your puppy to class before fully vaccinated, please print the links above and discuss with your veterinarian. Ultimately, the decision is yours.
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