Vaccinations vs Puppy School

So your breeder or vet said not to take your puppy out (let alone to puppy school) before their last puppy vaccination… but that’s the same time as the puppy school age limit.
Or maybe you were told it’s fine and now don’t have any vaccination record for puppy school.

We’re asked about this almost weekly and have heard all the extremes and conflicting information, so here are my thoughts. Note, I am not a vet.

I’ll start by saying, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) vaccination protocol supports 3 vaccines by 16 weeks of age AND supports puppy school starting prior to completion of the puppy vaccine protocol:

…core vaccines must be administered to puppies and kittens, from 6 to 8 weeks of age, then every 2–4 weeks with timing of the final dose being not earlier than the age of 16 weeks.

Puppy preschool properly conducted in a clean environment should not pose a risk to a puppy that is yet to receive its full course of vaccinations.

(both are quotes from here: https://www.ava.com.au/policy-advocacy/policies/companion-animals-health/vaccination-of-dogs-and-cats/)

Some confusion stems from the interpretation of that first quote – I’ve seen a few variations given it is 3 vaccines between 6 and 16 weeks of age, with 2-to-4 week gaps. Since puppies are not supposed to move to their owners until at least 8 weeks, your pup may come with the first or even second vaccine already complete, or with none at all. Different breeders will have different protocols depending on a number of things. I know some allow for a delayed weaning and therefore delay vaccinations due to maternal immunity (though I understand this wears off quickly after weaning), and some choose to wait pending which pups they will keep or sell/adopt out.

If your vet is unsure of the breeder’s vaccination protocol or there is no record of it, they are likely to err on the side of caution and start as if no vaccine has been given. This can mean the third might even be after 16 weeks. It’s said that vaccines take approximately a week to be effective, so if you’re waiting until after the third you may be well and truly outside a puppy school window.

Vets, breeders, and trainers will also be influenced by their own experiences and other risk factors. Some breeds seem more predisposed to some infectious diseases like canine parvovirus. Some areas have higher disease rates historically, or there is a current outbreak. Some have seen their breed in rescue organisations because of behaviour challenges, and likewise some have worked with dogs that perhaps would have been able to stay in their first home if they had been socialised & trained early. Some vets have suffered though an outbreak in their area and watched puppies suffer. No one wants to see that again and we are all risk averse.

Our Pups with Pawsonality puppy school accepts puppies from 8 to 18-weeks of age to give you a bit more wiggle room. We require only the first vaccine (proof required, so first vaccine of record). We also minimise risk of disease transfer as much as possible using relevant hygiene protocols in our spaces and on our equipment. We talk about going places safely, including carrying your pup, keeping to concrete paths, away from high dog-traffic areas, and physically wiping down your pup at home. You could even bring your pup on our Social Walks with Pawsonality, in a bag/sling or pram, to start socialisation safely!

It’s always a balance between preventing diseases and getting training started during that critical socialisation period.

Bottom line: do both! Start training and socialisation as soon as possible, while mitigating the risk of your pup contracting an infectious disease. Talk openly with your vet, trainer, and breeder.

More on developmental periods here: https://pawsonality.com.au/should-i-be-scared-of-fear-periods/
More on socialisation here: https://pawsonality.com.au/socialisation/