When Can I Safely Socialize My Puppy?
Naturally, you want to keep your new puppy safe - but you of course also want to make sure that they are well socialized to different environments, seeing people, accepting the existence of other dogs and learning how to deal with them, and more. Let’s take a look at the current safety recommendations formulated by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and the American Association of Veterinary Immunologists (AAVI) - so we’re definitely going to the experts here.
The Importance of Proper Socialization
The first few weeks after bringing home your puppy are especially important because this is a window of opportunity for you to help them understand what things exist in the world. Before the age of 12-16 weeks, depending on the individual, puppies are more likely get used to new stimuli and accept them as something that exists in the world.
In the words of AVSAB, “it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.” It’s not a good idea to wait until your puppy has received their third vaccination, which often happens around 14-16 weeks of age to begin taking them out of the house. In fact, it can make them more fearful and skittish.
Therefore, proper socialization to those things that exist in the world you live in is important. But it shouldn’t be done willy nilly. Puppies can still learn that things are scary, so it’s critical that they have positive, happy experiences around the new things.
On the other hand, you of course want to make sure that your new dog is safe and healthy. So when can you do what in terms of socialization?
Before the First Vaccine and Deworming
Before your puppy has been vaccinated, all of their socialization should happen in the home. You can still do a lot by bringing different scents into your home, wearing silly costumes around your dog, playing loud movies and music, etc. Your own yard can also be a safe space.
Most of us don’t raise their own puppies, so you will not yet bring your puppy home before the first vaccine. Puppies are usually sent by breeders or rescues out with at least one vaccine already on board.
The First Vaccine and Deworming
The first vaccine should not be given before the age of 6 weeks. When puppies are still nursing, they receive antibodies from their mom, and these antibodies can actually negate the antibodies from the first vaccine. This is the reason why puppies are vaccinated multiple times when they are young but don’t require the same frequency of vaccination later in life.
7 days after the first vaccine, several activities become safe to do:
Puppy classes in a building designated for classes (not in a park or yard, though)
Outings with your dog in a stroller, backpack, your car, or on a tarp
Visiting outdoor locations on a tarp or other safe surface
Happy vet visits (remember: the first visit should not include any poking or prodding!)
Introductions to healthy, vaccinated dogs in your home or another safe location
Full disclosure: I drove my dog Yggdrasil home from New York State to Oregon after her first vaccine. She had been weaned for a couple of weeks at this time already. I had to be cautious, but we did make it through the country by sticking to hard surfaces for pottying and playing.
The Second Vaccine
Due to the antibodies from mom being super efficient (in fact, a bit overly efficient sometimes), we can’t always fully trust the first vaccine. That’s why we can’t open up our puppy’s world until after the second vaccine.
7 days after the second vaccine, you can do the following - in addition to continuing the activities listed above:
You can also bring your dog into yards that have a known “no Parvo” history for the last 7 years
You can walk your dog on hard surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete
Careful, though - don’t let puppy sniff or otherwise interact with random poop!
The Third Vaccine
The third vaccine means FREEDOM! 7 days after the third vaccine, your puppy has built up enough antibodies to safely go anywhere. Yee-haw!
Wanna read more?
The AVSAB Puppy Socialization Position Statement details why early socialization is so important for your puppy and how to safely go about it.
This book and podcast are also recommended reading for new puppy parents looking to safely socialize their new members of the family.
