The critical socialisation period starts at 3 weeks of age and ends at about 12-14 weeks of age, so if your puppy was 8 weeks old when you took him home, you only have a month to expose your puppy to the variety of people, places, noises, activities and things that he will need to know about in order to be happy and ...
Puppies should be at least 10-12 weeks old before they're ready to start socializing and going outside in public places. This allows them time to get all of their vaccinations and build up their immune system so that they're not as susceptible to illness from another animal or person.
Socialising puppies before vaccinations
Puppies usually go to new homes at the minimum age of eight weeks old when they're not fully vaccinated, so can't get fully out and about just yet. Until your puppy is fully protected by vaccination: don't allow them to mix with dogs of unknown vaccination status.
Do not let your puppies walk outside as the risk of parvovirus and leptospirosis with unvaccinated puppies is high.
Lack of socialization can result in behaviors that are the major causes that dogs end up in shelters. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that puppies be socialized before the vaccine series is complete.
Unvaccinated puppies can be safely socialized with fully-vaccinated adult dogs in safe environments like your home. Most puppy classes require proof of vaccination before you can enroll your puppy.
Q) When can my puppy meet other dogs? A) Puppies can meet vaccinated dogs at any age, but if the vaccination status of the other dog is unknown we advise that they don't mix until 2 weeks after the second vaccination.
Parvo can live in the ground, the grass, on bushes – pretty much anywhere (although it is not an airborne virus). Disease prevention is always less costly (and risky) than treating a condition your pet has developed.
Teach your pup to potty on a designated spot outdoors, making him think. After you bring home your new puppy the first thing you need to teach the pup is to walk to the door. Do not carry it.
Take your pup on a walk in a stroller, wagon, or sling. Just don't allow him to walk place that there might be other animal's urine or feces. Take a large blanket and an exercise pen to the park. Let your pup watch the world go by on the safety of the blanket.
The answer is you should not be leaving your 8-week-old puppy alone for an extended period. This is the part of their life where they have just been weaned and need regular feedings and potty breaks. It is recommended to wait at least until they are 3 months old before they are left alone.
First, crate train your puppy, and second, arrange for regular toilet breaks at appropriate intervals. Before leaving for work, play with your pup and take them out for a potty break. When they go, give the usual praise and reward. Then pop your pup into the crate with a safe chew toy.
You can start walking your puppy after one to two weeks of them being fully vaccinated. This is usually around the 8-week mark. However, make sure you keep a strict eye on them and ask your vet to confirm when they're allowed out on a walk.
Limit visitor numbers
To avoid overwhelming your puppy, have as few visitors as possible in their first few days with you.
After your pup's second round of initial vaccinations, he will be able to go out for walks with you one week later. Although it's tempting to take him out earlier, it is incredibly important to listen to your vet's advice.
Well-socialized puppies are more likely to grow up to be friendly adult dogs who are easy to handle and not overly frightened or stressed. The best time to socialize a puppy is from 3 to 14 weeks of age.
Use the 'last call' system before bed
Before going to bed at night, give your puppy a “last call” and allow them one last chance to use the toilet before you go to sleep. After your puppy has done their business and begins to calm down, place them where they sleep, either in their crate or in their bed.
Puppies also have small bladders and can't hold their urine for very long. That's why it's important to never wake a sleeping puppy to pee. If your puppy is sleeping soundly, it means his bladder is full and he doesn't need to go. Waking him up will only make him grumpy and disrupt his much-needed sleep.
While they are now much more resilient than they were just a few weeks ago, it's still important to continue to avoid things that could make them sick. On walks, keep to paved surfaces like sidewalks and parking lots. Stay off of grass or dirt trails where the urine or feces of unvaccinated dogs are harder to avoid.
If you live in a flat or only have access to public areas for toilet training your dog (areas where unvaccinated dogs may also be toileting) then you should not take your new puppy outside until they have completed their full vaccination course (they are usually allowed into public areas a week after completing ...
The majority of vets advise that puppies don't go outside before they're fully protected against disease. But keeping your unvaccinated puppy inside all day could hinder them later in life–which is why you'll need to start socialising them as soon as possible.
Interacting with Other Puppies and Dogs
Similarly, it should be safe for your puppy to meet older dogs of friends and family, provided they're fully vaccinated, haven't been exposed to unvaccinated dogs, and are known to be gentle with puppies.
If you're okay with this, it's perfectly fine to allow it. If you want, tell the stranger about your dog's preference for ear scratches, or offer them a treat to pass to your dog. However, even if your dog loves strangers, it's perfectly fine if you want to decline it anyway.
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!