Puppy Vaccines

Yes, pups must have started their vaccines to enroll in a class. I cannot make absolutes about vaccines since each veterinarian has differing vaccine protocols. All we need to succeed is that each pup stays on his schedule; pups in class don't need to have the same schedule.

No, your pup does not need to have completed all of his vaccines to start. Waiting to start class until 'he's finished with his shots' is not necessary. My clients are the upper ten percent of Orange County's pet parents. No puppy, since I started teaching puppy class in 1979, has ever gotten sick from coming to my classes.

I teach classes on 'clean' surfaces. Dogs are owned by people just like you who are attentive to their pet's health.

Dog parks,  doggie daycare, trips to the pet store with your pup are by far at a greater risk to your pet than coming to my classes. Pups who live with older dogs who go to the above are put at risk. They are not put at risk coming to my puppy classes.

Why don't I have everyone bring proof of vaccines? Asking people to find, collect and bring each page from all vet visits is more than most owners can manage. Calling and asking your vet to fax records to me adds hassle to hard-working veterinarians.

What do I do when a harried husband shows up at the first class and forgot the vaccine paperwork the wife left out on the kitchen counter? Send him home? Do I sift through ten sets of veterinarian papers from ten different owners, maybe in date order or maybe not, upside down and with coffee stains on them while I lose valuable teaching time? Insist that people show me their vaccine history on their phone while I am trying to teach potty training?

The enrollment form asks the name of your veterinarian and if your pup is current on vaccines. This is how I know that owners are complying with vaccines. People taking their dogs to dog parks, daycare, and to the local 'dog park' in the cul-de-sac are not asked this.

If you do not want to bring your pup to class until he has 'finished his shots' I am happy to see you as soon as he can come to class. But, remember that the critical period of socialization is from six to sixteen weeks.  (This comes from the Scott and Fuller Bar Harbor experiments in 1954) Once your pup passes the sixteen-week mark teaching him to be social with other dogs and human strangers becomes more difficult and with a worse outcome.

See you soon

Dr. Sue Myles