How to socialise before vaccinations?

Hi there

I will be picking up my German Shepherd pup in April when she is 8 weeks old, however she will not be fully vaccinated until 12 weeks.

How do you suggest we socialize her to as many new situations and people as possible in this period?

Many Thanks
Michelle



Hi Michelle
That's always a challenge, and you have to weigh the benefits of socialization against the risks of infection!

You want to avoid places where stray/unvaccinated dogs may have been, so parks, beaches, city streets etc. are a 'no-no'.

If you have friends/relatives that have healthy, vaccinated pets, then that's a good place to start. Either take your puppy to their homes, or invite them to yours. This way she gets a chance to meet new people and dogs, without taking risks.

As she's still going to be reasonably small, you can take her places where you can carry her, or put a blanket in a shoppping cart and push her around your local pet superstore. She can take car rides too.

You just want to avoid having her feet touch the ground where she could pick up any infection, or the opportunity for her to be around other dogs feces, the prime method of transmission of many dog illnesses.


Take a look at my Socialize Your Puppy page, and Puppy Socialization Checklist pages for lots more ideas and suggestions on how to introduce your pup to new situations and people once vaccinations are complete.

There's an ebook I recommend to new GSD owners, especially if it's their first, it's full of valuable information on owning one of these intelligent and beautiful dogs. You can find out more about it right here Best of luck with your German Shepherd pup!