How many people's vets...

[Tracey J]

When Molly was tiny (ie. pre-injections) I took carried her out & about but only for really short walks because I didn't want to chance her needing to wee.  We took her out in the car a lot to my mums so she had the run of a different garden, but what do you do if the pup needs to wee and you can't put him down because he's not fully vaxed?  Sorry if I sound a bit thick but I'd like to be a little less restricted when we get Brodie.                    

[PennyB]

If guess if they accidentally wee in your arms/bag then so be it (for some reason mine didn't, don't know why). I used to initially just carry mine round the block a few times a day where there were shops and people and a busy road so they could know what traffic sounded like and weren't too fased by it, and then the following week went a little bit further (or you could take them in the car to a busy shopping area not too far away for a walk round). Its just simple things at 1st and then when it does come to going down on the ground they have the confidence for their 1st walk but you still may need to carry them if you want to go further as it might not be fair on the pup to expect them to walk that far (especially as they don't need too long a walk anyway). When the pup can walk on the ground don't just limit yourself to how far the pup can walk (pups will want to walk their legs off sometimes but you shouldn't let them as their bones are still growing) and just pick them up after a short while and let them experience the world again being held taking in more sights and sounds.                    

[Laura]

but what do you do if the pup needs to wee and you can't put him down because he's not fully vaxed?  Sorry if I sound a bit thick but I'd like to be a little less restricted when we get Brodie.

The rucksack I used to use for the gym - got christened by Bailey on an outing  :shock: Our only accident.  I had put an old towel at the bottom of the bad in case of an accident - to keep Bailey dryer.  I would work on having one hour to get out/round about soicializing and back again.  

I'm gonna be thick now  :oops:  - would newspaper on the ground protect from viruses and lurgies - for a pup desparate to go?  I did put Bailey down on the floor on one occasion he was wriggling - knew he needed a wee - picked him straight up again.                    

[Tracey J]

Thanks Penny, I suppose if they're in a bag it's like being in bed and they wouldn't normally toilet there.  It's not the end of the world if he has a 'wee' accident though   I'll probably have him out all hours boring people to death with puppy stories                      

[ziggy]

i,ve never met a vet who has given this good advice,which is a terrible shame,i,ve learnt alot of valuable info on col, :wink: i have always taken the initiative myself really and have socialised any pup that we have had to people and noises as soon as they have come to us,it does make a difference,as al my dogs have always been happy around people and noises,jasper isn,t even scared of thunder,etc, i will put my vet to the test when we get gracie and she has to have her jabs,soon,see what he says,,that will be interesting

take care
ziggy and jasper :wink: xxx                    

[suki1964]

Have to say that although I have no complaints about the vetanary skills at my vets, there is no information what so ever for new puppy owners. My last vets had a puppy drop in clinic with a free first checkup and a puppy pack that had all the information about local puppy classes and the importance of socialising pre injection. (Its a shame I dont drive as Id still use it)

I carried Alfie as much as I could out to the shops and park to get him used to the noises and other people and its worked a treat - hes eager to go out and loves to meet other people. Now I need to get him to puppy classes to teach him hes a dog

One thing I never done and wished I had, was to take him out in the dark. We had our first walk round the block in the dark tonight and he didnt enjoy it at all I think that the noises of the police sirens and the boy racers on their bikes were just a bit too amplified for him so i spent most of the walk crouching down giving him encouragement.

Caroline and Alfie                    

[Becky]

At the moment our vets don't really go into it, now that I've thought about it.  The vet nurse mentioned puppy parties and asked if we would be interested.  I've been pushing for them to start this ever since, I think it would be brilliant for Ollie to meet other pups, and hopefully get handled by lots of different people.