Taking our puppy with us to FT. Wilderness in Disneyworld

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I'm looking for a little advice. We're supposed to be taking our RV to Ft Wilderness in Disney. Our new puppy will be about 14 weeks old then. Our vet informed us that his vaccinations won't have fully taken effect then and he'd have about a 10-15% chance of picking up parvo or distemper. I obviously don't want to risk his health but I also don't want to board him for almost 2 weeks either. Any suggestions?

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

Could you possibly postpone your trip until the dog is older? Not the best time to leave him with others or in a RV, he's just a baby.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I waited until Peri was over 16 weeks to take her anywhere (other than my parent's house). I would be pretty careful about this. Even though the percentage seems low, you should listen to your vet. Either leave him home (which would probably be hard on him unless he stays with someone else he knows - and most places won't board a pup until they are completely vaccinated) or postpone the trip. Even waiting 2 weeks to a month would be helpful. Is that possible? We left Peri with my parents for a long weekend when she was 5 months old - she drove them a little crazy even then :)

Peri would have driven me CRAZY at 14 weeks on a vacation! LOL!

[Lee Seidman]

not a good idea to expose to other dogs waste........puppy's can catch all kinds of things.

[Debbie and Thomas]

You will have to ask your vet for advice on this! My goldendoodle started puppy classes when he was 14 weeks old and he was near all kinds of dogs and the classes were held in a pet store. Our vet gave us the go ahead for this. Thomas, our goldendoodle had all of his shots by then and he had every shot available to dogs: parvo,rabies,distemper,lypto,bordatella and another one-can't remember. If your vet does not think your puppy will be immune to certain diseases then you just can't take him or you can wait a few weeks and take him along. It's just not worth the risk.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

I agree with others- postpone or have family or friends watch the puppy. Besides the health threat, it may cause confusion with house training etc. Puppies need a routine when they are little- seems like it may be too much stress for a long trip at this time.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We got Ned at 3 1/2 months and it was summer. We spent lots of time in our RV. House breaking and bonding in an RV is easier because you are right there to watch the pup. We crated at night and when we were out because of the dangers = wires to chew etc. We took Ned to the potty areas provided by the campgrounds as well as "sneaking" some more isolated places to prevent some exposure to "germs." Ned skipped the infant shots but had 2 sets of shots by the time we left. Both my breeder and our vet felt that those first shots didn't offer long term protection but that the 2 sets he had would provide immunity. We felt comfortable with what we did. Ned happened to have a mature bladder and was able to hold his urine for quite a bit longer than we expected. He also housebroke quite fast. At home we had a doggie door that Ned learned to use almost immediately as long as he was in that general area. I don't know what activities you have planned, but we didn't leave Ned for long periods of time. We were able to focus on Ned during this time. If you are planning to be gone in the Park for hours and hours though, I wouldn't take him unless someone is going to stay back and be with him.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

not that I'm any expert here, but the thing that I find troubling is a vet recommending that you board a puppy that hasn't had all it's vaccinations! I didn't even think a boarding kennel would take a puppy that has not had all of its shots! Am I wrong here ...... if the vet was suggesting boarding at the vet hospital, that seems a little odd as well, as where is the most likely place you are going to run into Parvo (maybe a vet hospital?). Not that I'm suggesting you should take the puppy with you (I'm just invisioning a 3 y/o, a 5 y/o, and a puppy in an RV for 8 days) I would need Drugs! lol ....... you must be one patient Mom! married to one patient Dad! You may qualify for Saint Hood when you return.