Puppy early exposure

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I signed up my puppy for a kindergarten class that will start when he is 10 weeks old at petsmart. Not my first choices of places to go, but it's close to where I live. I mainly want it from the socialization standpoint.

My concern is this, I went in last night to watch a class to see how they conducted it. After about 20 minutes they walked the puppies out of the classroom into the store. It was very busy with lots of dogs who were not in the class.

Is this safe/ good idea at 10 weeks of age? Who knows the vaccination status of all dogs not in the class, but who happen to be in the area at the time. Am I being too cautious to not want my pup exposed like this? Or does it sound safe enough. Not sure what we should do.

[Susan and Bentley]

if your dog does not have all his vaccinations then you are right to be concerned.  We were told not to bring Bentley anywhere where there were other dogs, unless we were holding him - he was not allowed on the floor until he had all his shots.

[Linda And Loo]

I would not put my puppy in a social setting with other puppies until she has had her shots and the Vet says she is safe to be in a public setting. Hope this helps!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

We did the puppy class at PetCo. All the puppies in the class were required to have their Vacs. And we're not allowed to participate if they did not show proof. One woman was furious because she forgot the paperwork and was turned away. Enzo was older...12 weeks. We too did it more for the socialization and it worked out well. I always carried her in and out of the store and we never went outside the training area. I do know , with the adult classes, they do this.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

The puppies in the class all have to have proof of vaccinations. Which I felt was fine, it's just the practice of going out of the classroom that has me wondering.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Yeah...I think that would concern me as well. Maybe speak to the trainer, since you have already paid for the class. The biggest concern is Parvovirus and your pup coming into contact with another dog's feces, blood or vomit

[Gail and Bailey]

Susan is right!  Wait for you puppy to complete all his shots before you take him to class!  Even if your pup was contained in the classroom I would be concerned about what dogs had been in there recently as I am sure it is not only new puppies taking classes.

You can socialize him by taking him with you wherever you go but do not let him touch the ground until he has all his shots.  (Unless of course it is your own yard.)  Carry him and let him see, smell, and hear the world and everything in it! 

[Susan and Bentley]

I take Bentley to a training class and they make us wipe off their feet with a towel before they come into class, and they do not have any direct contact with each other until they are all vaccinated.  If you take hm to petsmart you must carry him in and out.

[Kelly & Zoe]

Carry your dog in and out of the store (especially the parking lot) - the area where Petsmart has the puppy class *should* be sanitized, I would think Petsmart is 'smart' about that and wouldn't want that liability.  My vet said puppy classes were OK if all the dogs had started the boosters and the area was sanitized regularly. 

[Gail and Bailey]

Leslie said they walked the puppies out into the store during class........the entire store is not sanitized!

Better safe than sorry.

[Kelly & Zoe]

Good point - although - I'm still surprised a big company like Petsmart would risk the liability?  And yes, better safe than sorry -

[Gail and Bailey]

I imagine they are not risking liability because how could you prove the pup got ill from walking in their store?  I wish we could assume that all precautions are taken by big companies but.......look at the companies who are poisoning our pets with ingredients from China in their food.....they sure don't care!

Our pets need us to be the vigilant ones and protect them. :)

[KLN]

Unless your doodle has had all three sets of shots (especially parvo), you should not bring him/her anywhere, especially a dog park or pet store. You are not being over cautious at all. I was so careful until my dogs had all their shots...I didn't even let people in the house with their shoes. I would not do this class until you have all three of your vaccines.