When can I start taking my puppy outside? Vets recommend waiting until 10-14 days after your puppy's last vaccination booster – usually at around 14–16 weeks of age – before introducing them to the wonders of local parks, beaches and walking trails. Don't resist this time in your puppy's life – embrace it!
Previously, we were told to stop vaccinating at 16 weeks but now it is safest for your pups to continue vaccinations until 20 weeks in parvo prevalent areas like ours. Many vets go a step further and say pets are not fully protected until 10 days after their final vaccine.
You can start walking your puppy after one to two weeks of them being fully vaccinated. This is usually around the 8-week mark.
After your puppy's third round of vaccinations at 16-18 weeks, they are finally ready to go to the park. In fact, at this stage they should be fully protected against the worst of the puppyhood diseases. That means puppy can say hello to unfamiliar dogs now, too.
Puppies are vaccinated against parvo at approximately 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. They are vulnerable to the disease until they have received all three shots in their vaccination series, which means owners need to take extra precaution during this time to prevent their puppies from contracting the virus.
Even in places that seem safe, viruses like Parvovirus can live in the soil for up to a year and are resistant to weather and temperature fluctuations. It just isn't worth it to take the chance – which is why vets recommend waiting the full week after vaccination before taking your pup out in public.
Vaccines for the parvovirus are recommended for all puppies and are typically administered in a three-shot series when the pup is between 6-to-8 weeks old, again at 10-to-12 weeks, and at 14-to-16 weeks. A booster shot is then given 1 year later and every 3 years after that.
As long as your puppy is 10 weeks old or older at their second vaccination, they will be immune to distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus one week after this vaccination. So, one week after their second vaccination, your puppy can be walked in public areas, and usually attend puppy classes.
After eighteen weeks of age, puppies are supposed to be fully vaccinated, and therefore fully protected against all the diseases that are common with puppies. It also means that you can now let them interact with unfamiliar dogs.
Vaccination protocols will vary so specific advice should be sought from your own vet, but most vets would advise waiting 1-2 weeks after the second vaccination before walking your puppy out in public or socialising with animals that may not be vaccinated.
It's best to wait 10 to 14 days after your puppy has received their final vaccinations before taking them on outdoor walks and exposing them to environments and other dogs.
Two weeks after your puppy receives his last vaccine, he is considered fully vaccinated and can safely go outside.
Taking your puppy for their first walk is a huge milestone, but you'll need to wait until they are fully covered by their vaccinations to be safe. This is usually a week or so after their second jab in their primary vaccination course, but this does vary depending on which vaccine your puppy has had.
We recommend that puppies receive a minimum of 3 rounds of vaccines in the first year, and for ultra protection against Parvo, we recommend puppies receive a 4th round of vaccine. Ideally, the first round of vaccine is administered about 6 weeks of age.
Puppies can receive their parvo vaccinations at 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age. They must receive a full series of vaccinations to ensure complete immunity. Puppies require a parvo booster vaccine between 14 and 16 weeks of age.
Parvo is usually fatal if untreated. Puppies need a booster 1 year after completing the initial series, then all dogs need a booster every 3 years or more often.
Typically, it's not recommended to take your dog for walks until they are fully vaccinated. Puppy vaccinations help protect your dog against diseases, making them essential when puppies go outside. Pups in particular are vulnerable to serious diseases, such as parvovirus and canine distemper.
Generally, puppies can go outside to public spaces around 2 weeks after their second puppy vaccinations. At this time, their immune response to the vaccinations kicks in and reduces the changed of them catching a disease they've been vaccinated against.
Do not let your puppies walk outside as the risk of parvovirus and leptospirosis with unvaccinated puppies is high.
When can I socialise my puppy? With our newest vaccination pups are able to head out and socialise 1 week after their 2nd Puppy Vaccination. For puppies it is a compromise between adequate socialising and preventing them from coming into contact with any of these diseases, particularly parvovirus.
When can I walk my puppy after their vaccines? It's always best to speak to your vet and follow their advice, but as a rule of thumb, you'll be able to take your puppy out for a walk 2 weeks after their second jab.
It's not safe to take your puppy outside until they've had their second round of vaccinations. This is because they aren't immune from diseases such as parvovirus, which is a highly contagious condition that can cause lifelong heart problems and even death in young dogs.
Your dog needs three sets of vaccines three to four weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age in order for him or her to be protected against harmful and sometimes deadly viruses and bacteria.
“A puppy isn't fully protected until receiving the entire series of two to three injections as recommended by your veterinarian.” But that doesn't mean your puppy can't interact with other dogs.
“Dogs who have three to five encounters with the vaccine will typically develop the highest amount of antibodies to protect from infection,” Dr. Burch said. And while some fully-vaccinated dogs can still get parvo — remember, this is rare — the vaccine will usually keep your pup completely safe.