When you get a puppy, you of course want to bring them places to play with other dogs. However, it’s not a good idea to have them interact with other dogs right away. Here are some factors you should take into account when deciding when you want to introduce your puppy to other canine friends.
Size
An important thing to consider when allowing your puppy to interact with other dogs is its size. It’s advisable to only allow your puppy to play with dogs of similar sizes unless you are very familiar with the other dog. If you decide to take your puppy to dog parks, there are usually designated areas for large and small dogs.
Even during play sessions, a dog that’s not much larger than your puppy is capable of causing serious injury entirely by accident. For this reason, you should never allow unfamiliar dogs around your puppy. Large dogs that are calm and fully vaccinated are safer bets when deciding whether to allow supervised play sessions with your puppy.
Diseases
The most important factor to consider for your puppy is the status of their vaccinations. If your puppy isn’t up to date on all their vaccines, there’s always a possibility of it contracting one of the many common bacterial diseases. Parvovirus, Bordetella, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Respiratory Disease are just some of the bacterial diseases that can be deterred by two simple vaccines. You can get both the 5-way puppy vaccine and the Bordetella vaccine administered by your puppy’s veterinarian.
Studies have shown that puppies under 20 weeks old are more susceptible to disease. The very common diseases listed above are easily preventable yet possibly fatal if contracted. You should try to limit your puppy’s exposure to not only unvaccinated dogs but also outdoor areas where stray dogs frequently travel until your canine has completed their vaccinations.
Socialization
Still, it's highly important to start socializing your puppy between the ages of seven to 16 weeks of age. Of course, this means allowing your puppy to interact with other dogs.
Luckily, puppy classes may be available to you in your area. Puppy classes help you jump-start socialization of your puppy. Not only will your puppy interact with other people and dogs, but it also serves as a controlled environment where every puppy is required to be vaccinated.
Your dilemma as a puppy owner is that socialization is every bit as important as their vaccinations. Remember, a vaccinated puppy having safe interactions with other vaccinated dogs will be a happy one. Follow the guidelines above and you can make sure that your puppy stays healthy while still being able to socialize with other dogs.
Here’s another article you might like: How to Keep Your Dog Safe at Festivals