I'm looking for an older thread on vaccine protocol for puppies.

I'm buying my first puppy after a long string of rescue dogs. It's the last chance on a particular bloodline of APBT that I know well. The breeder (whom I have known and worked with for over a year) will withhold the first vaccine for me and allow me to pick up the puppy early - at 6 weeks.

I'm looking for a middle of the road plan to minimize risks.
Thanks in advance (Connie) <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I'm looking for an older thread on vaccine protocol for puppies.

I'm buying my first puppy after a long string of rescue dogs. It's the last chance on a particular bloodline of APBT that I know well. The breeder (whom I have known and worked with for over a year) will withhold the first vaccine for me and allow me to pick up the puppy early - at 6 weeks.

I'm looking for a middle of the road plan to minimize risks.
Thanks in advance (Connie) <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

This one? I have this one bookmarked:
http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4143416/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1

The protocol Ed cites in that thread is the one my vet now uses and the one that's outlined in the newest and better (IMO) vet manuals.

Why would you want to pick up the puppy at 6 weeks?

I would not want a puppy before 7 weeks of age, but prefer for them to stay with the litter til 8 weeks minimum. I also prefer to see pups nursing til 7 or 8 weeks of age, and if this is the case then the vaccines can wait, due to the maternal antibodies the puppies receive thru the mother's milk. My Malinois Aera will nurse her pups indefinitely, they usually lose interest in her before she weans them!

Puppies are not even neurologically "done" developing until 7 weeks of age, hence the scads of people doing their puppy aptitude testing at 49 days of age.

I believe it's critical for a young dog to spend at least the first 8 weeks of life with the litter and mom too, if possible.

As for vaccines, if this were a pup I was purchasing for myself I would probably say NO vaccines at all. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> If you don't feel comfortable doing that, I would wait til 10-12 weeks.

I am going to be writing a question and answer section to add to the website in regards to vaccines. (hopefully soon!)

Anne any person that allows their pups to be taken from a litter at 6 weeks DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE CALLED A BREEDER. This is drop dead stupid. If you want some good advice listen to Cindy because she knows about 100 times more than the person your dealing with.

all backyard breeders and puppy mills say six weeks is OK to sell. Be advised. I had a hard time waiting for my last puppy and she would not let him go until 9 weeks.

I forgot to check in on this!

Connie - that was exactly the thread I was thinking of! Thank you!

I talked to my vet today and was disappointed. She's recommending 1 parvo-only and 3 combo vaccines and absolutely don't wait until 12 weeks.

After reading the thread Connie linked to again, I'm thinking parvo-only right away and parvo/distemper 3 weeks after. Rabies at 4 mo. Check titers after 1 yr and then every 3 yrs.

On the age of getting the pup:

I've known the breeder for several years. We discussed the age for picking up the pup at length when I toured the kennel (again) and looked at the pups at 2-1/2 weeks old. He lets them go at 7-1/2 - 8 weeks.

The reasons we agree on younger are:
a) the mother is VERY dog-aggressive and
b) the pup is expected to have an extremely strong genetic tendency towards dog aggression and
c) my plan is to train this dog to be totally 100% neutral to other dogs to manage the expected aggression.

I'm also reserving the option to NOT take the pup at 6 weeks.

 Quote:

I am going to be writing a question and answer section to add to the website in regards to vaccines. (hopefully soon!)

i am very much looking forward to this!

Anne, I would never give a parvo vaccine "right away", especially when you are considering taking the pup at 6 weeks.. you are setting this puppy up for medical problems.

Actually taking a pup from it's litter before 7 1/2 to 8 weeks will actually set up dogs to be MORE aggressive with other dogs, as they didn't the chance to learn dog social skills with the littermates. Are you saying the mother is aggressive to her own puppies? If so, I would absolutely not take a puppy form this litter, no matter what.

I NEVER would vaccinate a pup for rabies at 4 months. I just wouldn't do it, especially with a dog you are expecting dog aggression issues with. Do some google searches on Rabies miasms to see what one of the main behavior changes reported with rabies is....unwarranted aggression.

I don't know what your intended venue is for this puppy, but I would hesitate to start with a dog with a genetic tendency of dog aggression. I have owned one of those and Ed has owned MANY. It's stacking the deck against you for many forms of training and competition. I don't know if you have ever walked around with a TRULY dog aggessive dog on your leash but it's like having a flame thrower in a room full of gas cans in many situations.

cindy, what do you think about combining parvo and distemper? and is it possible to get distemper as a killed virus instead of modified live? if so, do you think one is more safe and effective than the other?

I personally would prefer to split up parvo and distemper vacs if possible, but it's not always possible!!

It's better than the combo vaccine, but I look at it like this... when is your puppy EVER going to be exposed to TWO lifethreatening diseases on the same day via a puncture in the skin?... No wonder our dogs have so many cases of immune problems. We overwhelm their not yet developed immune systems and put them into a tizzy.

As for killed vs. modified live vaccines...hmmmm...I don't feel that I am educated enough on that subject to publicly comment at this point.

My own personal dogs get NO vaccines, ever. (if you want a clue about how I strongly I feel about this ) <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I would rather fight a disease, than have a dog that is permanently damaged from vaccinosis.