Why You Should Take Your Urban Puppy to Socials After Just One Set of Shots

Dr. Bonnie Beaver, former president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists presented a study titled  “Dangerous Dog Conference” at the University of California/Davis.Dr Beaver highlighted a study on the risk of partially-vaccinated puppies contracting parvovirus at indoor puppy socials. The result?

Puppies with just the first set of shots attending puppy socials are at NO greater risk of parvovirus infection than those not attending socials. During the study of 1,012 puppies.

• None of the 15 puppies that contracted parvovirus had attended puppy socials.
• None of the puppies that attended socials contracted parvovirus.

This UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine study dovetails perfectly with the standard of care recommended by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), which unequivocally encourages puppies to begin socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age and seven days after the first set of vaccinations.

It is important to note that structured puppy socials, run by a variety of training and daycare facilities and other pet-related businesses, take place INDOORS on non-porous surfaces with immediate cleaning of any “accidents” with an antimicrobial solution. Porous surfaces such as soil, sand and in particular, dog parks must be avoided until full vaccinations!!! Puppy Social Hours and KinderPuppy classes at Smartypaws are held on non-porous flooring, and are cleaned and disinfected with a veterinary approved cleaner. We take extra precautions to require every puppy to have two sets of shots and a negative fecal result before coming to class.

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