When is it safe to let people view the puppies?
 

When do most of you allow potential puppy buyers come and see your new puppies? I am worried about introduction of germs by allowing strangers come in and see them. Is 3-4 weeks an appropriate time to allow people to come see them? What is the norm/safe for the little guys?

Absolutely not. Not until after their first innoculations between 8 and 9 weeks of age. You never know what strangers will track into your home and exposing heaven knows what to those puppies.

The first four weeks they should be kept only with mother, that is all they need. In a quiet area of the house away from normal traffic and drafts. With only you intervening for assisting in potting and wieghing. The next four weeks they only need mother and each other....

Good thank you so much. I will be sure to keep them tucked away safely until then!

I think if they wash their hands, they should be fine. I never show mine at 3 to 4 weeks, but I really don't see the harm in it.

I am sure other people will have other opinions. It is not germs that you need to be so concerned with, it is diseases being brought in by other dog owners.

Some people say they do not wear their shoes in the house so as not to bring in diseases. Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have never brought disease home on my shoes.

However if I worked with dogs, I would probably not wear my work shoe in the house.

What you will do when they are allowed to be seen, is make sure that everyone entering your home removes their shoes, santizes their hands and sits on the floor in your designated area.

Great advice. They are only a few hours old and I am in love already. My little girl is such a good mama. I don't want anything to happen to them:)

Jeanie I beg to differ with you. What you are recommending is definately putting puppies at risk. The first 4 weeks their handling should be kept at a minimum. Yes, you always take the risk of someone tracking in Parvo, you don't know where they've been. Why take the risk.

No ONe is allowed to come into you kennel

I do not allow visits until the pups have had their first vaccines at 9 weeks of age. And then I only allow visitors to see only the puppies that are available and not the puppies that have deposits. I do everything possible to protect the babies and may be a bit over protective but I never risk anything. I put the babies health first :)

You can take pictures and email to friends who may be interested..I wait for in person visits until 9 weeks..then again at 12..then 16, depending on when I let them go.

Just want to mention I've put booties on my shoes when visiting pups..you know the disposable kind, also all visitors should wash hands with antibacterial soap.

For our large breed pup we got to see magic at about 5 1/2 wks old, and our little Razz at a little over 9 wks.

You will laugh, but when I was into serious showing/breeding I had a room with a glass window...people could watch the pups and not go into until first vaccinations...worked great...I should have sold tickets and pop corn..."A Yorkie movie"

I am really funny about this. I won't even let somone come into my home if I have a momma expecting soon. I really don't like strangers to come in at all. I know everyone says to go to the home and look but that freaks me out. I would rather meet someone with mom, dad and the pup. I am always afraid someone is just trying to stalk the place to steal them later. I understand buyers wanting to come but they have to understand my place also. I don't know this is one thing I am having a real problem with. I don't want them to think I am hiding anything but really don't trust people now of days.

Can I just ask a puppy owner question you guys? Napoleon is now 6.5 weeks old. He is scheduled to have his first shots on Friday...should I wait another week or 2? And he seems to be quite okay that he is been in a general area with our family, his momma and his daddy. Do you think that's okay? I'm reading here that he should have been tucked away?

Hi Mary, I would definitely wait till Napoleon is 9 weeks before you do his first shot. As long as you don't have any other obscene dogs in your home, Napoleon is fine in a confined area and visiting with dad, just keep your eye on dad and him. Make sure if visitors come, they remove shoes and wash hands before being around Napoleon, I try to minimize visitors till first set of shots are preformed.:)

Each breeder does things a bit differently. And can only give you advice best on what has been passed onto me by those greats that came before me. Information that has the pups best interest at heart. The first 8 weeks of a pups life, all it is required by to give him the best start in life. Week Five throuh Seven (29-49 days). Now is a good time to socialize within the litter (he's a litter of one, so a silly statement) and with humans in their own territory. Puppy begins to respond to voices and is able to recognize people as different than caines. About this time mother has had enough of them and weaning can be done. Usually mother's milk consistency has changed and begun to dimish, so it makes the weaning process easier).

Per recommendations, I usually don't allow my pups to run with my males. Males tend to be a bit more dominant, and I don't want a pups self confidence hurt. And of course males interfer with mom's training of her pups. Week 8 - 12 being the most crucial training period. When introducing the pup to other members of my canine household, it's usually to other pups and females of the house.

Immunizations shouldn't be started until 8-9 weeks (doing so will supress mother's immunities), 2nd innoculation at week 12-13 and 3rd vaccine at week 16.

Well, for that matter you can bring something home to your puppies as well. They are not safe from parvo with the first vaccination.

When I allow visitors I have a set of rules given prior to the visit.

1. NO CHILDREN
2. They must wear clean clothes and come straight here, no visits to other breeders before coming here.
3. They have to wash their hands when they come in.
4. They are just not allowed to touch the puppies, period! they are never handled by visitors.
5. They have to remove their shoes at the door.

Breeders who do not allow visits to see the puppies is a huge red flag to most people that the breeder has something to hide.

Everyone who has come to my home really just want to see the pup they have picked already, or who are wanting to see them in person before they pick.

They mainly want to see where and how the pups are living and the environment. And they want to meet the parents and any other dogs in the home.

First shots are normally given between 8 and 9 weeks. Doing it before then is a waste, might as well be giving them water unless using a high titer which breaks through the mothers immunity properties. Vanguard 5 plus is one with a high titer. This is what I use on all my pups and adults and I vaccinate between 7 and 8 weeks for the first vaccination.

He is fine running around the house with your family and his momma and daddy. My dogs love the puppies and I let them run around with them but not constantly..

He has helped me a lot with this vid. :)
 

Opps wrong thread.