When is it safe to touch a young pup?

[joyce evans]

I totally agree with Yorkiemom1. I'm not sure why the breeder would be risking letting anyone or anything around her pups at such a young age. Mine just touched grass for the 1st time last night and I waited for 3 weeks after she had her shots and I still don't feel comfortable. Since we cannot see Parvo...having a clean environment or just being nicely dressed and clean can be very decieving. I've delt with and have lost dogs to this virus in the past (20 yrs. ago) and I freak out when even the name of it comes up. I also ask my vet if there have been any cases of it when I bring Hannah in. I don't know of any other risk but Parvo is enough for me.

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

This is just me....and I am a crazy, over the top breeder.....and I have already HAD parvo brought in to my home on a puppy visitors shoes and it almost wiped me completely out!! That was close to 8 years ago....and I stopped allowing people onto my property to visit with their babies until those babies have 2 vaccinations in them...and then it is like being a member of a hazmat unit...shoe covers, hand sanitizer, walking across rugs that have been sprayed with Virkon prior to the shoe covers, and the foyer is as far as anyone is allowed to enter. It is just not worth it for me to risk EVER AGAIN, the lives of my babies and even loosing my business....the most expensive babies I have ever sold, combined together, does not come close to what it cost me to save the litter of puppies that came down with parvo, as well as throw out every single item those babies had come in contact with, have my home and yard treated and "sterilized"....plus then not breeding for almost 2 years just to be certain that any trace of that horrific disease was totally obliterated from my property. And remember, if YOU are allowed there to handle and walk around her property/home, so is anyone else....and she really does not know for sure where any of you have been or walked or handled...she is taking each persons word for it. And you KNOW parvo virus lives on surfaces and is quite capable of transfer for a LOT LONGER than the 6 weeks you have been away from unvaccinated dogs.....and may have picked up the virus working around parvo infested dogs!

Wow!! Once again I show my ignorance about the possible dangers. My byb had another friend of ours who is a certified vet tech working with her throughout the pregnancy and whelp. I thought all was well. I am horrified at the potential disasters that could have occured with my precious Huey. Even though I did not pay a dime for this precious creature besides the supplies I bought, I am the luckiest person in the world that he has been healthy, happy, and only slightly mental.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by joyce evans

I totally agree with Yorkiemom1. I'm not sure why the breeder would be risking letting anyone or anything around her pups at such a young age. Mine just touched grass for the 1st time last night and I waited for 3 weeks after she had her shots and I still don't feel comfortable. Since we cannot see Parvo...having a clean environment or just being nicely dressed and clean can be very decieving. I've delt with and have lost dogs to this virus in the past (20 yrs. ago) and I freak out when even the name of it comes up. I also ask my vet if there have been any cases of it when I bring Hannah in. I don't know of any other risk but Parvo is enough for me.

When I go to the vet, we sit in the car until they motion for us to come inside...we go straight back to a room, where I throw a sheet over the exam table. I do not let my babies, grown or especially puppies, touch any surface at the vet office. I cover the scales with a disposable towel....I bring my own thermometer. When we leave, the sheets go into a plastic garbage bag and straight into a hot washing machine with Virkon solution for the laundry when we get home!!. Parvo absolutely terrifies me....my house is clean and my grounds are well kept...my vet was shocked and amazed when my babies came down with this and we determined visitors that came to see puppies a week prior, had to have been the culprits. My vet knows how crazy I am about "sterilizing" all areas with Clorox and they could not believe this got me. Like said above, "having a clean environment or nicely dressed" is a false sense of security. And Parvo only as to ravage you ONCE and you will be just as cautious going forward as any of us that have been there, done that!

[lovespandp]

Ahh I’m so glad you posted. You are one of the greatest breeders on here, I would love to own one of your babies because I see how much you love them, care for them, and over protect them!! If I was looking for a Yorkie I would take your advice to heart and listen to you completely! Listening to people with how much experience you have under your belt is only going to benefit that person and resolve in happiness with a healthy puppy and not heart ache! Of course we all can make our own opinions and do as we wish, but hopefully my little 2 cents helped !

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

This is just me....and I am a crazy, over the top breeder.....and I have already HAD parvo brought in to my home on a puppy visitors shoes and it almost wiped me completely out!! That was close to 8 years ago....and I stopped allowing people onto my property to visit with their babies until those babies have 2 vaccinations in them...and then it is like being a member of a hazmat unit...shoe covers, hand sanitizer, walking across rugs that have been sprayed with Virkon prior to the shoe covers, and the foyer is as far as anyone is allowed to enter. It is just not worth it for me to risk EVER AGAIN, the lives of my babies and even loosing my business....the most expensive babies I have ever sold, combined together, does not come close to what it cost me to save the litter of puppies that came down with parvo, as well as throw out every single item those babies had come in contact with, have my home and yard treated and "sterilized"....plus then not breeding for almost 2 years just to be certain that any trace of that horrific disease was totally obliterated from my property. And remember, if YOU are allowed there to handle and walk around her property/home, so is anyone else....and she really does not know for sure where any of you have been or walked or handled...she is taking each persons word for it. And you KNOW parvo virus lives on surfaces and is quite capable of transfer for a LOT LONGER than the 6 weeks you have been away from unvaccinated dogs.....and may have picked up the virus working around parvo infested dogs!

[joyce evans]

I lost a Blue Doberman to it along time ago and after that I had a Lab pup that I know for a fact got it from an animal hospital. I knew the signs and caught it in time only because I would go home for lunch and check on him. He survived.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

This is just me....and I am a crazy, over the top breeder.....and I have already HAD parvo brought in to my home on a puppy visitors shoes and it almost wiped me completely out!! That was close to 8 years ago....and I stopped allowing people onto my property to visit with their babies until those babies have 2 vaccinations in them...and then it is like being a member of a hazmat unit...shoe covers, hand sanitizer, walking across rugs that have been sprayed with Virkon prior to the shoe covers, and the foyer is as far as anyone is allowed to enter. It is just not worth it for me to risk EVER AGAIN, the lives of my babies and even loosing my business....the most expensive babies I have ever sold, combined together, does not come close to what it cost me to save the litter of puppies that came down with parvo, as well as throw out every single item those babies had come in contact with, have my home and yard treated and "sterilized"....plus then not breeding for almost 2 years just to be certain that any trace of that horrific disease was totally obliterated from my property. And remember, if YOU are allowed there to handle and walk around her property/home, so is anyone else....and she really does not know for sure where any of you have been or walked or handled...she is taking each persons word for it. And you KNOW parvo virus lives on surfaces and is quite capable of transfer for a LOT LONGER than the 6 weeks you have been away from unvaccinated dogs.....and may have picked up the virus working around parvo infested dogs!

The answer and experience I was looking for!

[LoveNeverDies]

Thank you all. I did speak with the breeder and she had a pretty strict way of allowing it. Shoes off outside, sanitize, only in one room, not handle the puppy, and a few other things. But I am still nervous. I'm sure others are going to be visiting their puppies soon, but I do not think that I will. I would be too heartbroken if I did and they would come down with something, knowing I might have done it. Again thank you all so much, I truly appreciate your opinions and help. And no P&P I did not take any offense at all, I know it is just in the pups best interests, which is most important to me... honestly, I've read some posts in the breeders section that I am surprised at how well everyone can restrain themselves