Raising Puppies

YOUR FIRST GOAL - SOCIALIZATION! When you get a new puppy there are some absolute rules you must follow to insure that your puppy grows up well adjusted. Puppies that are brought up through their critical socialization period correctly are less likely to become liabilities later in life.

One of the easiest and most effective ways of preventing your dog from getting sick is by making sure he gets all his vaccinations on a regular basis. Puppies need vaccinations every two to four weeks until they are at least 14 weeks of age. Most vets follow the schedules given below, although there may be some variation from state to state. Some vaccines are given separately, while others may be combined into a single shot, which makes things easier.

If a dog over 16 weeks of age has an unknown vaccine history, has not been previously vaccinated, or is more than six months over due, vaccinate and booster in 3 weeks, then annually. Intranasal Bordetella and Rabies are exceptions to the 2-4 weeks booster rule.