Vaccinations Vs Socialisation Window

It is the great debate.. the safety of vaccination immunity vs socialisation experiences.

Talk about opening up a can of worms.

Puppies undergo a phase of rapid neuronal development in the brain between the ages 3 weeks to 12 weeks. This is commonly referred to as the socialisation window. It it the window of opportunity (from a brain development perspective) to expose our puppies to lots of new stimuli and experiences so that they can learn about the environment around them. It helps them build resilience, learn to problem solve and develop behavioural flexibility. The catch? This sensitive developmental phase occurs BEFORE our puppies are fully protected from potentially fatal disease via vaccinations.

When puppies are born they have a small amount of maternal antibodies that provide immunity. They then receive a large portion of their maternal antibodies through ingestion of colostrum (early mothers milk) in the first 24-48hours. These antibodies protect the puppies from infection while they are still young. These antibodies can also impact the efficacy of vaccination. If the mothers antibody levels are high, it is very likely that the puppies own immune system will not be stimulated by the vaccination. In effect, the material immunity neutralises the vaccine, rendering it ineffective. In fact, the maternal antibodies has to be below effective immune levels before the vaccination can stimulate the pups own immune system. This leaves a dangerous window where the puppy is susceptible to disease but unable to respond to vaccinations.

If we were to wait to socialise the puppy until they are ‘fully vaccinated’ at approximately 16 weeks of age, we have missed the critical window of brain development and it is much more likely that our puppy will have difficulty adapting to their surroundings. This can lead to much more serious behavioural concerns as the puppy grows into adulthood.

So how do we get the most out of the socialisation window when our puppy is at risk of disease?

Choose LOW risk options. Viruses and bacteria can survive for long periods in the right environment, even several years! Areas that are cool, moist and have biological material can support their survival (think parks!). Puppy preschool can be a great option as they provide a safe environment with other puppies at the same stage of immunity development. However, this is just one hour, one day a week. This will hardly capture all the possible experiences outside of the home.

Visitors to the home can be a great way to allow the puppy plenty of opportunities to meet new people of different ages, shapes and sizes. Consider clothing as another layer of socialisation, raincoats, hats, high-visibility clothing and sunglasses can all be something new for the puppy to explore. Allow the puppy to be exposed to other fully vaccinated dogs in safe environments e.g. within the home. Take the puppy for drives in the car and stop and allow the puppy to observe the envrionment moving around them. Sitting in the car boot area with them with the door open can be a great way for them to see people/dogs/cars/bikes moving past. Using treats to help pair these new experiences with positive emotions can help your puppy adapt and have an optimistic outlook.

Help your puppy develop into an optimistic, resilient and confident adult dog.