"My vet said not to take my puppy anywhere until he:

          a.  has all of his vaccinations and/or
          b.  is six months old"

There are some veterinarians who disagree with veterinary behaviorists regarding the risks of early socialization vs. the risk of contracting disease before puppies receive a full series of vaccinations or reaches a certain age. 

These days, dogs are at greater risk of euthanasia for behavior problems than of communicable diseases.  One of the leading causes of behavior problems is lack of proper early socialization. Poorly socialized puppies turn into dogs who are afraid of everything new.  Some dogs end up shy, others react with aggressive displays towards new people, dogs and objects.

Below are articles/letters by veterinarians discussing the risks of socialization classes vs. full vaccination. 

• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: Early Socialization
• Purdue University
• Robert K. Anderson DVM, letter to colleagues
• Striving For Puppy Wellness: Are Early Socialization and Infectious Disease Prevention Incompatible?

Since 2001, 4Paws has been offering puppy socialization classes.  We have had well over 1,200 puppies safely complete our Puppy Kindergarten program. We take all reasonable precautions and require puppies to have a minimum of two in the series of standard booster vaccinations (including Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, and Hepatitis plus Bordetella (kennel cough) before starting class. Most puppies satisfy these requirements around 14 weeks of age. 

While we are not veterinarians and can not guarantee that there is no risk whatsoever, we keep up on the latest recommendations by the experts who suggest that the risk of behavior problems outweighs the minimal risk of disease.

If you have concerns about bringing your puppy to class before fully vaccinated, please print the links above and discuss with your veterinarian.  Ultimately, the decision is yours.