Check under kennels or boarding kennels. Also look for training clubs in your area through the AKC site, those type clubs generally have classes. I actually got lucky there is a training kennel about 3 miles from my house. Even though Petsmart is closer, I like the skill level of the instructors at my local kennel much more. Plus I've worked on obedience titles with Camo, and Petsmart just doesn't get that advanced.

If you are uncomfortable about about the vaccination thing ( me personally wouldn't worry too much ) take a towel and put it in a shopping cart then put puppy in there. You get the sites and sounds and people. Does your puppy know sit yet, if so whenever someone walks up to the cart make sure puppy sits before they get a pet from a person. Seems silly but learning to wait before being pet is huge!!!!

hi,

read dunbar's book. the socialization window closes around 16 weeks. millions of dogs are pts because of behavior problems, hardly any die from distemper or parvo.

waht hamish's mom said - get him out and about, but don't be stupid, dog parks or even parks where dogs are frequent visitors are not good places. the houses of friends with healthy dogs are fine.

i would absolutely take a puppy to class (and have done so), before the second set of shots.

v

I bought Dunbar's book and am about 3/4 of the way done with it.

Thank you for telling me it's ok to bring him out! I've been such a protective mother about the whole vaccinations thing--I mean it seems to be stressed so much everywhere, I didn't want to take any chances. We've had 7 visitors over three different days for dinner/lunch/puppy meeting in the past week, plus hanging out with the two people that live downstairs, and the landlord and his wife and 4 kids across the driveway. I think it's time for a trip to the pet store today, though! He needs another Kong anyway...

Do you think it would be too intense to take a walk down the main street in our town? (Saratoga Springs NY, track season, nice day, will be plenty of people) Is that too much too early?

hi,

some of us stress that it's more important to get them out to socialize - carefully of course! long story, but i had a pup who had to have a rabies shot at 12 weeks, too early for me and i really didn't want his immune system compromised in any way so he skipped his second set of shots. thank goodness it was winter, but i carried him into every store that would let me, the dry cleaners, the bank, the post office, the hardware store.

you can put him in the car and drive him around so he gets to see/hear/smell all kinds of things. there were some really creative suggestions on another thread about early socialization - help!!!!!

open the window and let people pet him. make sure you feed, feed, feed so his little brain makes a perfect "people are good!" neural connection. it's not always enough to take them out, it's always safer to take them out and make sure it's a very positive experience.

the volume of people and other stuff on main st. is good, but it might be a bit risky re: other dogs that you don't know are safe. and if he doesn't have a good 'leave it', he could sniff the wrong thing.

get people to wear stupid hats and costumes when they come to visit. big clunky belts like police, shiny things pinned on them...whatever you can think of. have a contest - the person with the most outrageous outfit gets to clean up the slobber(grin).

think of all the things you can do to help him learn to tolerate (and love!) as much as possible.

v

Thought you'd appreciate this, V. I was out on the deck reading this morning and Wilbur decided to come lay in my lap. I guess Wilbur approves of Dunbar.

Awww he was telling you to stop reading and cuddle a while After all the most important thing about getting a puppy is to love them
Missy

too cute lol!

v