Vaccinations: Building a Strong Immune System
“Engineering a superior immune system through cleanliness, testing, and timely boosters”
Vaccinations aid in building your puppy's immune system and help them avoid or fight deadly diseases. They are absolutely necessary, and sticking to a firm schedule is critical!
Your puppy will leave our home at 8 weeks old up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations. However, they will not be fully covered yet. They will need several more boosters before their immune system is fully protected. Discuss this with your vet immediately to get on a schedule. Depending on your veterinarian, your puppy will likely need 2 to 3 more boosters before being considered fully vaccinated. A complete vaccination record will be included in your puppy pack!
Deworming: A Strategic, Vet-Guided Approach
Puppies are naturally susceptible to parasite infections because their immune systems are still developing and parasites can be picked up just about anywhere.
While some older breeding protocols suggest heavily bombarding puppies with deworming medications every two weeks "just in case," we take a much more modern, balanced approach in partnership with our veterinarian. We believe in preserving a puppy's developing gut health and avoiding the use of harsh chemicals unless they are actually necessary.
Prevention Over Medication
Because our adult dogs are kept on a strict, high-quality monthly preventative (like Heartgard), their parasite load is essentially zero. This drastically reduces the chances of parasites being passed on to the puppies in the first place.
Instead of blasting our litters with "nuclear" broad-spectrum dewormers on a rigid schedule, we focus on:
Meticulous Cleanliness: Keeping the whelping box and puppy play areas spotless to break any potential parasite life cycles.
Strategic Fecal Testing: We run fecal floats with our vet to see if any parasites are actually present.
Targeted Treatment: If, and only if, a puppy shows symptoms or a fecal test comes back positive, we treat the specific parasite with the appropriate medication.
What to Do If Your Puppy Gets a Parasite
Don't freak out! Remember that dogs are animals, and parasites are both incredibly easy to contract and typically very easy to get rid of. No matter how clean a breeder or owner is, a puppy can pick up a bug from a blade of grass or a puddle outside.
If your puppy has loose or exceptionally stinky stool, simply take a fresh stool sample to your vet. They will identify the exact parasite and give you a safe, targeted medication to clear it right up.
The Golden Rule of Puppy Safety
Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, PLEASE avoid any and all places where there may be unvaccinated dogs or heavy dog traffic. This means dog parks, pet stores, and feed supply stores. The potential for catching a disease is incredibly high in these places.
When you go to the vet, carry your puppy in and out instead of letting them walk on the lobby floor. Don't be too concerned about missing out on dog-to-dog socialization at this age—they have plenty of time for that once they are fully protected! Instead, use this time to safely introduce them to new people, sounds, and other controlled environments at home. Keep all interactions positive.
Our Puppy Vaccination Schedule
(Subject to change based on the latest veterinary research)
7-8 Weeks: DAPPv+CV (A single injection providing protection against Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 1 & 2, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Coronavirus).
Our Adult Dog Vaccination Schedule
DAPPvL2+Cv: Given starting at 16 weeks. This provides broad protection against Distemper, Adenovirus 1 & 2, Parainfluenza, Parvo, Coronavirus, and Leptospirosis.
Kennel Cough (SoloJec KC): Administered intranasally between 12-16 weeks and then renewed annually.
Rabies: First vaccine is given between 12-16 weeks, with a booster after 1 year, and every 3 years after (this schedule may vary depending on your state laws).
