Too many opinions, need a tie breaker?

[Tiffany0204]

Okay, I have to say, if it's THIS bad having a new puppy, I don't even want to THINK about what it's going to be like when I have kids of my own.

Here's the problem:

Gizmo has had his first 2 sets of booster shots, now it's just a waiting game for him to get his last set/rabies vaccine.

I live in a condo. So technically while I have a "front" yard so to speak, it's a common area and it isn't solely mine. There's lots of other people in my building (I live in an 8-plex) and there's another 8-plex just across the small courtyard from me. Lots of people have dogs, and to be honest, there's been alot of people who have dogs who don't really take care of them, nor do they keep up with their shots.

I was bringing Gizmo outside to housetrain him when my friend literally FREAKED out on me because he wasn't up to date on all of his shots. "All he has to do is walk over an area where a dog infected with parvo has been, and Gizmo will get it". I told her that to my knowledge, no dogs with Parvo have been through here. She lives in the same area as me, just up a little bit further. She responded with that since I didn't "know" that I shouldn't be taking the chances.

She told me to use the puppy pads, and then by the time Gizmo has figured out that the pads are the place to go to the washroom, he'll be UTD on his shots and you start bringing the pads outside. Against my better judgment, I guess more for fear of my dog getting some terrible disease, I decided to stick to her advice.

My vet, on the other hand, thinks that it shouldn't be a problem to take him outside. He says, that as long as I'm not bringing Gizmo around other dogs then it'll be okay. But my vet doesn't really understand the nature of my common area. Any dog, at any given time can roam through there. He also cautioned, that with the cold weather/snow that's going to be comming, that I need to get Gizmo accustomed to being outside (he's not a fan of it right now). Once the snow gets here, it'll be alot harder for me to housebreak my dog.

Basically he said it all boils down to wether or not I want to be dependant on the puppy pads.

Now, the puppy pads are still questionable for me. Gizmo's never really "taken" to them like how the dogs apparantly are supposed to. I mean, he doesn't automatically pee on them or anything when I'd place him on it. He gets the basic jist that that is where he's supposed to go to the bathroom, has a few accidents here and there but I mean he's still a puppy and it's going to happen.

I just don't want to overly confuse him. Should I not worry about the possible diseases around my area and let him outside? I will say, that there are ALOT of dogs in my area, mainly owned by people in low-income housing (not to stereotype) but you can tell that their money is going into other things aside from the care of their dogs. (All mangy and whatever).

It'll be another 3 weeks before he gets his last shots. Part of me thinks that I may as well just keep with the puppy pads (I don't mind using them) and go from there. I also somewhat believe that he may possibly not like it out there so much because he can sense my uneasiness with him being out there.

Sorry for the long post, if you made it this far, I appreciate it. My friend tends to be a tad bit overbearing when it comes to sharing her opinion (read: my way or the highway type) so I'd prefer to hear some other opinions.

Thanks.

[Pippinislove]

If I was in your position I would be outside house breaking him. I personally dislike the idea of "puppy pads". Just my own personal opinion. I would just stear your pup clear of any other dog's feces, and take him elsewhere to socialize him, such as a clean pet store or to a friend's house who's dogs are up to date on shots.

Though there is the slight chance that he could get parvo, it'll make it much harder to house train him later on if he's accustomed to urinated and defecating in the house.

As for an inbetween thing... do you have a balcony? I have heard some people will buy a patch of grass, put it in a container, and stick it on their balcony and "housetrain" the dog on that, so that they get used to going on grass and are used to going "outside" and not in the house... I don't know how practical that is and if it works or not, though. *shrug*

But personally getting out and socializing is important. Even though he's not old enough to get all his shots, he needs to be socialized at this point in his life.

[Kade]

Hmm... it's really hard to say! I mean, I had to take Winston to a public place to use the bathroom before he had all of his shots, and he did okay. And while I can say there were probably some less-than-pristine dogs wandering through, there weren't a lot of them.

One option, which is what I had to do with Winston at work, is to take him on the pavement only. Most dogs will go to the grass or bushes and the pavement is relatively safe.

In general, I think opinions are pretty divided on this. I think you have to make the decision based on the particulars of your area.

As for getting him used to being outside, I wouldn't let that be a factor -- in the meantime, you can take him to places where dogs don't normally travel for little training field trips (or maybe borrow a backyard of a trusted friend with trusted dogs).

Bottom line... after two sets of shots... I personally would stick to the pavement.

[marley05]

Technically he IS up to date on his shots though. I guess im trying to point out that at a certain age dogs or puppies are suppossed to have so many shots and if hes at that certain age with the so many shots i would think that he would be fine. But i am not a vet or anything close to that. I would listen too what your vet tells you, but i guess it wont hurt to be a little precautious. IMO puppy pads are a waist of time anyway, escpesially if you have to option to use a yard.

[Buddy_DaMutt]

I can say that I don't like the puppy pad idea; if you want to teach your pup to "go" outside. You may always have to use the pads once you start with them.

My cuz started them with her mini-doxie and now that's what he uses. She has just started puppy classes with him. He's about 9 or 10 months. She has neighbors with big dogs (rottie) that is mean & is not kept up on shots. She didn't want to take him out for the same reasons you do not. That and she is afraid of the big dog. He's gone after them a few times. (AC's been called, they don't SEE the dogs out so they will not do anything)

They now have a fence but are waiting on the gate to be put up. They guy who did the fence didn't finish it.

[mrsgrubby]

Since he is getting shots, I would feel comfortable taking him outside to potty.

[calgal]

Dogs CAN get a dose of Parvo even after an annual booster, I know, I had one get it.
Even though we have a super large back yard for the two Yorkies to safely run, play and potty in, they are also wee-wee pad trained. I keep a pad down for them at night, but during the day they do potty outside with no problem. The reason I chose to keep them wee-wee pad trained is because we do travel more and I'm not a big fan of going out at night at strange hotels, or early in the morning, or in the cold or rain. (then having to towel dry & blow dry the dogs to keep them from getting sick. This is just all too time consuming when you travel). The large dogs handle rain, snow & darkness much better than "most" small ones. The pads are a blessing for us.

[Pugdawg1]

While I dislike the whole puppy pad thing, I don't think I'd be willing to risk having a young pup, still going through it's shots, to take it outside where other dogs come and go. Parvo is nasty and tenacious and tends to stay in the lawn, ground, for a rather long time.

[Jamilupine]

Our vet told us not to take Lucy out to public places until she had ALL of her parvo shots. But, we traveled across the country with her and she regularly went outside in new places. Was this the SMARTEST decision? Probably not, but here's my logic -

If you walk through an area where a dog had left the parvo disease, and then you walk into your house and your dog comes into contact with your shoe, he can get parvo. Therefore, while it raises your chances slightly to take him out, chances are you are just as likely to bring parvo home as he is to pick it up outside.

Don't let him eat poop or touch noses with other dogs without checking with owners first about their shot history, or simply explain your dog's need for one more round of shots before he is allowed to socialize.

I don't really like puppy pads either, and I'd much rather have my dog peeing outside than inside on pads, so I'd be taking him out. It's really up to you to decide what is safest for your dog. If you can take your dog out knowing the risks and are willing to be vigilent for signs of illness and such, then you should do it. If you are happy with him using puppy pads and feel more comfortable with him not going out, then stick to that. The bottom line is that you need to do what you are comfortable with. Research the potential risks of the diseases and then make an educated decision that you feel you can live with. Good luck!

[MAJOR'S MOMMA]

We traveled and took Major with us when he was just a pup. Risky? Perhaps but like Jamilupine mentioned you can bring it in on your shoes from the outside. There are risk involved of course but you can do your best to reduce them. Just check the area out before you allow your pup to get down to business to make sure there are no droppings left behind from others. The pads well I am no fan of them some pups do not like going outside after using them. A friend is having great difficulty getting her pup adapted to the great out doors now. Plus he goes on anything left on the floor now. The choice is yours if you feel uncomfortable with taking him out then use the pads. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.....

[flyndog]

I'd listen to your vet. If your vet doesn't seem to understand that you have a "common area", I'd explain it to him and ask what he would do if it were *his* dog.

I personally love wee wee pads (I use the underpads for people - much cheaper). They are very convenient. Like Calgal, we travel a lot and that is why I trained Cozy to use them. She gladly goes outside, too.

And yes, my dog *is* house trained.

[Tiffany0204]

That's one thing I'd like to clear up, is that I personally don't mind using the puppy pads. I work in a factory, and there's often times when production demands that we stay an extra 2 hours or so, this way I don't worry about my dog being need to let out for a bathroom break.

I guess it's just hard because everyone has their own opinion, and most of the people around me are quite partial to their opinions and quite ....um.... verbose (nice way of putting it I guess) in telling me so. I just don't want to do something that's going to be impossible to re-tract if nessisary.

Personally, I think I'm going to stick with the puppy pads until he's had his last booster/rabies vacc, and then start taking him out for walks and whatever. Thank you all for your opinions though, I really appreciated everyone's point of view.

At least you all were nice about it, lol

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Do what your most comfortable with and go from there. I personally wouldn't have a problem with the dog going out to potty but if it bothers you then 3 more weeks isn't going to make that much of an impact.

[gilda25]

Im going through the same dilemma with my 3-month-old MaltiPoo. He just got his first set of shots and wont get his next until 4 weeks. Until then I cant really take him outside either. I asked my vet if pavement is okay and he kinda gave me a so-so answer ... a garage wouldnt be horrible (but he was still hesitant) but pavement -especially if other dogs are around that area - is a little different according to him.
Im tempted to potty train him outside but im afraid of risking him getting Parvo too. If its only a matter of waiting 4 weeks then I think i'll stick with my potty pads.
I think the bottom line is - no matter how many opinions you hear or things you read (my excessive reading since getting my dog has confused me more than anything) - just do what youre comfortable with. Thats prety much how Im dealing with it otherwise you'll go crazy b/c the vet says no, while others say "it should be fine." LOL!!
I've only had him for a week and a half so im stil learning a lot!