# newpuppy.vet > Real answers for a puppy's first year from Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM, a general practice veterinarian and owner of Hearthstone Animal Clinic in Cypress, Texas (Texas A&M DVM, class of 2000). Free interactive tools and guides; no accounts, no email collection. General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first. The advice follows published guidelines (AAHA, WSAVA, CAPC, American Heartworm Society, AVSAB, Merck Veterinary Manual). Every dog on the site is a cartoon. Please cite the page URL given with each item. ## Author - Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM: veterinarian, Hearthstone Animal Clinic, Cypress, TX (https://hearthstonevet.com). About: https://newpuppy.vet/about - Also by him: [The Itchy Dog: Why Is My Dog So Itchy? A Vet's Real Answers on What Actually Works](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HM9H93WL) (Kindle), companion site https://itchydog.vet ## Pages - [Home](https://newpuppy.vet/): Is it an emergency, a call today, or something to watch? Free tools and guides for your puppy's first year from Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM, a vet since 2000. - [When can my puppy go outside before his shots?](https://newpuppy.vet/when-can-my-puppy-go-outside): The socialization window closes before the vaccine series ends. How to get your puppy out safely now, what to skip, and when the dog park opens up. - [The New Puppy: Is This Normal? (coming holiday 2026)](https://newpuppy.vet/book): The New Puppy, Dr. Steve Pelton's book for your puppy's first year, is coming holiday 2026. The interactive tools and guides are free here now. - [Who is Dr. Pelton? A vet since 2000](https://newpuppy.vet/about): Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM: Texas A&M class of 2000, owner of Hearthstone Animal Clinic in Cypress, Texas, and the vet behind newpuppy.vet. Where the advice comes from. - [Privacy](https://newpuppy.vet/privacy): newpuppy.vet has no accounts and collects no emails. Anything you type into the tools stays in your own browser. - [Free new puppy tools from a vet](https://newpuppy.vet/tools): Free tools for your puppy's first year: the emergency check, the Is This Normal? Finder, a fridge card and printables. - [New puppy guides: shots, worms, teeth, growth and more](https://newpuppy.vet/guides): Short, playable guides for your puppy's first year: why so many shots, the socialization clock, worms and fleas, teeth, growth, food, costs and more. - [Puppy care by breed: flat faces, giants, doodles, herding, toys](https://newpuppy.vet/breeds): Breed corners for the puppies with their own quirks: flat-faced breeds, giant breeds, doodles, herding breeds and MDR1, and toy breeds. - [Is this an emergency? Go now, call today, or watch](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-an-emergency): Is your puppy's problem an emergency? The Three Doors list: GO NOW, CALL TODAY or WATCH. From Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM. - [Is this normal for a puppy? Search a vet's answers](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal): Hiccups, fast breathing while asleep, eating poop, zoomies at 9 p.m. Look it up in plain words and see if it's normal, one to watch, or a call. - [Puppy emergency numbers: free printable fridge card](https://newpuppy.vet/fridge-card): Fill in your vet, your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic and the poison lines, then print it. Nothing you type leaves your browser. - [Free new puppy printables and checklists](https://newpuppy.vet/printables): Free printables for your puppy's first year: a before-pickup checklist, the first two weeks, rules for kids, after the visit, a cost worksheet and more. - [Why does my puppy need so many shots?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/why-so-many-puppy-shots): Mom's antibodies can block a vaccine, and nobody knows the week they fade. Slide through the Shield Relay to see why puppies get a series. - [When can my puppy meet people and dogs?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/puppy-socialization-clock): The socialization window starts closing before the shots are done. Drag the clock, sort safe outings, and print a checklist for your puppy. - [Worms, fleas, ticks and heartworm: what does my puppy need?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/meet-the-freeloaders): Tap each cartoon freeloader to see how puppies get it, what it does and how it's stopped. Year-round prevention, stool tests and heartworm tests, explained. - [When should I spay or neuter my puppy?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/spay-neuter-timing): Pick your puppy's adult size and sex to see the AAHA guidance, the trade-offs in plain words, what surgery day looks like and what's normal after. - [How do I puppy-proof my house?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/puppy-proof-your-house): Tap to find the hidden puppy hazards in five rooms, from xylitol gum to antifreeze, and learn what to do if he gets into one. A game from a vet. - [Is that puppy advice true? Tank's BS-meter](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/tanks-bs-meter): Garlic for fleas? A warm nose means sick? Guess how true 10 popular puppy claims are, then see a vet's rating and the real answer. - [What is my puppy trying to tell me?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/read-the-tail): Tap Meatball's ears, eyes, mouth, tail, body and paws to see relaxed and worried signals, plus the signs that mean it's time to get help. - [How do I keep kids and a new puppy safe?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/puppies-and-kids): Kids practice Be a Tree, play a quick what-would-you-do game and print the puppy rules for the fridge. Plus the grown-up rules and when to call your vet. - [When do puppies lose their baby teeth?](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/puppy-tooth-timeline): Slide by age to see your puppy's mouth change from 28 baby teeth to 42 adult teeth, what's normal, and when two teeth in one spot means call your vet. - [Is my puppy growing right? A vet's growth check](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/is-my-puppy-growing-right): Log your puppy's weights and watch his line climb, then check his ribs and waist. A steady climb beats any number on the scale. - [What does a puppy cost the first year? Two-Bucket planner](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/first-year-cost-planner): Plan your puppy's first year with your own local prices: the planned bucket, the surprise fund, a live total and a monthly savings target you can print. - [What should I feed my puppy? A vet's food basics](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/puppy-food-basics): The label line that matters, large-breed puppy food, meals a day by age, switching foods over a week and when to move to adult food. No brands. - [Is it normal to regret getting a puppy? The puppy blues](https://newpuppy.vet/guides/puppy-blues): Almost half of new puppy owners in one study had real negative feelings during puppyhood. A gentle check-in, what helps, and when to talk to your doctor. - [Is my French Bulldog puppy's snoring normal? Flat-faced breeds](https://newpuppy.vet/breeds/flat-faced): Why flat-faced puppies breathe noisily, why heat is dangerous for them, and the breathing signs that mean go now or call today. - [What's different about raising a giant-breed puppy?](https://newpuppy.vet/breeds/giant): Large-breed puppy food, steady lean growth, exercise without made-up rules, and the bloat signs every Great Dane owner should know by heart. - [What does a doodle puppy need? Ears, coat and allergies](https://newpuppy.vet/breeds/doodles): Weekly ear checks, starting the groomer early, and what the research says about hypoallergenic doodles. With a quick ear check you can tap through. - [Should I test my herding puppy for MDR1?](https://newpuppy.vet/breeds/herding): About 70% of Collies and 50% of Aussies tested carry the MDR1 mutation. What it means, the one-time cheek swab, and a card to keep the result handy. - [What's different about a toy-breed puppy? Low blood sugar and more](https://newpuppy.vet/breeds/toy): Toy puppies run low on fuel fast. What a skipped meal means, what to do on the way to the vet, plus baby teeth, falls and kneecaps. ## The Three Doors (is it an emergency?) Source page: https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-an-emergency - GO NOW: Do you see any of these? For example: Trouble breathing, or blue or gray gums; Collapse, or can't stand; A seizure. What to do: Head to your vet, if they're open and can see him right away, or to the nearest emergency clinic. Call on the way so they're ready for you. - CALL TODAY: Worried, or just not sure? For example: Vomiting more than once in a day; Diarrhea for more than 24 hours in a puppy who's otherwise bright and eating; Mucus or a little blood in the poop of a bright puppy. What to do: Call your vet's office today, or their after-hours line if it's night, and let them help you decide. Not sure which door you're at? That alone puts you here. - WATCH: Mild, and he's acting like himself? For example: One soft stool after a food change; One vomit, then back to normal; Mild sleepiness the day after shots. What to do: Keep an eye on him, write down what you see, and call during office hours if it hasn't cleared up. - If the puppy is under 16 weeks, a toy breed, or isn't done with his shots, move everything one door closer. ## Is This Normal? Finder Short answers in owners' words, each with its door (WATCH = usually normal, CALL TODAY, GO NOW). Search page: https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal - [My puppy sleeps all day. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-sleeps-all-day) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Yes. Young puppies sleep most of the day, in short naps between meals and play, and that's how they grow. What matters is how he is when he's awake. A sleepy puppy wakes up bright and ready to go, while a lethargic one stays quiet and flat. - [My puppy breathes fast while he sleeps. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-breathing-fast-while-sleeping) (WATCH / GO NOW): Usually, yes. Puppies breathe faster than grown dogs, and their breathing speeds up and slows down while they dream. There's no published normal number for puppies, so learn his: on a calm day, count his breaths for 30 seconds while he's sound asleep, double it, and write it down. - [My puppy twitches and runs in his sleep. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-twitching-in-sleep) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Yes, that's dreaming. Paddling legs, little yips and twitchy lips are what puppy dreams look like. A dreaming puppy wakes up when you say his name or touch him gently, and he's himself right away. - [My puppy won't settle at night. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-wont-settle-at-night) (WATCH): Very normal in the first week or two. He's in a new place without his littermates, and he may be cold, overtired or need to pee. Most puppies settle a lot within a couple of weeks once bedtime looks the same every night. - [My puppy is suddenly really tired. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-suddenly-tired) (WATCH / CALL TODAY / GO NOW): A wiped-out puppy after a busy day, or a sleepy day after shots, is common and usually passes within a day. The question is whether he perks up. If he's still flat the next day, or he's tired and also sick to his stomach or off his food, don't wait it out. - [My puppy gets the zoomies every evening. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-zoomies) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Totally normal. Zoomies are sudden bursts of wild running, often in the evening or after a bath, and they're just energy coming out. Keep him off slippery floors and away from the stairs while he does his laps. - [My puppy skipped a meal. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-skipped-a-meal) (WATCH / GO NOW): One skipped meal in a bigger puppy who's still bright and playful is usually fine, since appetite dips with teething and hot days. Toy breeds are different. They don't have the reserves to skip meals, so a tiny puppy who misses even one and seems quiet needs your vet now. - [My puppy swallowed a sock or a toy. What should I do?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-swallowed-something) (CALL TODAY / GO NOW): Call your vet now, even if he seems completely fine. Swallowed things can get stuck, and string, thread and ribbon are especially dangerous. Don't try to make him throw up at home unless your vet or poison control tells you to. - [My puppy eats poop. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-eats-poop) (WATCH): It's gross, but it's very common in puppies, and most grow out of it. It isn't dangerous on its own, but it can pass worms around. The fix is boring: pick up poop right away and keep the cat's litter box out of reach. - [My puppy eats grass. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-eats-grass) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): A little grass now and then is normal. Most dogs nibble it, and some, like Meatball, act like they're being paid. It's worth a call if it's become a daily habit, he throws up after, or the lawn may have been treated with chemicals. - [My puppy gulps his food and brings it back up. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-eats-fast-then-throws-up) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Once, in a puppy who's fine afterward, is usually nothing. Food that slides right back up with no heaving is often regurgitation, which is different from vomiting, so notice what it looked like and grab a quick video if you can. More than once in a day is a call. - [My puppy drinks a lot of water. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-drinks-a-lot) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Puppies drink more after play and on hot days, and that's normal. What's worth a call is a sudden change: drinking much more than his usual, or peeing a lot more than he used to. Keep fresh water where he can always reach it. - [My puppy gets hiccups. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-hiccups) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Yes. Hiccups are very common in young puppies, often after eating or drinking fast or after a wild play session. They usually stop on their own within a few minutes, and most puppies grow out of them. - [My puppy has soft poop. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-soft-poop) (WATCH / CALL TODAY / GO NOW): One soft stool in a bright, playful puppy is common, usually from a food change, too many treats or the stress of a new home. What matters most is the puppy, not the poop. Diarrhea with a tired, flat puppy, especially one who isn't done with his shots, can't wait. - [I see worms in my puppy's poop. What now?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/worms-in-puppy-poop) (CALL TODAY / WATCH): Call your vet today and snap a photo. Some worms look like spaghetti, others like grains of rice, and your vet will want to know which. The exception is the day or two right after a dewormer, when seeing worms is gross but normal. It means the medicine is working. - [There's mucus or a little blood in my puppy's poop. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/blood-or-mucus-in-puppy-poop) (CALL TODAY / GO NOW): A little mucus or a small streak of red on a soft stool usually means the lower gut is irritated. In a bright, playful puppy, that's a call to your vet today, not an emergency. A lot of blood, black tarry poop, or any blood in a puppy who's tired or vomiting means go now. - [My puppy pees every few minutes. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-peeing-every-few-minutes) (CALL TODAY / GO NOW): Young puppies pee a lot, but peeing every few minutes, straining to make small puddles, or blood in the pee can mean a bladder infection. That's a call today. A puppy who strains and produces nothing at all may be blocked, and that can't wait. - [My house-trained puppy started having accidents. Why?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-accidents-after-house-training) (CALL TODAY): Accidents are normal for weeks while a puppy learns. But a puppy who was doing well and suddenly starts having accidents may have a bladder infection, which makes him need to go urgently and often. See your vet before you blame the training. - [My puppy is scooting on the floor. Why?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-scooting) (CALL TODAY): Scooting, dragging his rear across the floor, is common but not normal. Worms, anal glands, irritated skin or soft poop are the usual reasons, so give your vet a call today. They'll want to know what his poop has looked like. - [My puppy bites everyone. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-biting-everyone) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Yes. Puppies explore and play with their mouths, and you're the new littermate. Teething and being overtired make it worse. Most puppies soften with practice, and the biting usually eases a lot once the adult teeth are in, around 5 to 7 months. - [I found my puppy's tooth on the floor. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-losing-baby-teeth) (WATCH): Yes. Puppies have 28 baby teeth, and they start falling out around 4 months, front teeth first, then the canines by about 6 months. Most have all 42 adult teeth by about 6 to 8 months. Plenty of baby teeth get swallowed, which is harmless. - [My puppy has two teeth in one spot. What does that mean?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-two-teeth-in-one-spot) (CALL TODAY): It means a baby tooth didn't fall out when the adult tooth came in. It's most common with the long canine teeth, and in small and flat-faced breeds. Call your vet soon. A stuck baby tooth usually needs to come out promptly so the adult tooth can settle in the right spot. - [My puppy's breath smells bad. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-bad-breath) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): That sweet, slightly odd puppy breath is normal, and it fades as the adult teeth come in. A truly rotten smell isn't puppy breath. It can mean a stuck baby tooth, an infection or something lodged in his mouth, so give your vet a call. - [My puppy's gums are bleeding. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-bleeding-gums) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): A small spot of blood on a chew toy, or a little pink in his saliva, is a normal part of losing baby teeth. It's worth a call if the bleeding doesn't stop, there's more than a little, or he won't eat. - [My puppy keeps scratching one ear. What's wrong?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-scratching-one-ear) (CALL TODAY): Scratching at one ear or shaking his head a lot often means an ear infection, and floppy-eared and doodle puppies get them a lot. Call your vet today. A sore ear is also a classic reason a puppy suddenly hates having his head touched. - [My puppy has pimples on his belly. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-pimples-on-belly) (WATCH): Small red bumps, white-tipped pimples or yellow crusts on the pink belly and inner thighs are often puppy pyoderma, a shallow skin infection that's common in young puppies. Most cases are mild, but your vet should look, because a few other things can look the same. Skip the creams in the cabinet until they do. - [My puppy has bald spots around his eyes. What is it?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-bald-spots-around-eyes) (CALL TODAY): Patchy hair loss around the eyes, lips or front legs that isn't very itchy is often demodex. Nearly every dog carries a few of these mites from their mother, and a young immune system can let them get ahead. It isn't contagious and the mild form often clears, but your vet should check, since ringworm can look similar and can spread to people. - [My puppy has goopy eyes. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-goopy-eyes) (CALL TODAY / GO NOW): Clear, watery tearing that clears up on its own is usually fine. Thick yellow or green discharge, a red or cloudy eye, or squinting that won't stop is a call today. An eye injury or a painful, shut eye means go now. Skip old eye drops, since some can make a scratched eye much worse. - [My puppy's face is swollen. Is it an emergency?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-swollen-face) (GO NOW / CALL TODAY): A puffy face, hives or swelling around the eyes right after a vaccine is an allergic reaction, and that means go now. A swollen face that comes on by itself in a young puppy, often with swollen glands under the jaw, can be juvenile cellulitis. It's rare, but call your vet right away, because it needs prompt treatment. - [My puppy has a honking cough. Is it kennel cough?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-honking-cough) (CALL TODAY / GO NOW): It might be. Kennel cough is a dry, goose-like honk, sometimes ending in a little gag, and it often starts 5 to 10 days after a puppy was around other dogs. Many cases are mild, but in a young puppy a cough can turn into pneumonia, so any cough is a call. Keep him away from other dogs until your vet says he's clear. - [My puppy makes a loud snorting honk. Is that reverse sneezing?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-reverse-sneezing) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Probably. Reverse sneezing is a loud, snorting honk where he pulls air in hard through his nose, often standing still with his neck stretched out. It looks alarming, but it's harmless, and an episode lasts from a few seconds to a minute. A short phone video helps your vet tell it apart from a cough. - [My flat-faced puppy snores. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/flat-faced-puppy-snoring) (CALL TODAY / GO NOW): It's common, but it isn't normal. In flat-faced breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs, noisy breathing is the sound of air squeezing through a tight airway. Many live with a mild version just fine, but ask your vet to check his airway, and be extra careful in the heat. - [My puppy is panting a lot. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-panting-a-lot) (WATCH / CALL TODAY / GO NOW): Panting after play or on a warm day is how puppies cool off. Panting while he's resting, or breathing that looks like work, is a call. If he might be overheated, start cooling him with cool water and moving air right away, before you get in the car, and keep cooling on the drive in. - [My puppy cries in his crate. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-crying-in-crate) (WATCH): Very normal in the first nights. He's lonely, in a new place, maybe cold or needing to pee, and he's never slept alone before. It usually gets much better within a week or two. Never punish the crying, because it only teaches him that nighttime is scary too. - [My puppy growls over his food or toys. What should I do?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-growling-over-food-or-toys) (CALL TODAY): Guarding is a natural instinct, and it's easy to make worse. Don't grab things away or test him by reaching into his bowl. Trade him for something better, feed him somewhere quiet, and call your vet early, because guarding is much easier to work on in a young puppy. - [My puppy is suddenly scared of things. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-suddenly-scared) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Short spooky phases are common in puppies, and they don't follow a set calendar. Don't drag him up to the scary thing. Back off to where he can look at it and still take a treat, keep it upbeat, and try again another day. Handled gently, most phases fade. - [My puppy ignores me now. Is this the teenage phase?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-teenage-phase) (WATCH): Probably. The teenage phase runs roughly 6 to 18 months, longer in big breeds, and researchers have seen a temporary dip in how well young dogs listen to their main person. Keep training short and rewarding, go back a step when he forgets something, and give him outlets like sniffing walks. It comes back. - [My puppy humps everything. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-humping) (WATCH): Yes. Mounting is common in puppies of both sexes, often during play or when he's excited, and it tends to pick up in the teenage months. A calm switch to a toy or a game works better than a scolding. If you're wondering whether spay or neuter timing plays a part, that's a good one for your vet. - [My puppy is shaking or trembling. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-shaking-or-trembling) (WATCH / GO NOW): Lots of puppies shiver when they're cold, excited or a little nervous, and that's fine if he's otherwise bright. In a toy-breed puppy, trembling with weakness or wobbliness can mean low blood sugar, and that's a go now. So is anything that looks like a seizure. - [My puppy has a bump at his belly button. What is it?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-belly-button-bump) (WATCH / GO NOW): A small, soft bump at the belly button is usually an umbilical hernia, a little gap where the cord was with a bit of fat poking through. Small ones may close by 3 to 4 months, and ones that don't are often fixed during the spay or neuter. Show your vet, who'll check it at every visit. - [There's a lump where my puppy got his shot. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/lump-after-puppy-vaccine) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): A small, firm, painless bump where a vaccine went in is common. It's the body reacting to the shot, and it usually shrinks on its own, though it can hang around for a few weeks. Call if it's growing, sore, or still there after about a month. - [My puppy only has one testicle. Is that normal?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-one-testicle) (WATCH): Both testicles usually drop early, and most are down by the first vet visit. If one's missing, your vet will keep checking. If it isn't down by about 6 months, it probably won't come down on its own, and it should come out at the neuter, because one that stays inside is more likely to cause trouble later. - [My puppy is limping after playing. Should I worry?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-limping-after-play) (WATCH / CALL TODAY): Growing puppies have soft growth plates near the ends of their bones, so a hard landing can hurt more than it would in a grown dog. A limp that's gone within a day after rough play is a watch. One that lasts more than a day, or comes with swelling or crying, is a call. - [My puppy's belly looks swollen. Is it an emergency?](https://newpuppy.vet/is-this-normal/puppy-swollen-belly) (GO NOW / WATCH): A belly that's tight or getting bigger, especially with retching that brings nothing up, drooling or restlessness, can be bloat. That means go now. A round, soft potbelly on a bright puppy who's eating well is different: call in the daytime and bring a fresh poop sample, since worms are a common reason. ## Questions and answers ### Can I take my puppy to the pet store before his shots are done? Yes, if you carry him or put him in a cart or stroller. Pet stores are full of new sights, sounds and smells, which is great socialization. Just keep his paws off the floor, where lots of dogs with unknown vaccine histories have walked. Source page: https://newpuppy.vet/when-can-my-puppy-go-outside#faq-pet-store ### My friend's dog is vaccinated. Can they play? Usually, yes, if the dog is a healthy, vaccinated adult who's gentle with puppies. A calm grown dog is one of the best teachers your puppy can have. Keep the first visits short and supervised. Source page: https://newpuppy.vet/when-can-my-puppy-go-outside#faq-friends-dog ### Is puppy class safe before the shots are done? A well-run class is. Puppies can start as early as 7 or 8 weeks if they had a first set of shots at least a week before class and a first deworming. Look for a class that's indoors on cleanable floors, asks for vaccine records and turns away sick puppies. Keep his shots up to date all the way through. Source page: https://newpuppy.vet/when-can-my-puppy-go-outside#faq-puppy-class ### How long after the last puppy shot can he go to the dog park? Give it four or five days after the last puppy shot before dog parks, daycare or boarding. Parvo protection from the vaccine is usually there by about 5 days. Daycares, boarding kennels and groomers set their own vaccine rules, and many want a kennel cough shot too, so ask before you book. Source page: https://newpuppy.vet/when-can-my-puppy-go-outside#faq-dog-park ### My puppy is 4 months old and we missed most of the window. Is it too late? No. He'll still learn, just more slowly. Keep going, keep every new experience easy and positive, and let him watch from a distance first. If you see fear, like hiding, trembling or not being able to settle, call your vet sooner rather than later. Source page: https://newpuppy.vet/when-can-my-puppy-go-outside#faq-too-late ## Optional - [Sitemap](https://newpuppy.vet/sitemap.xml)