kle1986:I forgot to mention that these pups only feed from their momma once.
cholostrum is passed on in NEW mother's milk. So, it's my understanding, that the FIRST nursing contains the most maternal anti-bodies and that diminishes over the next 3 days.
So honestly? I'm going to disagree with Gina on this one, altho I understand her point about what your other dogs may bring in on their feet. Except what's passed has likely already been passed (with a 9 day incubation) -- and the whole point for waiting is to bypass maternal immunity.
But also remember -- these are chis and they are MORE prone to breed-related health immune issues than most breeds. Demodex is HUGE (in chis -- and particularly in not-well-bred chihuahuas) and frankly no way would I vaccinate them until their bodies are old enough to really be receptive and deal with the vaccine. You may not want to wait until 10 or 11 weeks, but I sure as heck wouldn't do it at six weeks. I wouldn't want you to wind up with a whole litter with demodex to contend with (and that can happen once you bury the immune system with vaccines if the immune system isn't strong enough to receive them.) It's a very tough call, but if you vax at 6 weeks that's why they vax AGAIN so early and that gives them a double whammy of vaccines which can trigger demodex out if they're carrying the gene for it.
But then, it would be my way to be over-cautious and not go to a show for this duration.