Why can't I take my puppy to public places? Due to the dangers of nasty, and potentially fatal, viruses such as canine parvovirus and canine distemper lurking anywhere an infected dog may have been, puppies need to be kept at home until they are fully protected.
Puppies shouldn't go out into public until they're fully vaccinated, but they should be socialized as early as possible. To start the socialization process, bring your puppy around friends or family members who have dogs that are vaccinated and are not currently sick.
If you receive your puppy at 8 weeks, you can safely take him outside, but with precautions. You should take your puppy outside to use the bathroom and start activities in the home. The AVMA states that activities should be limited to areas that are not used by unvaccinated animals.
Puppies usually go to new homes at the minimum age of eight weeks old when they're not fully vaccinated, so can't get fully out and about just yet. Until your puppy is fully protected by vaccination: don't allow them to mix with dogs of unknown vaccination status.
Puppies should be at least 10-12 weeks old before they're ready to start socializing and going outside in public places. This allows them time to get all of their vaccinations and build up their immune system so that they're not as susceptible to illness from another animal or person.
Puppies usually have their first vaccination at around eight weeks old, followed by another vaccination two to four weeks later. The vaccinations take time to take effect, so avoid taking them outside until your puppy has had all of their vaccinations.
You can start walking your puppy after one to two weeks of them being fully vaccinated. This is usually around the 8-week mark. However, make sure you keep a strict eye on them and ask your vet to confirm when they're allowed out on a walk.
First, crate train your puppy, and second, arrange for regular toilet breaks at appropriate intervals. Before leaving for work, play with your pup and take them out for a potty break. When they go, give the usual praise and reward. Then pop your pup into the crate with a safe chew toy.
Around 8 weeks old (or older) is the ideal age for you to bring a puppy home. If possible, puppies should stay with their moms until they're 8 weeks old, which gives them the opportunity to learn how to communicate and play with other dogs from their litter.
Socialising Your Unvaccinated Puppy Outside
While your puppy still can be carried, take them out with you daily. This will help them to be exposed to the outside world of noise and seeing things. You can also take them out in a doggy buggy/pram.
The majority of vets advise that puppies don't go outside before they're fully protected against disease. But keeping your unvaccinated puppy inside all day could hinder them later in life–which is why you'll need to start socialising them as soon as possible.
After your pup's second round of initial vaccinations, he will be able to go out for walks with you one week later. Although it's tempting to take him out earlier, it is incredibly important to listen to your vet's advice.
Staying in a crate helps reduce the risk of accidents and also keeps your puppy safe and secure when no one is around. Keeping your puppy in a crate is a temporary solution. Puppies that are a few months old or more might not handle being in a crate for several hours at a time.
Avoid too much too soon
Instead, start by going to a quiet pub, for a short period of time, before gradually building it up. Remember, if your pup seems afraid, calmly take them away from the situation, as you want to avoid them developing a long-term fear.
Generally, puppies can go outside to public spaces around 2 weeks after their second puppy vaccinations. At this time, their immune response to the vaccinations kicks in and reduces the changed of them catching a disease they've been vaccinated against.
Separation anxiety is a serious condition that creates high levels of stress for your puppy and often results in abnormal behaviour when left alone. Puppies may cry a little when you leave the house, but separation anxiety is usually explained by more extreme behaviours, such as: Destructive or disruptive behaviour.
Unlike the crate where you can't leave a young puppy for long periods; the puppy will be fine in the playpen and you can go out for longer periods. Just make sure your dog is ready before you leave for a long period so the puppy does not feel left alone form the start and associate that with the playpen itself.
Show your puppy where to sleep.
If he seems drowsy, encourage him to nap in his safe place: a crate, a dog bed, or a quiet place in the house where he can nap undisturbed. It may take time for him to get the idea, but eventually he'll recognize that spot as the place for sleep.
As for how frequently to walk your puppy, the short answer is: as often as they need to go outside! Your puppy will be going potty a lot, so it's a good idea to schedule six to eight outings per day. Once they're fully vaccinated, you can turn two or three of those outings into short walks.
In general, it's better to start your puppy's leash training with a harness and move on to a collar later. This is because puppies tend to pull strongly when first learning to walk on a leash. A collar might push on your puppy's trachea when they pull, possibly damaging it.
In fact, when it comes to continuous puppy walking a good rule of thumb is that puppies should have no more than 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age, two times a day.
Parvo can live in the ground, the grass, on bushes – pretty much anywhere (although it is not an airborne virus). Disease prevention is always less costly (and risky) than treating a condition your pet has developed.
If you live in a flat or only have access to public areas for toilet training your dog (areas where unvaccinated dogs may also be toileting) then you should not take your new puppy outside until they have completed their full vaccination course (they are usually allowed into public areas a week after completing ...
Teach your pup to potty on a designated spot outdoors, making him think. After you bring home your new puppy the first thing you need to teach the pup is to walk to the door. Do not carry it.