When you get a puppy, you’re torn between wanting to be out and about with your new furry friend, and feeling like you always want to keep them safely locked up at home so that nothing bad happens to them.
Going outside is an important part of your puppy’s development and while your priority, as the proud owner of a shiny new puppy, is to keep them safe and healthy, you also want them to be confident while out in the world, without any fears or behavioural problems.
This balance between keeping them safe, while making sure they’re socialised properly, can be tricky but we’re going to look at how you can manage it so that your pup stays safe while still enjoying their new world.
WHY CAN’T PUPPIES GO OUTSIDE STRAIGHT AWAY?
Puppies can’t go outside straight away because they’re more vulnerable to illnesses and infections that could be fatal and vaccinations protect them from these. They include:
- Canine distemper
- Hepatitis
- Parvovirus
- Leptospirosis
Your vet may also recommend that you give them a kennel cough vaccine if they’ll be going into kennels, mixing with large groups of other dogs, or if they have a weakened immune system.
WHEN SHOULD A PUPPY BE VACCINATED?
Most puppies have their first lot of vaccinations when they’re still with their breeder – so they should have the right certificates/paperwork with them when they come to you. You should then speak with your vet about a vaccination schedule for your puppy.
WHEN CAN PUPPIES GO OUTSIDE?
Generally, a puppy can go out into public spaces around two weeks after their last lot of puppy vaccinations, but it’s worth double checking with your vet, just to be sure.
CAN PUPPIES GO OUT IN THE GARDEN BEFORE THEIR VACCINATIONS ARE COMPLETE?
This depends on how secure your garden is; you need to make sure your puppy won’t be able to get out, as well as making sure no other animals are getting in, for example, foxes. It’s important that no other dogs have access to your garden; unless they’re family dogs and you’re familiar with their vaccination history. A garden/patio/balcony is a great way for your puppy to get used to being outside from the safety of a clean, secure environment.
WHEN CAN PUPPIES GO FOR THEIR FIRST WALK?
While they can go outside two weeks after their first jabs, those long walks will have to wait. It can be really overwhelming for a tiny puppy; new smells, noises, surfaces, things to see, people, other dogs, and they only have little legs! They might not be ready for a proper walk until they’re about four months old, and they’ll need some training first, for example, they need to get used to a collar and lead and you need to work on their recall. They also need to be microchipped.
HOW CAN I EXERCISE MY PUPPY IF THEY CAN’T GO FOR A WALK?
First of all, your puppy will be getting plenty of exercise just wandering around the house, particularly if you have toys around; they put so much energy into growing there’s not a lot left for exercising (which is why they need between 16 and 20 hours of sleep a day).
But you can make the most of the outdoor spaces you have to let them get used to different surfaces/sounds/smells etc and you can even set up a puppy pen in your garden.
WHAT ABOUT SOCIALISATION?
Socialisation is a really important part of a puppy’s development, but just because you’re not taking them out doesn’t mean you can’t still socialise them. You can carry them up and down the street or just stand in front of your house watching passers-by, traffic, other animals/birds or other dogs and you can even play different sounds in your house to get them used to them.
You just need to remember:
- Always hold/carry them and make sure their paws don’t touch the ground.
- Don’t let other people interact with them. We know that a cute puppy attracts a lot of attention, but you don’t know if that person coming up and stroking them has been in contact with a dog who is carrying one of the diseases you’re vaccinating your pup against. It can also be quite scary for a small puppy to have people in their faces trying to touch and stroke them.
HOW CAN I TOILET TRAIN MY PUPPY IF THEY CAN’T GO OUTSIDE?
You can still toilet train your puppy even if they can’t go outside; you can put newspaper down, or puppy pads. Put your puppy in the same place when they start to wee, using a set word that they’ll then associate with going to the toilet, e.g. toilet, then praise them when they do it in the right place. It’s a good idea to keep the paper etc near the back door so that it’s not too big a step for them to go out in the garden once their vaccinations are complete.
A puppy’s transition from being inside to going out and exploring the world should be enjoyable and exciting for you both, and as long as you approach it sensibly, it will be a safe one too. There’s so much to think about with a new puppy, from when to get them neutered, to teaching them to sit on command and we all want the best for our pups.
While we can’t protect them from everything, there are things we can do to give us peace of mind, should the unexpected happen, particularly at a time when vet’s bills are in the media. This is where dog insurance comes in, with five different policy types to choose from – from Public Liability Only to Lifetime – some of which you can then tweak with a choice of optional benefits. You’ll easily find a policy to suit you, your pup and your budget. Take a look at the website today, or give us a call for a free, no-strings quote.
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