How and when can you start walking with a puppy?

At what age can puppies be taken outside? Walking outside with him for the first time can be scary. The baby’s small and fragile body, combined with his helplessness, curiosity, and tendency to get into trouble, looks like a recipe for disaster. However, outdoor walking is an important part of a puppy’s development. These tips will help you pick the best moment to start taking your little buddy outside and introducing him to the world around him.

Walk in the yard

In warm weather, even newborn puppies can be taken to their own garden or backyard, but they must be supervised and their movements limited to a small safe zone. Of course, babies who are still breastfeeding are recommended to be taken outside with their mother and the rest of the brood. Once the puppies are big enough to roam around on their own and go to the toilet without help from their mom, they can be taken outside and potty trained, says Christopher Carter, veterinary surgeon. Again, they need to be supervised and outdoor walks should be short.

If you are adopting an older puppy, it is likely that by this time he will be completely weaned and old enough to explore the yard under your watchful eye. Dogtime recommends taking your puppy outside for toileting every hour or two. At this point, he will be old enough to be introduced to a collar and leash to prepare him for full walks or going out in public.

The weather is a very important factor in whether or not to let your little one go outside. Puppies are sensitive to very low and very high temperatures, says Dogtime. In temperatures below zero, it is dangerous to let very small puppies or puppies of miniature breeds go outside – let them do their work on a training mat. Older and larger puppies, especially those breeds that are bred specifically for cold weather, such as Huskies or St. Bernards, may go outside briefly in cold weather to do their business, but should immediately return to the premises as soon as they are finished.

Likewise, puppies are prone to heat-related illnesses. If the weather is very hot, try not to stretch the walks on the street and never leave the puppy unattended.

Socializing your puppy

If you’re wondering when puppies can be taken out for walks away from home, the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends that owners start taking puppies out for walks and in public places as early as a week after the first vaccination, at about seven weeks of age. According to AVSAB, the first three months of a puppy’s life is the best time for proper socialization. Puppies that are not allowed outside until their vaccinations are complete will end up with fewer opportunities for socialization. Unfortunately, this often leads to behavioral problems that pose a far greater threat to the animal’s well-being than the slight risk of infection.

If you’re worried that your puppy might catch something from interacting with other dogs or people before he’s had all his vaccinations, Veryfetching.com recommends simply holding him when you take him out in public. It is important that your puppy learns as many new people, animals, objects, sounds, smells, and situations as possible, but it is okay if you keep him some distance from his surroundings until he has had all his vaccinations. In the meantime, your little one can explore your backyard and play with animals you know are vaccinated and healthy.

There is a chance that during their first walks on the street, your puppy may be frightened, overexcited and overwhelmed. In this case, take a break or end the walk by letting him rest and calm down. But under no circumstances should his agitated behavior prevent you from walking him regularly. Overexcitation in a young puppy that is still being socialized is much less of a problem than overexcitation in an adult dog that has not been properly socialized. If you don’t introduce your four-legged toddler to as many new things as possible, you could end up with an adult dog suffering from anxiety and fear, says PetHelpful.

Spending time outside with your puppy is also a great opportunity to strengthen your relationship. As he explores his new world, knowing that you are there to care for and protect him will help form a strong bond between you. This will teach him to count on you and your entire family when he is ready to go outside or take a walk. Also, since puppies are still learning, this is a great opportunity for you to teach him how to walk properly, namely, to show him what to do and what not to do. If you are nearby when he walks in the backyard, he will quickly understand that you can not touch the rose bushes, as well as climb under the veranda.

Walking outside and exploring the world is a very important factor in raising a dog that is well behaved and in perfect harmony with its surroundings. If you follow these guidelines, then your puppy will be safe and sound learning to live in this big unexplored world.