The first walk with a puppy is exciting for every owner. You never know how your puppy will react to the light and what kind of reaction you should prepare for. Will he be scared of a passing car? Or will he pull on the leash? Or will he cower under a bench and forget all the commands?! But you can’t lock your four-legged dog up at home either, so your puppy’s first walks outside will help him develop social skills and physical fitness. So let’s put our fears aside! Our article will help you prepare for your puppy’s first walks!
When should I start walking my puppy?
Your puppy’s immune system is not yet fully formed, so early walks and contact with other animals can be dangerous to his health. For your puppy’s safety, he’ll need to be immunized on schedule first. However, it is important not to rush into immunizing your Pet. If you think that you can do all the vaccinations at one time and go for a walk the next day, you are sorely mistaken. The first comprehensive vaccination is given at the age of 2.5 – 3 months of the puppy’s life. The second one is about 2 weeks after the first one and for the next 3-4 weeks the puppy will be in quarantine. During this period it is necessary to be very attentive to the health of the Pet. Be sure to monitor his behavior, the state of his mucous membranes, skin and coat, and his appetite. Most often the first walk after vaccination takes place at the age of 3.5-4 months.
How do I prepare my puppy for his first walk?
- During the quarantine, you can take your puppy for walks if he is in your arms. The duration of such outings should be no longer than 15-20 minutes, this is how the puppy can get used to the noise and smells of the yard.
- Beginning at two months of age, start teaching him a basic set of commands (“stand”, “sit”, “lie down”, “yuck”, “can’t”, “come to me”, “next to me”). Lessons should be daily, you should not move on to the next command until the puppy has mastered the previous one. In general, this stage of training will last one to two weeks, and in the future you will simply hone your puppy’s command mastery.
- The next stage is getting the puppy used to the collar.
- Once your puppy is used to the collar, introduce him to the leash. It usually takes a few days between this and the previous step. At first, it’s enough to “walk” the baby on a leash at home, so he’ll realize that his new accessories don’t carry any danger and that walking is not scary!
- The final step is introducing your puppy to the muzzle. For starters, leave your puppy in the muzzle for 10 minutes a day, remembering to reassure him and give him treats. There’s no need for a muzzle while your puppy is still very young, but it’s a good idea to introduce him to a muzzle early on, as it’s much harder to muzzle an adult dog.
What should a puppy’s first walk outside be like?
Your puppy’s first “independent” outing should be fully equipped. But in addition to a leash and muzzle, don’t forget to bring along Tail’s favorite toy and treats. Make sure the puppy walks the entire route on his own. At first, carry him out of the house in your arms and place him on the ground in a suitable, quiet place. Some puppies need more time to get used to the elevator and stairs, others less. Gradually train your puppy to go up and down on his own, he should be used to using the stairs and elevator.
Rules during the walk:
1. for the first few weeks, walk close to home, in a quiet and peaceful place without cars or crowds and keep practicing old commands and learning new ones.
2. Walk your puppy before feeding, then he will be more interested in getting a treat and therefore will learn more effectively. Active play and walks are best avoided on a full stomach.
3.You shouldn’t be nervous, because the puppy will immediately feel the tension and refuse to go anywhere.
4.Be sure to encourage your puppy, don’t pull the leash hard or sharply, and don’t wrap the leash around your wrist or the tape measure rope around your fingers – you risk serious injury with a strong tug.
5. Do not walk in direct sunlight in summer to avoid overheating.
6. Don’t let your puppy pick up food from the ground, sticks and other objects: this can lead to poisoning, parasites, infections and other unpleasant moments.
7. When encountering other dogs or cats, don’t get nervous and move out of the way, just stop and let puppy see the other animal from a distance. If there is no aggression in your direction, continue on your route, this way the puppy will learn to communicate. Allow him to play with other puppies, but be sure to ask permission from their owners first.
8. When meeting children, remain calm, but be careful and control any contact, if a child scares or hurts the puppy, the adult dog will see children as a source of danger.
9. Visit specialized dog walking areas, play and meet other like-minded people – all this will help the puppy to socialize.
10. Don’t let your puppy go to the bathroom on the sidewalk, and if it happens, pick up the feces in a special bag. Be responsible and make sure that the puppy and its waste products do not cause discomfort to others.
11. Pay attention to your dog and praise him for good behavior, put your phone away on a walk and devote this time to playing together. The puppy should realize that you are his best friend, with whom it is fun and interesting. Then both you and the puppy will enjoy the process.
The duration of the first walks should be no more than 20 minutes and about 5 times a day, but as the puppy matures, the duration of the walks can be increased and their number reduced from day to day.
Training during walks
Puppies are full of energy and ready to play non-stop, but the first walks require a special approach. It’s important not to overload your puppy – first he needs to learn to move around confidently and get used to his new environment. Since ligaments and bones are not yet strong and can be easily injured, sprains and even fractures can occur.
When you start training, first reinforce the basic commands that your pet should have learned at home during quarantine. Gradually you can complicate the tasks, use toys to encourage and consolidate skills. The main task of the first walks is to teach the puppy to obey his master. When commanded, he should immediately run to you – this will keep him out of dangerous situations.
Getting your puppy ready for a walk is a very interesting process. If you approach it responsibly, you’ll develop a strong bond with your pup. By following the rules during the walk, you can not only socialize your puppy, give him a good feeling from the time spent together, but also keep him healthy from the negative effects of the walk.
