how to walk a puppy for the first time

First, teach them that the lead or harness is a good thing. % of people told us that this article helped them. You can't stop other dogs from barking at your dog, but you can teach your dog to ignore it. She should be ready to walk in public at 14-16 weeks old. Taking your pup for their first walk is a big moment for both dog and owner, so my first piece of advice is to take things steady, remain relaxed and keep a careful eye on your pup at all times. Mixed-breed dogs are absolutely wonderful and extremely underrated. How old should a puppy be to be sold/adopted? A plain-buckle collar with your details on it or a tag. You may adopt a puppy at any age. If your puppy is chewing as a fun tug game, attach two leashes during the walk. If your puppy pulls in the opposite direction, stand still until it comes back to you, then offer it a treat. If your puppy tends to lunge at certain things, distract him before he has the chance to lunge. Rather than clipping a lead onto their collar and walking out the door, we should prepare our young pets with a little groundwork. In fact, for some, it can be a strange and scary experience that leaves them feeling uncertain and anxious. Initially, leave it on for a few seconds. When teaching your puppy how to walk on a leash, introduce them to their leash and collar. Things to get for your new dog or puppy before you bring them home. Use a front clip harness instead of flat collar or back clip harness, you will have more control of your puppy. Parks can pose quite a few risks to young pups. They do not need a whole lot of exercise during their first few weeks at home. Lessons for the first month Your puppy will find all of his new surroundings stimulating. Citizen Hound prides themselves on their customer service, care, skill, and reputation. Have your puppy wear the collar until he stops noticing it. Make sure to give it treats and lots of praise so your puppy associates the leash with positive things. For the first walk in particular, you really can’t give enough treats and praise. Make sure your puppy wears a well-fitting harness that she can’t wriggle out of* for these early outings. Your puppy will not enjoy chewing on it as much. Walking your puppy in areas frequented by other dogs can expose him to some viruses and parasites that are potentially fatal, including parvo. CVS House, Owen Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4ER - Company No 3777473 Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,218 times. This article was co-authored by David Levin. This is particularly true for large breed dogs. Try to read their body language, removing them from the situation if they seem to be overwhelmed. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Common illnesses associated with older dogs, Dental disease – the risk of not taking care of your dog’s teeth, How to brush your dog’s teeth and why you should do it, How to train your dog to do the perfect recall, Keep your dog safe from heartworm disease, Learn how to check for and remove ticks from your dog, Simple health checks you can do with your dog at home, Taking your puppy out for their first walk, Train your dog to walk perfectly on a lead, What to do if someone pets your dog without permission, What to do if a loose dog approaches you on a walk, Follow this link for more information about how to get your dog to walk beautifully on a lead >, For more information about vaccinations >. You should not walk your dog until she has had all of her shots. Your puppy has to learn to be independent. Difficulties walking on the lead Dogs who don’t get enough walks often become frustrated and bored and may even develop behavioural issues within the home. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Leash-Training Troubleshooting. Typical vaccinations include the distemper/parvo (DHHP) and rabies. Give your dog the “sit” command, followed by the “stay” command, and then remove his lead. Be sure that the first walk is in a quiet area at a time of the day that is not too busy (for example, with school kids rushing home). A basic lead is best for teaching your dog to walk nicely next to you. You could try to train him to use a litter box, but the most obvious solution is to simply pick up the poop after your dog goes to the bathroom outside. GET NEW MERCH HERE: https://www.crystalwolf.co/collections/escape-the-night SUBSCRIBE! Check the fit of the collar every two weeks. Teach your dog to walk with a loose leash (having the leash hang down in a “J” shape between you) by stopping and changing direction whenever he gets ahead of you. Each day you and your puppy are going to have a chance to work on things and leash training is just one area that needs your attention so you and your puppy can enjoy the outside world safely together. By taking the right precautions, you can ensure that your pup stays happy and healthy while not putting the vital puppy socialisation time at risk. Avoid using slip collars, choke chains or prong collars on your puppy. In most cases, you can start putting your puppy on the ground in public one week after her final shots. This rule of thumb says that a puppy should have no more than five minutes of walking for every month of his age. There’s a lot for your pup to take in, so I always suggest keeping the first walk short – around five to ten minutes. Walking outside is much different than walking around the house. We didn't have to train her much. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Once you reach 6 or 7 steps in a row, you are really walking your puppy on a leash. Your puppy’s first lead should be comfortable to handle and relatively short. Puppies grow quickly. Be patient and teach good habits now so you can have fun throughout your dog's lifetime. Keep track of time when you take your puppy out for a walk. Citizen Hound has also been ranked #1 Dog Walker by the SF Examiner and A-List in 2017, 2016, 2015. With over 9 years of professional dog walking and training experience, David's business has been voted the "Best Dog Walker SF" by Beast of the Bay for 2019, 2018, and 2017. If he seems too tired, cut back. If your puppy won't stop pulling, you may start walking with a head halter or a front-hook harness. This is painless and much easier for puppies to understand then popping their leash, as it is a natural part of puppy body language. Yes, you may. When you think of leash training your puppy it really comes down to steps leading to your puppy being okay on leash whether in the house or outside on a walk. Over-exercising can be damaging to developing joints during the first year of life. The best advice I was given for walking a puppy off the lead for the first time. This is only to be expected at first. Practice Obedience Training. This article has been viewed 52,218 times. You should walk them for at least five minutes per month of their age, or at least twice a day. To leash train a puppy, give your puppy lots of treats the first time you put a collar and leash on it. Again, remain calm and allow your pup to get used to the sights and sounds of passing traffic. A puppy should be sold at at least 2 months. Attach a lead to their collar and follow your dog around the garden, making sure the lead is kept slack. The collar should not be too tight or too loose. Do several ‘practice’ walks in the garden, lavishing your little one with lots of encouragement. Your puppy needs to associate the leash with play time and fun. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Take things very slowly, always at the pup’s pace. As your puppy approaches one, speak to your veterinarian about exercising with him. Time how long it takes for your puppy to stop noticing the collar. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Here are some tips that can help prevent issues when you leave your pup alone. Walks should be seen as a time to safely sniff and explore, rather than simply getting from A to B quickly. Follow this link for more information about how to get your dog to walk beautifully on a lead >. Take things very slowly, always at the pup’s pace. Start with shorter walks and then build up as your puppy gets used to walking outside. Take the collar off once the puppy feels comfortable. You do not want him to choke or get it stuck on something. Whether it’s with a puppy you have sourced from a reputable breeder or dog you have adopted, walking a dog for the very first time is an experience that no owner will forget. Start With a Short, Planned Walk. By the time your dog is ready to go out on walks, between months 3 and 6, it’s also a good window to start obedience training. While it may seem like the most natural thing in the world, not every puppy will automatically understand how to go on a walk. A long walk may cause distress and a puppy will quickly become over-tired. This walk should be between ten and fifteen minutes. In placing the puppy in this elevated, unfamiliar spot, you will help them understand that you are not playing. Put a leash and collar on the dog. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Teaching your puppy to make eye contact on command can be very helpful during walks. However, regularly walking your puppy to the point of exhaustion isn't sensible and can cause skeletal damage to growing youngsters. Most agree that a couple of walks a day is a good habit to get in to. An aspect that we should not forget is walking our dog every day and several times daily. Choose a collar. This will provide a greater incentive. When your puppy is not distracted by his collar, it is time to move on to leash training. Choose a quiet place (away from traffic) and run through the commands once more. Not yet. Sometimes collars can hook around things and choke puppies, so keep an eye on your puppy to make sure he doesn't get caught on anything. 1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Start-Walking-Your-Puppy-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-Walking-Your-Puppy-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Start-Walking-Your-Puppy-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid405879-v4-728px-Start-Walking-Your-Puppy-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"