Walking A Puppy

[Paul Bright]

You need to avoid heavy exercise (extended running off the lead) until the bones have reached some degree of maturity. To this end avoid unaccustomed running until about nine months of age. Regular lead exercise however is good for general fitness, happiness and socialization of your dog and should be encouraged (so long as she is fully vaccinated). Too much walking on hard surfaces may be detrimental to joint development and so try to have no more than half of the walk on hard surfaces. You may allow your puppy brief periods of freer exercise (five minutes or so, and this would form part of the training process) using a long lead initially to teach recall.

[ACD4EVA]

are u walking him in your property? coz at 10 weeks he wouldn't have had all vaccinations, therefore wouldn't be walking him anywhere

So no other dog has ever walked on your street? It's not just active exposure, germs and viruses can live in the environment too. It's generally safest to keep your dog on your own property until 7 days after the second vaccination - unless he's on a surface that can be disinfected, such as in a puppy class. (Hint, hint)

Dont agree with this at all

There is too much important socialisation that needs to happen between 8-12 weeks

It is entirely up to the owner, do you want to 'risk' exposure to illnesses that can happen even if the dog is fully vaccinated or do you want to risk your dogs temperament being damaged?

You can still socialise your dog to the world before they are fully vaccinated, if you carry him/her in your arms.

We took our pup to heaps of places before she was fully vaccinated but we carried her everywhere.

Seven day after the second vax would be 9 weeks old anyway (usually) so still plenty of time They sepnd the first few days settling into the home anyway.

Puppies usually have a 3 course vaccination at 6,8 and 12 weeks, so even after the second vax they are not fully protected.

Not sure what vacc schedule you are thinking of but even on the old 6/10/14 regime, the pup would not have had a second vacc.

We vacc at 8 plus weeks, they have a second but not a third vacc.

Got me worried for a little bit there

Our pup had his first vac around 6-8 weeks of age (before we got him) and is due for his second next week, he will be 13 weeks then.

We haven't been walking him, we have just been playing fetch in the backyard to keep him occupied. Most of the time he just runs away with the ball, lies down and chews it