Offering an early finish vaccine, your puppy can be taken out in public spaces 2 weeks after their 10-week vaccination. While your puppy goes through a vaccination process while they're young, annual boosters are required for life to keep your puppy healthy and safe.
When can I start taking my puppy outside? Vets recommend waiting until 10-14 days after your puppy's last vaccination booster – usually at around 14–16 weeks of age – before introducing them to the wonders of local parks, beaches and walking trails.
Once your puppy is fully vaccinated, the general rule of thumb is to exercise them for five minutes per month of age. So, if your puppy is 12 weeks old, then they can be walked for 15 minutes per day.
With our newest vaccination pups are able to head out and socialise 1 week after their 2nd Puppy Vaccination. For puppies it is a compromise between adequate socialising and preventing them from coming into contact with any of these diseases, particularly parvovirus.
As long as it has been more than two weeks since their first vaccine, you can take your puppy for a walk along roads, pavements or the beach, as viruses have a hard time surviving in these areas.
As long as your puppy is 10 weeks old or older at their second vaccination, they will be immune to distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus one week after this vaccination. So, one week after their second vaccination, your puppy can be walked in public areas, and usually attend puppy classes.
Puppies require a vaccination course of two injections which can start from six weeks of age. We normally give the second vaccination four weeks later. We advise that your puppy is not allowed out until after the second vaccination.
We recommend puppies receive 3 vaccinations, the first at 6-8 weeks, then at 12-14 weeks and again at 16-18 weeks. Please be aware that your puppy is not fully protected until all 3 vaccinations have been given within the recommended intervals.
Do not let your puppies walk outside as the risk of parvovirus and leptospirosis with unvaccinated puppies is high.
Minimize Risk Outdoors
Using some common sense will help your puppy become well-socialized without encountering unnecessary risks. Go for walks, but keep your pup on a leash and away from dogs you don't know. You should also keep them away from piles of poop and areas that might attract potentially unvaccinated dogs.
Remember, dogs and especially puppies need to urinate often. As a guideline, new puppies up to 10 weeks old typically can't hold their bladder for more than an hour. Dogs between 10 to 12 weeks old can usually hold it for around two hours.
Your Dog's Exercise Tolerance
Most dogs can tolerate a daily 20–30-minute walk if they have a relatively good body condition. Dogs in great physical health can tolerate walks for up to two hours or go hiking for hours at a time.
A general guide for exercising puppies is to allow them one to two sessions of five minutes walking for each month of age, so for example, a four month old pup could enjoy walks of 20 minutes at a time, once or twice a day.
Typically, it's not recommended to take your dog for walks until they are fully vaccinated. Puppy vaccinations help protect your dog against diseases, making them essential when puppies go outside. Pups in particular are vulnerable to serious diseases, such as parvovirus and canine distemper.
If you're wondering when can puppies go outside away from home, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends that pet guardians begin taking puppies on walks and public outings as early as one week after their first round of vaccinations, at about seven weeks old.
Can you walk a puppy after their first jab? A puppy should not be walked outside if they have only had a single vaccination. This is because they may not be fully protected against serious infectious diseases.
Daily walks on concrete are not recommended for young puppies because you may create a problem with their skeletal development. Walking or playing on a concrete surface is tough on soft, young joints and can lead to early arthritis.
Teach your pup to potty on a designated spot outdoors, making him think. After you bring home your new puppy the first thing you need to teach the pup is to walk to the door. Do not carry it.
Take things very slowly, always at the pup's pace. The first walk will likely only last a few minutes; short and sweet is the key to success. A long walk may cause distress and a puppy will quickly become over-tired. Try to read their body language, removing them from the situation if they seem to be overwhelmed.
Puppies. You will need a worming treatment suitable for your puppy's age and weight. Their first treatment should be at three weeks old and after that, every two weeks until they are 16 weeks old.
What is the minimum age that a puppy can be microchipped? This depends on the size and breed for safety reasons. But a puppy must be chipped by the age of 8 weeks and before they are sold.
The price you pay for puppy vaccinations will often depend on the vet practice, but you can expect to pay between $180 and $250 for the first three puppy shots. Annual boosters tend to cost around $90, but it's best to enquire directly with your vet because they can vary between practices.
A) Puppies can meet vaccinated dogs at any age, but if the vaccination status of the other dog is unknown we advise that they don't mix until 2 weeks after the second vaccination.
Vaccination protocols will vary so specific advice should be sought from your own vet, but most vets would advise waiting 1-2 weeks after the second vaccination before walking your puppy out in public or socialising with animals that may not be vaccinated.
The only way to make sure your puppy gets the best start in life is to make sure he receives his vaccinations on time and that you avoid taking him out in public until one week has passed from his second vaccination.