Walking and exercise go hand in hand with being a dog owner. If you’ve welcomed a new pup into your home, you may be wondering where to start.
In this guide, we’ll share some puppy walking tips plus key benefits of insuring your furry friend.
When can I take my puppy out for a walk?
Puppies can usually go outside at around 4 months old. This is when they will have had all of their vaccinations.
It’s very important to make sure your puppy is fully vaccinated. This protects them against certain illnesses.
Puppies can have their first set of vaccinations when they're between 6 to 8 weeks old. Further vaccinations then take place at 12 weeks old. Puppies are protected roughly 2 weeks after their second set of vaccinations.
If you have any concerns, your vet can advise on whether it's safe for your puppy to go outside.
Getting your puppy ready for the outside world
Your puppy should be fully vaccinated before their first trip outside. You should also make sure they are microchipped and that the details on the chip are up to date.
If you lose your puppy, the microchip can help vets identify and return them to you. Having the right pet insurance is also something to think about, as it can include Lost and Found cover. This would mean you’d be able to claim for the costs of advertising if your pup was to go missing.
Can I walk my puppy before vaccinations?
It’s not advisable to walk your puppy before they are fully vaccinated.
If you do need to take them outside, keep them away from other dogs.
For how long should I walk my puppy?
A good rule of thumb for walking a puppy is 5 minutes per month of life, twice a day. For example, a 4-month-old puppy should have a maximum of 20 minutes’ walk up to twice a day.
Not all puppies will be able to walk for that long. Some breeds may come home and still be in a playful mood.
Exercising your puppy through play and training
Mental exercise is important during the early stages of your puppy’s life. They can get this from play and safe socialisation, as well as training.
Playing with your puppy
- An enclosed garden or larger indoor space is a great place for your puppy to run about and burn off their energy
- Games such as tug of war and fetch are fun for your pup and a great way to strengthen your bond
- Feed them using a food-dispensing toy to help them focus and make their mealtimes fun
Safe socialisation
- Take them for a short journey in the car
- Carry them around your local area so they can experience different sights, smells and sounds, such as traffic and other people
- Introduce them slowly to their collar, lead or harness. This will help make your first walk a little easier
Training
Getting a head start on your puppy’s basic training will help with mental stimulation and build up your communication with them. Some areas are:
- Recall training
- Simple commands such as sit, stay and lie down
- Walking on a lead
Can I over-exercise my puppy?
The amount of exercise your puppy needs will vary depending on their age and breed. Their growth rate and body shape will also play a role. Be careful about over-exercising, as this can damage a puppy’s bone development. Puppies need plenty of rest as well as playtime.
Large and giant breeds
Keep their exercise fairly short with plenty of rest in between. They take much longer to grow fully and you’ll want to avoid straining their growing joints too much. This covers breeds like Labradors and Great Danes.
Medium breeds
Keep the sessions brief to avoid the risk of over-exercising. Remember that working breeds, such as Collies and Spaniels, will need more mental exercise too.
Small breeds
Keep exercise fairly short. Walks are still a good exercise but their little legs can’t walk as fast as you, so stop when they need to. This covers breeds like Terriers and Beagles.
Flat-faced breeds
Puppies with flat-faces, like Pugs and Bulldogs, can’t do as much exercise due to breathing issues. Keep sessions very short with plenty of rest.
What to do if you lose your puppy
Try not to panic. There are some proactive steps you can take to help you find your puppy:
- Report your dog as missing to your local dog warden
- Notify your microchip database
- Contact missing dog websites, such as Dog Lost
- Share on social media with a recent picture
Contact local Facebook groups asking them to spread the word
- Contact local vets, dog shelters, re-homing centres and dog groomers
Lost and Found cover
If you're worried that you might lose your puppy, you might gain some peace of mind from our Lost and Found cover. This means we’ll cover the costs of advertising if your pet goes missing.
This is included as standard with our Classic and Premier pet cover. It can be added to our Basic pet cover, though please note this can't be done after a pet has gone missing.
Making dog walking and exercise a routine
Mixing up your pup’s daily physical and mental exercise is great but try to make sure it’s part of an overall routine. Dogs are creatures of habit! Base your routine on your puppy, how happy they are and what they enjoy doing.
Protecting your puppy
Having the right insurance can help give you peace of mind that your furry friend is covered when you need it most. Choose from three different cover levels with MORE THAN.
