by Bailey Coldwell
Let me preface this by saying that if you have questions about a vaccine schedule for your puppy and what is safe for your puppy, your veterinarian is going to be the best person to chat with. In general, puppies are fully vaccinated between 16 and 20 weeks of age. We recommend waiting until they are fully vaccinated before allowing them to walk on the ground where potential stranger dogs are/have been. This usually means that we have to be creative in how we can get our puppies exposed to the world during their critical socialization windows.
I know it can seem like a bummer to not be able to have our dog’s paws on the ground for this long, but it can actually be beneficial for socialization. As long as we are not avoiding socialization all together during this time, it is usually better to take it slow. If we get a brand new puppy and allow them to walk around everywhere, they are going to be more likely to:
-Pull on the leash
-Eat things they shouldn’t
-Have more dogs/people charge them
-Offer less check-ins because their noses are on the ground
Instead, if our puppies are in puppy strollers, wagons, slings, sitting in vehicles, or in our arms, they are still getting used to scents, sounds, and sights of the world, without immediately being able to touch and taste everything. Taking it slow helps them practice socialization for 3 senses right off the bat, instead of rushing into all 5 senses.
Well what about exercise? How am I going to get my dog exercised if I can’t walk them? Mental stimulation is a great tool to focus on with young puppies. Taking in the scents, sounds, and sights of the world can be just as stimulating to dogs as actual walking. We can also work on playing in hallways, scentwork indoors, and simple training sessions to help stimulate our dogs. I have found that we tend to overestimate the amount of physical exercise our young puppies should be receiving. This tends to lead to very overtired, bitey, jumpy, and barky puppies. This is another good topic to chat with your veterinarian about. Exercise should be limited, especially for large breed dogs, due to their fast growing and delicate bodies.
Remember that socialization at first should be short and sweet. When I am first exposing my new puppy to the outside world, I am doing so for 5-15 minutes or so. It is, however, harder to read their body language when they are being held or when they are otherwise contained. Therefore, it is harder to tell if they are stressed and need space when we are carrying them. So, keeping outings short will help set everyone up for success. This is helpful for potty training as well. Due to the fact that we don’t want to put their paws on public ground and because pups often have to potty frequently, it is great to keep field trips short. I tend to give my puppy a potty break before leaving my home, carry my puppy/put them in a stroller at a new place for a short outing, and then put them in a car crate and go back home. This avoids having to put my puppy on the ground for a potty break in a public place. If you feel it is necessary for your puppy to have a potty break at the destination, you can keep an artificial grass patch in your vehicle or potty pads (if your puppy has previously been trained on them). Another reason to keep socialization short at first is simply because puppies can get overstimulated very easily, quickly jumping into zone 4.
We can also work on socialization in our homes or other safe places. You can play random noises on Youtube for desensitization. You can get your puppy used to umbrellas, mops, and other potentially scary novel objects. You can invite family, friends, and neighbors to your home to work on polite greetings. Have your puppy explore different surfaces in your home such as carpet, tiles, yoga mats, etc. Solidify great leash walking skills inside first. This way, when you are ready to get outside with your puppy, they will already understand the basics.
This likely means that you should wait to bring your puppy to some of your favorite outdoor hobbies such as sporting events, the beach, camping, outdoor cafes, and walks with friends. Rest assured, it will go by fast. You have the rest of your dog’s life to hike, run, walk, and play outside with your puppy on the ground. These first few weeks are a great time to socialize at a safe and successful pace. One of my favorite dog training quotes is:
“It is better to take training slow and be successful, versus speedy and stressed”.
I have spent a good portion of my life working with dogs. It is much easier to prevent unwanted behaviors than it is to break the habits of unwanted behaviors. Be kind to yourselves and your puppy as you wait for on-the-ground socialization, it is beneficial for more reasons than just medically speaking.
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