When can newborn puppies go outside?
There are quite a few experts that say four weeks is the prime time when you can start exposing your pups on the outside world. But some say it’s still a little too early for them. However, it is possible that you can start letting them out quite some time for their potty training and if you (or mama dog) have nurtured and cared for them well enough.
The antibodies they get from their mom’s milk will be enough to provide them with their first layer of protection against diseases. However, it may not be enough. That’s why you should keep these outside visits short.
A word of warning, though: don’t let them near other dogs during this time, except for their parents. That also means other pets you may have. And don’t let them wander far off. You can start bringing them out in your yard and be sure you’re there to monitor them.
Of course, you can start bringing them out more when they reach five to six weeks old. In fact, you can already bring them out farther for their vaccinations. This is also the time that you can let them out more. Some pups may still be potty training so this is good. Bigger and more active pups may also need to start exercising so you can let them play a little more.
This is also the time when they would act more like puppies – playful, energetic, and loud. But it’s also the best time to let them learn a few simple tricks that can be useful in the future.
Why should I avoid bringing the pups out?
Obviously, you can’t bring them out for the first few weeks. And that means no contact to the outside world yet. Some owners are actually bringing them out when they are just six days. It’s an absolute big no, especially when the weather is a little extreme.
Pups still have an underdeveloped immune system and it makes them prone to various diseases. Even when something doesn’t happen to them immediately doesn’t mean it won’t. Some types of diseases take a while to show and develop and these are often the most serious ones.
Don’t risk their lives, even when it’s just a few minutes in your front or backyard. A little patience goes a long way and your dog will have plenty of time to go out when they grow up.
Can you handle 2 week old puppies?
You can hold newborn puppies as soon as they come out of the mother’s womb. While it’s important that newborns spend ample time feeding from and bonding with their mother and other puppies in their litter, it won’t harm them if you gently hold them.
When temperatures start to fall below 45°F, some cold-averse breeds will get uncomfortable and will need protection. For owners of small breeds, puppies, senior dogs, or thin haired breeds, anytime the temperature outside feels at or below 32°F, pull out the sweaters or coats!
When Can Puppy Go Outside
When can puppies go outside safely to meet other dogs, see new places and get socialized? Puppies can go outside from 8 weeks old in your backyard to potty train, exercise, play and learn, but taking them on visits to public places is a little trickier. New puppies need to be protected from infection. Vaccinations build a puppy’s immunity, but they don’t work straight away. Meanwhile puppies need to meet people and getting out into the community! Especially if they are from a protective, naturally guarding dog breed. In When Can Puppies Go Outside, puppy expert Pippa Mattinson explains how to keep your puppy safe from diseases as they adapt to their new life with your family. You’ll find guidelines for when and how to take your puppy out in public, and tips to help you keep them safe until they are fully vaccinated like using backpacks and puppy carriers.
Protecting your puppy from infection is an area where you are quite likely to get conflicting advice. It’s one of those situations where experts, including veterinarians, don’t always agree. That’s because advice to puppy parents has changed in the last few years. So I’ll be giving you the information you need to decide what’s best for your puppy.
The first round of puppy shots is given at between 6-8 weeks of age. At this age, the puppy will still have some maternal antibodies.
Those antibodies from their Mom, give your puppy some protection against immunity and wear off gradually once the puppy is weaned at about six weeks. Unfortunately they can also interfere with the vaccine so current trend is to wait till 8 weeks rather than give shots any earlier.