Can I take my 8 week old puppy for a walk? I live in Chicago in a highrise, so she has been using training pads to go potty and has not been outside and she is a fiesty ball of energy so i would love to take her for short walks.According to the breeder she has had her first round of shots.

I don't know at eight weeks puppies are still prone to acquiring parasites like worms and viral infections like parvo. I'd wait at least til she had her second round of shots....but that's just me. I didn't take my pup out until she was 12, 13 weeks. I was just nervous, and because I had lost a pup awhile back ago to parvo....so i'm extremely careful.

Thanks for the input. I was nervous about Parvo as well. It's probably best that she just stays inside!

Ya, it's a bummer you can't take your new pup for a walk, but i'd rather be safe then sorry. Don't worry the next couple of weeks will go by fast, and before you know....you'll be taking her everywhere! It's a wait, but trust me it's def worth it!!

I got my pup at 8 wks also. I'm a firm believer that there is a lot of socialization that needs to take place between 8-12 wks of age for puppies. I would bring my puppy to outdoor cafes, but not introduce him to other dogs, or hold him at parks (off grass) at 8 weeks old. I believe if you keep him off grass or where there haven't been any other dogs, then you should be okay socializing him a bit. When Jago got his 2nd round at 10 wks or so, then I would walk him, staying on the concrete and not stopping to smell. Once he got his 12 week (3rd round) of shots, then walks like normal. We even started training classes a week before his 3rd round.
But working in an animal hospital, I've seen what parvo looks like and its no joke. so i dont blame anyone for being careful

Yep Parvo is def nothing to mess around with....even if you were to keep your pup off grass, or places dogs haven't been...you can't see it, so you can't be too sure infected dogs weren't ever around. It can stay around for up to 2 years, and that's why it's so scary!

I think it depends where you would be taking her out and if that spot is frequented by other animals. I brought Evie home at 8 weeks and we went outside all the time for short walks around our yard, BUT I live in the burbs in the middle of nowhere and didn't have to be so concerned about her picking something up.

Thanks for your input!

I completely agree socialization is very important from 8-12 weeks. I feel like there is so much conflicting information out there. I was at Petsmart and they start puppy socialization classes at 8 weeks. Which seems to conflict with not getting close to other puppies until fully vaccinated but yet this is the best age to do it at!

With my first husky, Austin it was different I was 14 and lived in a house with a nice big back yard for just him.

I walked Micole around the house to get her used to the leash and collar for a while first. Once she was used to it i walked her on very short walks and kept her off the grass as well.

Can you take an 8 week old to a house with a dog that you know 100% that has fully vaccinated?

Yes, you can. It'll be a great opportunity to socialize.

Dot wrote:

Yes, you can. It'll be a great opportunity to socialize.

Thanks for that!

Yonjuro wrote:

Can you take an 8 week old to a house with a dog that you know 100% that has fully vaccinated?

That's the best and safest way to socialize your pup! A friends niece just lost her pup very recently to parvo as well and it's very devastating. Good luck with your puppy!

Rocio_Caballero wrote:

Yonjuro wrote:

Can you take an 8 week old to a house with a dog that you know 100% that has fully vaccinated?

That's the best and safest way to socialize your pup! A friends niece just lost her pup very recently to parvo as well and it's very devastating. Good luck with your puppy!

Thanks - I am going to meet the parents (and breeder)of our future puppy tomorrow. So my questions here are a little premature, but I want to learn as much as possible before we bring home a puppy.