It is exciting to bring your new puppy home and show them off to your friends and family. You may want to socialize with your puppy and leave them outside to get accustomed to their environment, but you do not want to endanger their health. With the right precautions, you can ensure your puppy stays healthy and happy and that their socialization is not put at risk.
It is not advisable to leave your puppy outside until they get full vaccinations. Two sets of puppy injections are needed for them to be fully protected. These happen when they get to 8 weeks old. If you got your puppy from a rehoming centre or a breeder, be sure to ask for the puppy’s complete paperwork for you to give your vet.
Can I Take My Puppy Outside for a Walk?
People will mostly think of taking their puppies outside when they want to take them for a walk. Before making this decision, you need to wait until they complete their vaccinations. Depending on the breed, you will notice that some puppies are not very keen on walking as you expected. Puppies grow so much in their first few weeks and need to get up to 20 hours of sleep daily.
Make sure the first outside walks are as stress-free and fun for your puppy as much as possible. Allow them to lead the way and do not drag them along. If they stop to smell things during the walk, let them do so.
Long walks can also hinder the development of a puppy. There is a risk of lowering a puppy’s interest in walking and even causing physical harm. The growth plates do not fully develop in a puppy until after one year and could take even longer for larger breeds. Long walks can cause over-exercising, which can damage a puppy’s skeletal structure.
It is recommended that you aim to give your puppy around five minutes of exercise every month of age until they are grown. If you bring an eight-week-old puppy at home, limit the playtime to 10 minutes, twice a day. This will ensure they do not over-exercise and will get enough rest for their body to grow.
When Can I Leave My Puppy Outside
Puppies crave exercise, company, and plenty of interactions. In the first three months, puppies are too young to be left alone either inside or outside. They need a lot of interaction with other pets and humans at this age as they learn how to be dogs. When left outside, puppies are unable to take care of themselves. For instance, they cannot adjust to the weather or avoid other animals that might harm them.
If you have a fenced yard, plenty of water, enough food, a long leash, and bearable temperatures, you can consider leaving your puppy outside for a few hours. It can be challenging to teach your puppy to be well-rounded, safe from disease, and happy. If you protect your puppy too much and keep them indoors for the first few months, they may eventually become frightened and anxious dogs with a deprived quality of life. Hence, it is crucial to introduce the puppy to new experiences and ensure their safety.
Getting Out and About
While it is not advisable to leave your puppy outside before they are fully vaccinated, you can take them out to nearby places in your neighborhood to introduce them to the outside environment. You can visit local parks or walk around the town with your puppy. Introducing them to new environments early in life helps them develop nicely.
Making New Friends
Puppies should socialize with other dogs early when they are still curious and fearless. Increased social interaction will make them happier as they grow to become dogs. Some experts recommend that a puppy interacts with 100 different people before they get 16 weeks old. This number may be quite ambitious unless you have a huge family and regular guests every week.
Toilet Training
Learning new skills and developing lifelong habits are essential during the first few weeks of your puppy’s life. Toilet training is essential for them to develop a habit of going outside. You do not have to wait for their injection because that will take a while. Your puppy can go in your backyard or garden, provided there are no other unvaccinated dogs out there.
Can I Leave My Puppy Outside While at Work?
Leaving a puppy outside while at work is neither fun for the puppy nor the owner. You have to take the best measures to ensure their safety and well-being because it is perilous, especially when the puppy is outside and unattended. It takes just a few seconds for an untrusting person to steal your puppy.
If you have to stay at work the whole day, you can ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to look after the puppy while you are away. Your puppy will appreciate it, even if there are some extra company and attention for just an hour or two. It is best if this happens at your home because the puppy feels safe and comfortable in a familiar environment. Puppies need activities to stimulate them, so ensure to leave some toys for them to play with while you are away.
Can I Leave My Puppy Alone at Home the Whole Day?
Before deciding to leave your puppy at home alone the whole day, you need to acknowledge that not all puppies are similar. They grow and develop in phases, and these will determine when they are ready to stay home alone while you are away.
- Between 8-10 weeks– at this stage, the puppy is a baby and cannot be left alone for extended periods. They are still being introduced to a new environment. They need long periods of companionship and company. They also get easily distraught when left alone. You will need someone to take care of the puppy while you are away or take time off work.
- Between 10-12 weeks– at this stage, your puppy is getting bigger but can still have accidents and cannot be alone for hours. A lot of socialization is still needed as they are still exploring their environment. When left alone, it is crucial to monitor them or have someone to help them if needed.
- More than three months old– beyond 12 weeks, your puppy can stay longer with minimal monitoring. However, when you are away, they will still bark or leap out of their enclosure.
If it is the first time you introduce a puppy to your home, consider the adjustment period. Some breeds are more anxious and may be more vulnerable when left alone every day. For instance, terries and Labradors tend to experience more anxiety due to separation and loneliness.
What Should I Do with My Puppy When I Go To Work?
Puppyhood is a challenging period for the owner. As you adjust to the demands of owning a puppy, the puppy is also trying to get used to the new environment. Puppyhood can be fun, exciting, and equally exhausting. Having a puppy when you have to work full time can be very overwhelming.
Your situation at work may add to the challenges of raising a puppy while you are at work. For instance, long commute hours, long working hours, or if you work on weekends, will reduce the time you spend with your puppy. Similarly, working irregular shifts or hours can confuse your puppy. Here are some things to put in place when you have a puppy and are too busy at work to take care of them;
Check Your Work Situation
Assess your work situation and find out if you can take some time off, if you can cut back on the working hours or if someone else can cover for you. Review your options and decide which one will help you get more time to spend with your puppy, especially during the first few weeks.
Ensure you create a system that does not make you suddenly leave your puppy alone. Over the first few weeks, spend more time with your puppy as you gradually leave them alone. You can leave them unattended for a few minutes, then for one hour, and then for longer hours.
If possible, get your puppy on a weekend so that you can have some time together before going to work. If it is impossible to get time off work, have someone stay with the puppy for extended periods until they get used to being alone for longer periods.
Create A Space for Your Puppy
A sense of security is vital for your puppy, and this can be a space of around 6 by 4 feet. You can opt for a puppy-pen, but a small room is also ideal. If you can, give them a small space and increase the space as they grow. A comfortable sleeping area, a few toys, or something with your scent should be in the space.
Set A Routine
While dogs generally like a schedule they can predict, puppies particularly need stability. The fewer times you surprise them, the better. Keep times for walks, mealtimes, bedtime, and playtime consistent. If you can, have a specific time to leave work shortly and drop in at least once a day.
Call in The Experts
Puppies can suffer from separation anxiety and not do well on their own. Ensure you know a professional dog sitter to call over to take care of your puppy while you are away at work. A visit to the veterinary doctor is necessary to advise whether your puppy can be left unattended. A professional dog trainer can start training your puppy to learn good habits to make them less frightened of being alone.
Your family, friends, and neighbors can also help you check on the puppy while you are away and let you know when he is unwell or is barking. It is a demanding task to raise a puppy, and so you will need help from others.
Leave Without Making a Lavish Display of Affection
While this is a challenging thing for many dog owners, less affection displayed on your arrival and departure will translate to better adjusted, and the happier your puppy will be. It is a habit that you should teach your puppy from an early age. It will reduce accidents and separation anxiety, which is a common cause of behavioral disorders in dogs.
Make Your Puppy Comfortable Being Left Alone
Create a comfortable environment for your puppy with a soft sleeping area and favorable temperatures. You can leave your puppy with a pillow or shirt with your scent on it so that they can enjoy and get comfortable with it. For some puppies, especially the younger ones, you can leave a radio or television turned on when you leave. However, some prefer silence, so it is essential to know what your puppy likes for their ideal environment.
Play with Your Puppy When You Get Home
When you return home, praise your puppy, take them outside for a walk, and make sure you spend time with them. While at home, you can train the puppy to be quiet so that they can get used to being quiet during the day while you are gone to work. A puppy with poor socialization can be prone to anxiety, so ensure they socialize and have an active life.
Tire Them Out
Puppies are full of energy and will take part in vigorous activities. Before going to work in the morning, take your puppy outside for some playtime or a walk. Likewise, in the evening, spend some time playing and exercising with them. Playing stimulates the puppies and tires them out; hence, they will spend most of their time napping during the day. Napping is good as it also means the puppy is not barking or distressed.
The Bottom Line
A lot of attention, exercise, and care is needed during the first six months of raising a puppy. They are social animals and will miss you when you are away. Raising a puppy when you also have to work, whether full-time or part-time, can significantly impact both yourself and the puppy’s quality of life. Starting right by training the puppy to stay alone comfortably is not a small task but will significantly ensure their safety and happiness.