When Can Cockapoo Puppies Go Outside?
Letting your young puppy go outside for the first time can be frightening. We know just how small and delicate their frame is, combined with their helplessness, curiosity, and tendency to always get into mischief can seem like a recipe for disaster. However, allowing your puppy to go outside is important for your puppy’s development. These tips will help you work out the best time to start taking your cockapoo puppy outside and introducing them to the world.
Taking Your Cockapoo Puppy Out In The Yard
If the weather is mild, a young puppy can be taken out to your backyard or garden, as long as they’re supervised and confined to a small and safe area. Of course, if the cockapoo puppies were still nursing, then they would likely be taken out along with their mother and the rest of the litter. Once the puppy is big enough to start wandering around on their own and going to the bathroom without their mom’s help, then they are big enough to start going outside to be potty trained. But remember that they should be closely supervised, and trips outside should be kept short, especially if the weather isn’t good.
If you’ve bought your puppy from a breeder, then chances are by the time you get your cockapoo pup, they’ll be fully weaned and big enough to explore the yard while their owner watches over them. Experts recommend taking your new puppy outside for bathroom breaks every 1-2 hours. By this point, they should be old enough to be introduced to a collar and leash in preparation for going on walks or going to public spaces.
The weather is always a major factor in whether or not it’s safe for your young cockapoo to venture outdoors. Remember that puppies are extremely vulnerable to temperature extremes. If the temperature is sub-freezing, then a young pup should be kept inside and allowed to do their business on a puppy training pad.
Puppies are particularly susceptible to getting illnesses as a result of hot weather. If you’re facing hot weather, restrict their outdoor visits, and never leave your young cockapoo outside unsupervised on a hot day.
Socializing Your Cockapoo Puppy
If you’re wondering when you can start to socialize your puppy outside away from home, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) suggest that puppy owners begin taking their puppy for a walk and public outings as early as one week after getting their first round of vaccinations, which is around seven weeks old. The first three months of a puppy’s life are the best time for proper socialization. Puppies that are kept from socializing until their vaccinations are fully complete can end up with a very short window of opportunity to become socialized. In some cases, this can cause behavioral problems that are a greater threat to a puppy’s well-being compared to the small chance of them contracting an illness.
If you’re worried about your pup mixing with other dogs or people before they’ve gotten all of their shots, Veryfetching recommends simply holding and carrying your young cockapoo when they’re close to people or dogs in public. It’s important for your puppy to be exposed to as many new animals, people, objects, sounds, smells and situations as possible, but it’s fine to keep them a little distance from dogs and people until they’ve been fully vaccinated. In the meantime, let your puppy explore your backyard, to their heart’s content.
It’s possible for your puppy to get overstimulated and get overexcited during their first few trips outdoors. If this happens, simply take a break, or maybe call it a day, giving your puppy a chance to calm down and rest. But just because your puppy gets hyper doesn’t mean that you should avoid taking them out on a regular basis. Over-stimulation for a young puppy that’s still becoming used to their new world is much less serious than an older dog that gets over-stimulated as a result of not being properly socialized. If you don’t expose your cockapoo puppy to new things, you may end up with an adult dog that suffers from anxiety and fear.
Spending time outside with your puppy is a great opportunity to bond. As they explore their new world, knowing that you are there to look out for them will help form a stronger bond. It will also train your puppy to look to you and the rest of your family when they need to go outside or go on walks. And as puppies are still learning, it’s a perfect opportunity for you to help teach them the dos and don’ts of the world. Keeping close to him in your garden or backyard will help them understand that diving into the rose bushes or going under the deck is a no-no.
Going outside to explore is a big factor for raising a dog that is well-mannered and comfortable with their environment. As long as you follow these guidelines, your cockapoo puppy should be safe and sound as they learn how to live in the big, wide world.
When Can A Cockapoo Go For A Walk For The First Time?
It’s advised to wait five to seven days after the second round of vaccinations until taking your puppy for their first walk. Although they’ll be much more resilient than they were a few weeks ago, it’s still important to continue avoiding things that may make them sick.
When starting to go on walks, keep to paved surfaces like sidewalks. Try avoiding the grass or dirt trails where urine or feces of unvaccinated dogs is harder to avoid. A pup that’s received their second round of vaccinations can also visit the beach, although it’s best to stick to locations or times of day that are less crowded.
Continue avoiding dogs that are unfamiliar while on your walks. If another dog walker approaches you and asks if their pet can say hello, politely let them know that your puppy hasn’t yet been fully vaccinated. Most dog owners will understand.
