Young puppies in the garden???

[Hosruns]

Hi all
I thought it was time for my first post here after reading lots of threads over the last few nights, whilst listening to Rosie our new pup howling! Roise's now 8 and 1/2 weeks old and currently asleep in my left foot while I type.

My question relates to toilet training and lots of people talk about putting puppy outside to encourage wees and other things early on. I've assumed that Rosie is not going outside at all until jabs have been completed - is that right or am I being over cautious?  We've got a secure garden but have regular feline visitors and birds.

Thanks

[MacTavish Boys]

Hi and welcome to COL both of mine went out in the garden for wees and poos from the age of 8 weeks old. I would also carry Rosie outside for socilisation purposes, meeting people, dogs that you know have been vaccinated, traffic and just everyday stuff all part of the learing curve for them
Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx

[primmer]

Hi and welcome to you and Rosie. I put murphy in the garden from 7 weeks when he came home and he ran around, one to burn off energy and also to help toilet training without any problems. When we went outside of the house and garden before all his jabs I carried him to get him used to the ourside world so he had several car journeys and carries to the local shops before his jabs.

[jessandme]

I think you are being a little overcautious - unless, perhaps, you know that you have a problem with foxes regularly visiting your garden, in which case I think it would be sensible to keep your little one close to the house.  You don't need to worry about cats or birds.

I have always had pups out in the back garden from the day I get them home.  They enjoy exploring the garden and running around, also they need to be taken out very frequently for toileting - on waking after a nap, after playing, after eating, after drinking, and whenever you see the body language cues of course.

It is an excellent idea to get used to taking your little one out and about with you, with the little one being carried of course.  We bought a puppy sling from eBay for about £10, made it very easy and pup feels very safe cuddled up against you.   Take her outside at the garden centre, up the high street, wherever you can - it should become a regular thing, meeting lots of new people and seeing as many new things as possible, all of which are just what you need for good socialisation. 

I once tried to walk up Guildford High Street with our 10 week old Jess in the sling, tried being the operative word, so many people interested in Jess.  There was a one man band as well, he came up to us and started on 'how much is that doggy in the window' complete with clashing cymbals.      

[Dan]

I picked Brodie up yesterday she is 8 weeks on Monday and I'm already encouraging her in the back yard for wees and poos I don't see nothin wrong with it I I'm honest but others may differ!

[LinziS]

Have always taken our pups into the garden as soon as we brought them home at 8 weeks to train them to do their business....and usually had them stuffed inside our jacket whenever we went out to the shops etc to get them used to the noises that will be around them ...although like another poster has said you dont get very far as everyone you pass wants a little peek/stroke/chat with them lol

[Linz13]

Like the others, I too had mine out in the garden from the minute they came home. We know murphy's breeder very well and when we visited they would often all be out in the garden there having fun with mum.

[black taz]

mine have always gone in our garden from day one.

Just a useful tip - whilst they are weeing and pooing regularly start to put a command to it as they are actually doing it - i use "be clean" for a wee.  Then as they get older you can get them to wee on command - it can be very useful if you need them to go before you go out

[Joules]

What you want to protect them from is unvaccinated dogs or where they might have been, so your garden will be fine (unless you have a public footpath though it  ).

It is also OK for pups to meet other vaccinated dogs and to be taken out in your arms until vax are complete and you can put pup on the ground    In fact it is a good idea to start asap as you can miss out on vital socialisation in those early weeks 

[Hosruns]

Thanks everyone for your help... sounds like Im being an over protective dad lol... Rosie has now been around the garden a few times and loved being outside with even more things to sniff and explore.