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Puppy outings

cecily

cecily

Well-known member
Rio is now coming up to 11 weeks old, and we enjoy taking her to our parents houses (where she's met their dogs). The other evening we got stuck delivering 30 leaflets and brought her with us (it was a v. short distance around the green we live on). We've also taken her up to Carlingford for an afternoon where my parents-in-law were having a barbeque by their motorhome. She seems to absolutely love it and everybody she's met has adored her.

I was a bit worried though that it might be a bit too much for a young puppy. I did mention it to the vet and he said it's ok but I thought I'd ask when you guys started bringing your dogs places with you and at what age you started walking them? Rio is thriving at the moment and we want to keep it that way!
 
Well Charlies coming up 13 wks and we havn't got chance to take him anywhere on his lead yet :( :( with all his antibiotics the vet won't give him his innoculations :( , so he's just been running around in our garden, he absolutely loves it. We just can't wait to get him out there!!!
I've been trying to get him used to outside by carrying him everywhere, school runs etc and he's itching to get down on the ground. It's such a shame cos if i'm right this is the time when they need to be socialising :(
If I could Charlie would go everywhere with me
 
It's easier said than done, really. What do you carry them in? I live in the city and I'm paranoid- even on a lead I'd be scared of the puppy taking off, or jumping out of my arms, especially if scared. Having said that, zooplus have a fabulous pet carrier bag that looks exactly like an ordinary sports bag, but padded and meshed so the dog can see out. I'm thinking of getting it for the puppy so she can come about with me more. I'd love to get one of the really yummy pet bags, but she'd outgrow it so quickly and I'd be left with an unusable bag! :yikes
 
I just carry him in my arms ;) , although in the morning when it's a little chilly i wrap him in a blanket mainly cos he's still getting over his pneumonia :yikes
 
cecily said:
Rio is now coming up to 11 weeks old, and we enjoy taking her to our parents houses (where she's met their dogs). The other evening we got stuck delivering 30 leaflets and brought her with us (it was a v. short distance around the green we live on). We've also taken her up to Carlingford for an afternoon where my parents-in-law were having a barbeque by their motorhome. She seems to absolutely love it and everybody she's met has adored her.

I was a bit worried though that it might be a bit too much for a young puppy. I did mention it to the vet and he said it's ok but I thought I'd ask when you guys started bringing your dogs places with you and at what age you started walking them? Rio is thriving at the moment and we want to keep it that way!
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It's very, very good to socialize her at this young age. :) This is a key socialization period for her, so that's wonderful that you're taking her places, as long as she's been vaccinated which it sounds like she has.

I do remember our cavs' breeder advised against walking a pup that young for more than very short distances and especially walking on hard surfaces. My understanding is that this can affect the pup's hips. We used to carry the pups places, then put them down to sniff around, explore, and be petted by people. I will try to find out what age we were told it was okay to walk them - I have it in their folders somewhere!
 
Thanks Cathy. I did not know that about the pups hips! We love taking her places and she's been very well behaved so far. 8) We're hoping she'll be a healthy, fit adult. She has loads of energy and has never shown the slightest indication of being tired but we don't want to push her. It'd be great to find out when we can walk her to her hearts content!
 
I bought this Pet Pocket for Lucky because I have the same concerns being so lose to the city:

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It's been fabulous and he gets lots of attention in it!!! :lotsaluv:

That said, I'm paranoid, because we were walking today and ran across a black lab mix with a cold ... I made the mistake of petting the sick dog. I didn't let Lucky near him, but afterwards I had to curl my hand up in a fist and get into the bathroom, and wash my hands with antibacterial soap and Clorox ... I don't want Lucky getting sick either. :d*g:
 
A good way of socialising your pup is through puppy playgroups or kinergartens. Most vets or obedience clubs run them. This way you can get your pups confidence up in a safe environment. They get to play with other pups and humans and the instructors teach you how to train your pup in basic obedience and answer any questions you have. I have put through 5 pups this way and all have turned out to be sociable and well mannered dogs. The classes usually run for 4 weeks and your pup can be as young as 8 weeks old.
 
cecily said:
Thanks Cathy. I did not know that about the pups hips! We love taking her places and she's been very well behaved so far. 8) We're hoping she'll be a healthy, fit adult. She has loads of energy and has never shown the slightest indication of being tired but we don't want to push her. It'd be great to find out when we can walk her to her hearts content!
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Hi Cecily, it took me awhile to find this - according to the author of A New Owner's Guide to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (Meredith Johnson-Snyder), any Cavalier under 10 or 12 months of age should have short exercise periods with long rest stops. She says serious injuries can result from puppies going on extended walks.

Also, in John Evan's book Cavalier King Charles Spaniels An Owner's Companion, he says to keep young puppies off hard surfaces when leash walking, walk them on lawns. Also keep them off stairs and from climbing on and off furniture. This is to protect bones, joints and tendons. He says road walking should not begin until six months of age, starting with just a few yards at a time and increasing the distance each day.

In Sheila Smith's book Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Today she says to stop lead training during 4-5 months of age when the puppy is teething and sore in the mouth. (I didn't know about this with my pups :? )
 
:shock: :yikes :shock: :yikes
Oh my God?! Rio flies around the place and is up and down the stairs several times a day. I know I heard somewhere it was good for them to climb stairs, but that must be adults. :oops:
As for keeping them from jumping up and down off furniture?!??
Can't believe how far I was off the mark on this one. I thought the more exercise in as many varieties as possible the better for their overall strength and fitness. Guess Rio will be getting more use out of the petbag we bought her than I thought! :?

Thanks Cathy for the information. Must check my own cavalier book for information on that...
 
:shock: Hope this didn't scare you! Many breeders and vets have different opinions, so I wouldn't worry too much. I think Bruce lets his puppies on stairs at a fairly young age. I would mainly focus on no long walks and no jumping off furniture. :flwr:
 
And I had Holly walking as soon as I could persuade her that the lead was a nice thing! (OK, she got carried at first, but only cos she was scared). Stairs weren't a problem because even at 16 weeks, she was still too tiny to climb the stairs if she wanted to! Eventually, she worked out how to get UP them- my mum had to physically show her how to go DOWN, but she still kinda bounces down them rather than walking, if that makes sense.

Despite comments above, I've just won a scrumptious pet carrier from ebay. If you wanna see, go check my influence thread on in the shopping forum! I intend to be much more careful with the puppy.
 
Cecily, has Rio had all the innoculations, if not I really would'nt let her on the public ground..... if she has had the full set of injections, then at 11 weeks she should only have very short walks of about 5-10 minutes...
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. I guess Rio will be having a more easy going time of it for a while than we were expecting! So much for those hikes in a few weeks time! :lol: If I didn't know better I'd think she put ye up to it ;)
 
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