Preparing Your Puppy for the Great Outdoors

One of the biggest milestones in your young puppy’s life is their first outdoor experience. It’s a big old world out there with a whole array of new sights, smells, and experiences to come across during your doggy adventures! To ensure a happy pup, however, it pays to be prepared for this first outing. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about taking your puppy outside for the first time, from the benefits of outdoor exposure to practical tips and potential hazards.

The Benefits of Taking Your Puppy Outdoors

So, where do we begin? How about looking at why introducing your puppy to the great outdoors is such a good idea!

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that taking a dog outdoors packs a heap of benefits. For one thing, it helps with your puppy’s socialisation, providing opportunities to encounter new people, other dogs, and different environments. 

Outdoor activities also contribute to a dog’s physical health, offering a chance for exercise and exploration. And if you’re still not convinced, the outdoors can stimulate your dog’s senses and boost their mental development, making them happier and more well-adjusted as they grow.

And if that’s not enough to convince you that taking your puppy outside is a time to be excited, we don’t know what will!

When Can Puppies Go Outside for the First Time?

Still, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We shouldn’t rush our pups into exploring the outdoors and should instead approach this at a measured pace.

On that note, one of the most important pieces of advice for new puppy parents is answering the question, “When can puppies go outside?”. Puppies can explore your garden from the first day they come home, provided it’s secure and you’re there to keep an eye on them in case they discover any unexpected hazards. For walks in public or communal areas, however, your puppy will need to have completed their primary vaccination course. Consult your vet for the specific timeline after the last vaccination to ensure your puppy’s immunity is fully developed.

It's possible to take your puppy to different places before they’re fully protected if you wish, but you should hold your pup in these situations, rather than letting them walk on the ground. This can actually be a great way to begin introducing them to different everyday experiences!

Training and Preparation for Taking a Dog Outdoors

If you haven’t yet been given the all-clear from your vet to introduce your puppy to the outside, don’t despair. Instead, you can put this time to good use, preparing your pup for their great adventure by running through this puppy checklist:

1. Introduce the Harness or Collar: Start by familiarising your puppy with their harness or collar. You can introduce this in small steps, beginning with simply letting your puppy inspect it for themselves, and using positive reinforcement to reward your pup for staying relaxed during the process. Once your dog is comfortable with wearing their harness or collar, you can check it fits properly and doesn’t restrict their movement. 
2. Practice Walking on a Lead: Though being on a lead can be a strange experience at first, you’ll want your puppy to associate it with a positive and safe experience. The best way to do this is by practising lead walking inside your home! First, teach your puppy that staying close to you is a good thing, not forgetting that treats are going to be your best friend here. Start stationary and then build up to moving around. You can then gradually introduce the lead, approaching this one step at a time, before working on loose lead walking with your pup.
3. Basic Cues: Essential for your new puppy checklist will also be teaching them basic cues such as “sit” and recall. If you let your pup off their lead, you need to be certain they’ll come back to you when called. Make sure your puppy is reliable with these cues, particularly in places with a number of distractions, before considering letting them off the lead in larger areas.
4. Socialisation at Home: To help your puppy become accustomed to other dogs in a controlled environment, invite friends or family with dogs to your home. Just make sure these dogs are all fully vaccinated first.

What to Bring

Another important consideration is what you’re going to pack for taking your new dog outdoors. Here’s a handy list of essentials:

• Collar/Harness and Lead: We briefly touched on it above, but make sure this is a proper fit to avoid restricting your pup’s movement.
• ID Tag: A visible ID tag is needed just in case your puppy gets lost.
• Treats: Treats are the perfect way to reward desired actions from your dog, and they can be used to create positive associations with new experiences.
• Poo Bags: Bring plenty of poo bags, and sometimes a few sheets of kitchen roll can also come in handy for any messes!
• Water and Bowl: Your puppy may get thirsty when out and about so keep
• them hydrated with a collapsible water bowl and fresh water.