Ava Williams
A cute puppy who is discovering the world and exploring his surroundings with clumsy paws and full of curiosity – what a delightful sight. But especially at the beginning, a puppy feels insecure in unfamiliar situations, which is why creating trust should be the top priority.
Getting used to the collar and leash
The collar and leash are just as unfamiliar to a puppy as an unfamiliar environment. It is therefore best to first get the puppy used to the collar and leash in a home and familiar environment. The best way to do this is to squat down, call, or lure the little puppy to you and then put the collar on him. Only when the leash and collar no longer arouse fear in the puppy can it go outside.
The non-hazardous environment gives peace of mind
Young puppies have yet to learn appropriate outdoor behavior. Therefore, for the first walks, a quiet, less frequented environment should be selected. Best in a park or on quieter trails. In a non-hazardous environment, it is not necessary to leash a puppy. A young dog who trusts his master or mistress will follow him and not even think about running away. But dog owners must also learn to trust their protégé. However, the puppy should be used to everyday life very early on because everything the puppy gets to know in the first months of life is no longer frightening for him later. It is just as important to teach the puppy how to walk properly on a leash ( when dogs pull on a leash ) from an early age.
Proper handling of other dogs
A puppy must also learn how to deal with other conspecifics. The human as a caregiver mustn’t be afraid of other dogs, as a puppy will notice this immediately and take a role model. It is helpful to attend a special puppy school because here the puppy learns the right social behavior with other puppies of the same age or with other adult dogs under expert supervision.
How much exercise does a puppy need?
A puppy is not yet as powerful as an adult dog. On the first walk, make sure that you only cover short distances. Even if the playful companion doesn’t seem tired, you shouldn’t ask too much of him. Typically, a three to four-month-old puppy can be walked three times a day, for a maximum of about 15 minutes. As a rule of thumb, the puppy should not walk for more than 5 minutes at a time per month of life. Jogging or running next to the bike should only be started when the dog is fully grown.