In general, the stage of life at which a puppy can start living outdoors is around the 1-year mark. It could be a little earlier, depending on factors such as each dog's development, temperament, size, social skills, health, and home environment. Puppies need to go out to urinate, defecate, meet people and other animals, and explore the world. But during the first few weeks of life, they are also at risk of contracting infections and diseases.
Most experts agree that your puppy can go out to your backyard starting at eight weeks of age, but you should wait to go out on the ground in public until he is 16 weeks old. Today we'll answer the important question of when puppies can go out and show you how to safely get your puppy out before 16 weeks of age to socialize. For these reasons, most puppy owners allow their puppies to be in the yard from their first days at home. In freezing temperatures, very young puppies or toy breed puppies should be kept indoors and let them relieve themselves on a puppy training pad.
In When Can Puppies Go Outside, puppy expert Pippa Mattinson explains how to keep your pup safe from illness while adjusting to their new life with your family. Keeping puppies at home is a good way to make sure they don't come into contact with other dogs or their waste products, which can make your puppy sick. If you're wondering when puppies can go outside the home, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends that pet guardians begin taking puppies for walks and going out to the public as soon as one week after their first round of vaccinations, at approximately seven weeks of age. In the past, veterinarians insisted that puppies should stay at home for up to a week after the puppy had their final vaccinations.
As your puppy develops immunity through vaccinations and natural exposure, talk to your veterinarian about safe places where you can start letting your puppy explore as they age. It is important to teach puppies to be close to other dogs and people, during their first 12 months of life. Also, because puppies are still learning, this is the perfect opportunity for you to help teach them what they should and should not do in the world. If possible, it's a good idea for your puppy to meet puppies of a similar age who are as excited to play as they are.
Check with your veterinarian, but in many areas, puppy classes welcome puppies after their first series of vaccinations. Researchers did not find an increased risk of parvo in puppies that go to class compared to puppies that stay at home. The current view is that puppies need to be exposed to a variety of people and experiences to avoid fear and aggression, starting at eight weeks of age. Each series of vaccines will include protection against diseases that commonly attack puppies and older dogs.
