When can I start walking my puppy around Bristol?
I remember when our border terrier puppy joined our family and we were so eager to take him out for his first walk, to be able to put his lead on and take him to the local park for a dog walk in Bristol. Waiting for him to fully protected from his vaccinations seemed like an age! Playing in the house and garden was a lot of fun for him and us but he soon became fidgety when carrying him in our arms in public areas! However, it is essential that your puppy doesn’t come into contact with unvaccinated dogs in Bristol or areas where dogs have fouled until he is fully protected by vaccinations.
How far can my puppy walk?
This varies according to the age of the puppy (younger puppies need less walks) and the breed of dog. The Kennel Club UK recommend 5 minutes walk per day for each month of age up to 2 times a day, so 20 minutes up to twice a day for a 4 month old puppy, 30 minutes up to twice a day for a 6 month old puppy. This guidance should be followed until a dog is fully grown. Every dog owner has a duty to walk their dog at least once a day. This should be in a safe and secure area and a different environment than the garden at home to allow socialisation with other dogs in Bristol and time to explore. Walking has less impact than running and jumping putting less stress on developing bones. Over exercise as a puppy must be avoided as it can damage growing bones and joints and can lead to problems later including early arthritis.
Large breed dogs can take longer to reach maturity than smaller dogs and may not reach maturity until 12 to 15 months of age so you may need to hold off on longer walks until then. Consult your vet if you are unsure.
How can Scamps and Champs Bristol help?
Scamps and Champs Bristol offer puppy visits which can be as frequent as you would like. A fully trained, DBS checked, animal care professional can visit your puppy to provide food and fresh water, and take him out for a toilet break and some fresh air in the garden. We provide company and lots of cuddles so that your puppy is not left for too long. To prevent separation anxiety when they are little it is best not to leave a puppy alone for longer than 2 hours. Our animal care team can visit you at home to devise a personalised plan, which can be amended as your puppy grows.
Your Scamps and Champs Bristol pet carer will send you feedback and photos of your puppy during each puppy visit keeping you up to date and reassuring you that whilst you are away from your home your puppy is receiving all the love and attention he deserves.
To find out more about how we can help, contact Anne at our Bristol branch on bristol@scampsandchamps.co.uk or give us a call on 0333 200 5827.