1. The importance of walking for a puppy

It is necessary to take your puppy out from the age of 8 weeks and give it new and above all positive experiences. There are several reasons to take your puppy out as early and as regularly as possible, here they are:

• The walk ensures the proper development of your puppy. Between 8 and 12 weeks, all the experiences your puppy has been recorded. This “database” will be your puppy’s tolerance threshold in the future. Thus, the more your puppy has evolved in a rich and positive environment, the more you will make a stable and balanced adult dog.
• I emphasize that the experiences your pup should have are different, but above all, they should be positive. If your puppy has bad experiences, it could translate into trauma later on. So do not hesitate to take your dog out in the town, in the car, make him meet new people, other animals, etc. repeatedly and above all positively.

Note: Some veterinarians or breeders recommend not to take a puppy out until it has had its booster shot. However, for its development, it is necessary not to wait to take it out but to begin to accustom it to the outside world as soon as possible. It is recommended to take your puppy outside in a safe way, not let him smell the excrement of other dogs in the street, etc. Be vigilant, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking it out.

• The walk allows you to learn cleanliness. If you get into the habit of taking your puppy out regularly from adoption, you favor the times when he will want to relieve himself outside. Part of teaching your puppy not to poop at home is to praise him when he has the right attitude, namely when he poops outside. So walking him regularly will help him understand this learning.
   
• The walk helps strengthen your relationship and work on recall. Walking your puppy regularly allows you to share a pleasant and playful moment with him. This will therefore strengthen your relationship and help create an attachment between you. The walk can also be educational, allowing your puppy to learn to follow you freely, not to pull on his leash, and to return to the recall.

2. The frequency and duration of walks according to your puppy’s age

Your puppy needs to go out from the age of 2 months and you have to adapt these times individually, depending on the age and energy of your puppy. In any case, it is recommended to walk it several times a day, preferably with short and repeated walks.

Warning: Do not wake your puppy to go for a walk. Indeed, a puppy is a baby. He needs sleep to grow well, so you have to respect his resting phases.

On average, it is recommended to walk your puppy 2 to 6 times a day, possibly more depending on your availability. Regarding the duration, you will have to adapt this to your puppy, but here is what is generally recommended, even if you have a garden:

• Between 2 and 3 months: 10 to 15 minutes (several times a day)
• Between 3 and 6 months: 15 to 30 minutes (several times a day)
• Beyond 6 months: minimum 30 minutes (one or more times a day)

 

3. How to achieve the “perfect” walk for your puppy?

“The perfect walk” fits your pup, but here are some tips to help:

• Train your puppy

Walking on a leash:  Getting your puppy used to the leash is a very good thing, but you also have to teach him not to pull on his leash! For this, it is simply recommended not to move forward while your pup is pulling. Wait for him to calm down, or call him to come to you and praise him by moving forward as soon as the leash is loose. Your puppy will therefore learn that it is with a loose leash that he can move forward.

 How to react when a dog refuses to walk in the rain?

Natural follow-up: On a walk, do not hesitate to let your puppy go in an environment lacking in stimulation and without danger. When your puppy is released, it is necessary not to talk to him constantly to teach him to follow you naturally. So, as soon as your puppy gets away from you, turn around without telling him. Your puppy, understanding that he risks losing you if he is not vigilant, will begin to cast regular glances in your direction to be sure to stay close to you. This exercise is essential if you want to get a good recall afterward.

Recall your puppy on a walk

Recall: If you want to recall your puppy on a walk, it is recommended to start by working on the previous exercise, namely natural tracking. When your puppy is used to following you and watching you regularly, you can start calling him to come back to you. . To do this, start by working on this exercise in an environment that does not include stimulation. For your puppy to learn to come back to you in all circumstances, he must know how to do so without disruptive elements distracting him. Finally, to remind your puppy, remember to crouch down and call him very nicely. If your puppy does not come, turn around, and as soon as he comes towards you, congratulate him! Do not hesitate to make him play, to give him a treat but also to let him play again so that he does not assimilate the reminder to the systematic end of the ride.

• Play with your puppy

On walks, it is necessary to play with your puppy by offering him short games (5 or 10 minutes) but repeated throughout the walk. Avoid throwing games that reinforce your puppy’s pursuit spirit and may reinforce his predation instincts. Prefer games of complicity where you are facing your puppy. You can have him pull a knotted rope for example, but be sure to control your puppy’s state of excitement. You can also teach him to sit and lie down with the help of a toy or treats. Education and learning new cues are fun for your puppy if you are positive.

• Let him smell the smells

On walks, it is also necessary to allow your puppy to explore his environment by smell. You don’t have to be constantly talking to him and asking him things. Let it also evolve freely, in a secure environment. In dogs, the smell is the first sense developed. It is therefore by letting him smell all the smells present on the walk that your puppy will discover his environment with pleasure.

• Introduce him to new things

We’ve covered it before, but your puppy needs to be out in a variety of environments. Don’t hesitate to change walks regularly to allow him to live new experiences but always positively.

• Make him meet “dog friends”

Your puppy must be in regular contact with his congeners. Without this, he will risk losing the learning of canine codes and therefore subsequently becoming fearful or aggressive towards the other dogs he meets. This is why it is recommended to release your puppy in the presence of correctly and regularly socialized congeners.

Walking your dog: how to make this moment perfect? 

You now know the tips and advice to put in place to walk your puppy in good condition. The most important thing is to adapt to your puppy and take pleasure in sharing with him this moment of relaxation and complicity that is the daily walk!

Walking equipment

Walking your dog is essential for its development and well-being, but like everything, it can be learned! It must therefore be accused when it is a young puppy, from 8 weeks, to walk on a leash in particular. Having good equipment is essential for this learning to take place in the best conditions. Thanks to the offers offered by online merchants, you can choose the leash best suited to their weight, their race, but also to the environment in which the walks take place. You also have to decide between the traditional collar and the harness, which can be more comfortable. All you have to do is make your choice!

• Harness collars and leashes for dogs: all products
• ID collar for puppies 
• Dog  harnesses
• Leash with chain 120cm for dog
• dog training leash
• Leash with cord for dog