Any tips before I take my puppy for her first ever walk?

[TwoBoiledEggs]

Puppy is 12.5 weeks and fully vacinnated and wormed etc. She is used to wearing a collar and an extendable lead for romping in the garden.

I plan on a slow 15 minute walk, moslty through some woods, to where my car is parked.

I have a water bowl to offer when we get there.

Any other tips? She has never walked next to me on a lead before. I guess lots of tiny treats?? I may end up carrying her I guess if it's too much.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

Others may be different but mine needed no encouraging ...he was ready to hurl himself head long into life! In fact we were given the all clear at a vets appt after multiple vaccinations as brands were changed so I decided to take him with me when I called at shops instead of leaving him in the car with dh. Luckily I have a very outgoing dog who took it in his stride.

[Sunshinewithshowers]

A towel for feet.

Not sure about treats, If you do that every time, she will get huge.

My dog is nearly 13, & I still say 'good boy' really enthusiastically, even though he is just walking alongside me really nicely.

I think its important he knows he is being praised still.

Phone number on collar?

Microchip up to date?

I think thats all I can think of, have fun x

[SpicyPear]

Err, based on my own experience, don't be too disappointed if it's a disaster! We took a week to get to the end of the road as he leapt around like a loon on the end of the lead despite lots of practice indoors.

Also, worth mentioning that you really should use a harness with an extendable lead. Dogs can really do themselves a lot of damage on an extendable clipped to a collar. Big no no!

[HormonalHousewife]

poo bags !!!

[SpicyPear]

Oh and yes yes to treats. You can cut back normal food to allow if she gets tubby. Mine are treat trained every single walk and not at all fat!

[TwoBoiledEggs]

Flaming typical. It's now pouring with rain!! Am waiting a bit to see if it subsides and it he meantime, puppy has fallen asleep watching a repeat of Frasier

I have to get the car at some stage though...

Sorry I used the word "collar". I think of the harness as a collar too. Yes, she does wear one with the extendable lead! And she has been microchipped and has an ID tag.

She is not very food orientated though at mealtimes. She is now eating half the weight of dried food each day for her weight/age so I was planning on taking out some kibble with a few bits of sausage to give as encouragement.

Oh, stop raining!!! Please. I only have a few hours off...!

[TwoBoiledEggs]

Poo bags! Yes. I will put some in my pocket now.

Thank you

[dontwanttobefatandforty]

What kind of dog is she?

My first walks with my 2 never got far at all, down the road and a carry back.

If she isn't fond of walking you can use cheese spread on something that reaches, got my 2 almost running for it

[SpicyPear]

Oh that's good then re harness. Just picked up on it as a lot of people don't realise and I really cringe when I see poor pups half hanging themselves on the end of long leads!

Good luck with your walking. I can't believe it was only four months ago I was trying to teach the little monkey to walk on a lead and he was jumping around with wonderment at every leaf

[TwoBoiledEggs]

Still raining. Ho hum.

Oh well, she is having a good nap.

Thank you anyway! I will have to defer until tomorrow I think.

spicypear She likes to carry leaves around in her mouth. They are pretty wonderful things! It's like having a toddler again in the garden as leaves and puddles create such excitement

[Still18atheart]

Poo Bags
Towel for muddy paws

[needastrongone]

Also, don't expect her to like it!

I was so excited when I took our puppy out for his first walk. He cried and ran back to the car or whimpered pathetically for the whole 5 minutes we were out!!!

Now................well that's a completely different matter!

Our breeder suggested letting him off lead immediately, while he was too scared to leave our side basically. We live in a rural location so are surrounded by quiet fields and country lanes. Worked a treat. This, plus extensive and continued recall training seem to have done the job, he always comes when called, even when playing with other dogs. He's rarely ON the lead now, just for the first 5 minutes of a walk to get us where we need to be.

Although, we have yet to reach the teenage stage and I will gladly eat my words then I suspect

[needastrongone]

Poo bags, treats, clicker, gloves, lead, mobile, keys!

Whistle if I remember but just introduced that, puppy is fascinated!

[Booboostoo]

You need the bestest treats possible for walks so you can re-inforce the recall right from the beginning, e.g. liver, cheese, etc. All you need is tiny portions and just reduce her main meals accordingly. I also leave the puppies off lead immediately and treat everytime they happen to be near me.

I am not a big fan of extendable leads, they get tangled around everything and can be very dangerous on pavements (the lead allows the dog to vear into the road).

[TwoBoiledEggs]

Thank you everyone

tomorrow is supposed to be better weather! Will try then....!

I was so excited and the darn puppy probably won't like it much.

Great tip about letting her off the lead. But although I live very rurally, it's not allowed in most (all really) of the areas near here. No public rights of way, they are all permissive access which means we have to stick strictly to whatever guidelines there are, including being on a lead. (Livestock, etc) Very very little cars and roads though (but I am taking her to roads to socialise her!).

I have both short leads and extendable. Maybe I will take her to the beach next week so she gets to run on the sand too. And a good opportunity to let her off while she is still nervous about being away from me.

[Marne]

When I took our pup out for the first time he refused to walk and was startled by the slightest noise, he's now 18 weeks old and loves his walks, is great on the lead although pulls when we are getting close to home and is great off the lead ( good recall and walks next to me). Please don't be put off by the weather as he needs to get used to the rain too, dogs need walking everyday whatever the weather. Good luck xx

[Booboostoo]

If you are able to pop her in a rucksack and take her everywhere. There is a short window of opportunity for socialisation and you want to make the most of it.

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

Be prepared for every passer-by to stop and 'aaah' the pup. Our first walk took ages because of all the fussing over him and we hardly took a step!