Best way to manage puppy and school run

[graduatedbob]

New dog owner looking for advice!

I adopted a 9 week old pup recently. She can't go for a walk yet as hasn't had all her injections. I am a bit unsure about what to do with her while we do the school run.

It takes about 30 mins (20 mins actual walking time). I have taken her out in a puppy sling a few times, but she's already up to the maximum weight limit and was quite scared and tried to get out of it a few times. I think this would only work as a temporary measure for a week or two at best.

Obviously, the solution in the future will be for her to walk to the school with me when she can safely walk on a lead, but I am not sure how long that will take her to learn. We are booked in to do a puppy training course starting at the end of January.

Would I be better slowly getting her used to being at home in her crate while I take the kids? I have been following the Facebook dog training group recommended on here, and from reading their files they say it would be much too long to leave a puppy that age. When I speak to family members who have had dogs, they say leaving her for that long would be fine. I am confused!

It would be for 2 days a week max as I alternate working from home with DH.

Would be grateful for any advice!

I would use the sling for the next couple of weeks at least, excellent socialisation for the puppy, she will get to see a lot.

Hopefully she will be ok to be on the ground walking in a few weeks anyway

I would take her in the sling for as long as you can, and practice crate training when you’re at home and not actually needing to leave the house. I used to put mine in the crate and leave CBeebies on (familiar sound unfortunately 😂) for 5 minutes at a time twice a day, working up to 10, 15 etc over a couple of weeks whilst I’d just walk up the street.

Thanks guys. Tried the sling again today and she kept trying to escape. We walk through a park and all the sticks on the floor must look too tempting. Perhaps I will try her in a rucksack or something a bit more substantial when we go out again later. We got absolutely mobbed at both schools with kids wanting to stroke her so it should be good for her socialization at least! Really looking forward to proper walks.

We got absolutely mobbed at both schools with kids wanting to stroke her so it should be good for her socialization at least!

Please be careful about this. You don't want her to

a) think kids are all exciting
OR
b) be overwhelmed (even if she doesn't look it) and think kids are scary

Much better she see them but doesn't have lots of little hands reaching in for her as this is not necessarily a pleasant experience for her.

Yes I was definitely aware of trying not to overwhelm her. I left it to the last possible minute to leave home so we spent as little time at the school as possible and I had to wait at the gate and send kids in as obviously dogs not allowed not allowed on the school grounds.

It's difficult to know what to do for best. Part of me thinks it would be much less of an ordeal if I leave her at home, but she hates her crate.

I'm similar OP, got a 30 min school run (walk/scoot) and a puppy that can only just now go out for walks. I've been just popping my puppy into her crate with a treat and her water and some toys. She's absolutely fine with this, never soils the crate and then I let her out when I get back.

I've got a just-turned 10 week old working golden retriever pup and he comes with us on the school run in an old backpack. It works fine for us. He would much rather be on the ground (next Monday!) so does squirm a bit sometimes but I bring lots of treats out with me to praise him when he's being good. It's meant he's had some great socialising opportunities - ambulance with siren, loud motorbike, buses, noisy workmen with fluorescent jackets, etc.

I think you’d be best just leaving puppy in the crate for 30 minutes st this stage. Take out for a wee before you leave the house. Job’s a good un.

That’s part of the reason why people do crate training isn’t it? So you can leave a puppy somewhere safe for short periods and be reasonably confident they won’t wee or poo ax they’re in their bed?