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Original poster

More puppy questions!

51 replies

Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 11:00

So, pup is going to be coming on the school run (in arms), how long can he be out before he is going to need a loo break?

I should mention, as we don’t drive and the schools are all different for each kid by ‘school run’ I am actually referring to a walk of at minimum an hour (there and back) twice a day...
So not a quick little 10 minute drop off.

Should I take a pad with me to put on the grass? Confused

He’s a tiny toy breed so I’m fairly confident he won’t be able to hold it for an hour or more right?

OP posts:
Maves · 06/09/2021 11:11

Is he vaccinated? I'm not sure why you need a pad as that's teaching him nothing. I don't get why you are carrying a pup?

idontlikealdi · 06/09/2021 11:14

An hour there and an hour back twice a day?! 4 hours a day?

How old is the pup? vaccinated? have you got a carrier? You won't want to literally be carrying it for that long even if a small toy breed. Are you expecting a toy to be able to walk that far eventually?

I'm assuming he's not vaccinated yet? Sounds like a ballache to be honest, putting a pad on the grass is pointless.

Can anyone sit with him while you do the school run or can someone take the kids to school until he is vaccinated?

longtompot · 06/09/2021 12:18

Even vaccinated, that walk would be too much for a puppy to walk until their joints have fully formed. They are meant to walk 5 mins for each month of their life. This is from The Kennel Club website
Puppies need much less exercise than fully grown dogs. If you over-exercise a growing puppy you can overtire it and damage its developing joints, causing early arthritis. A good rule of thumb is a ratio of five minutes exercise per month of age (up to twice a day) until the puppy is fully grown e.g. 15 minutes (up to twice a day) when 3 months old, 20 minutes when 4 months old and so on. Once they are fully grown, they can go out for much longer.

It is important that puppies and dogs go out for exercise every day in a safe and secure area, or they may become frustrated. Time spent in your garden, however large it may be, is no substitute for exploring new environments and socialising with other dogs. Make sure your puppy is trained to return to you when you call their name.

You should never exercise your puppy on a full stomach as this can contribute to bloat.

Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 12:34

Is he vaccinated?
No, he’s 8 weeks old

I'm not sure why you need a pad as that's teaching him nothing
I can’t put him on the grass if he isn’t vaccinated.

don't get why you are carrying a pup?

  1. He isn’t vaccinated
  2. At 8 weeks old he can’t walk more than about 10 minutes, let alone an hour!
OP posts:
Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 12:36

An hour there and an hour back twice a day?! 4 hours a day?
Sorry I haven’t explained well at all.
It’s 30 minutes there then 30 minutes back so an hour, twice a day, two hours total.

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 06/09/2021 12:41

I just can't see how that is going to work, he may or may not wee or poo but it's too much for a young pup even once you are through vaccinations.

Hellocatshome · 06/09/2021 12:44

Never had a puppy always had older rescues but does he have to come with you? Could he stay at home in a crate with the TV on? Can none of the children walk home alone or with one of their friends? Sounds like a ball ache to me taking him with you twice a day also your walk will be longer than normal as everyone will want to stroke the puppy. Everyone wants to stroke my dog and he's a grumpy sod so a puppy is going to get majorly fussed over.

Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 12:47

I just can't see how that is going to work, he may or may not wee or poo but it's too much for a young pup even once you are through vaccinations
He’ll be walked roughly 5 mins per month and carried the rest of the way.
Obviously a 11 week old pup (once fully vaccinated) can’t walk two hours a day!
I’m not an idiot.. Hmm

I was just querying roughly how long he is likely to be able to hold it because until fully vacc’d i can’t put him down as other dogs will have been on the pavement and grass.

OP posts:
VickyLouT · 06/09/2021 12:49

Are the schools happy for you to take a dog onto their property? We are not allowed to even leave them leashed near the school (not that we would want to do that).

Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 12:50

Never had a puppy always had older rescues but does he have to come with you? Could he stay at home in a crate with the TV on?
I mean, he could but I imagine he’ll end up with major separation anxiety if i did that?
He’ll be trained to be left alone for tiny period ly every day like my older dog building up to longer.

Can none of the children walk home alone or with one of their friends?
Too young.

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 06/09/2021 12:53

Too young. too young to walk home with a friend and their parents? Might have been an idea to think about this before buying the puppy. How about a puppy sitter? Or leaving him with a friend/neighbour?

idontlikealdi · 06/09/2021 12:56

@Powertothepetal

I just can't see how that is going to work, he may or may not wee or poo but it's too much for a young pup even once you are through vaccinations He’ll be walked roughly 5 mins per month and carried the rest of the way. Obviously a 11 week old pup (once fully vaccinated) can’t walk two hours a day! I’m not an idiot.. Hmm

I was just querying roughly how long he is likely to be able to hold it because until fully vacc’d i can’t put him down as other dogs will have been on the pavement and grass.

Didn't say you were. 🤷‍♀️

Yes you are likely to get weed on or what on when all the school kids see a cute puppy and he gets over excited.

No dogs allowed at all in our school, even carried, so op makes a valid point.

Load3 · 06/09/2021 13:00

We were putting ours in his crate for two/three hours at a time for naps a couple of times a day at that age (although we were in the house tbf).

So, at 8 weeks I would just put him down for a nap.

We only have the one dog and he was crate trained to sleep in the kitchen, alone, from day one though - this might not work for you.

Tubbyinthehottub · 06/09/2021 13:02

Puppies are not allowed in our school grounds, even carried. Do you collect your kids outside the gate?
When my dog was unvaccinated and carried in a bag, I think an hour would have been OK. If not, you'll just have a blanket to clean I suppose.

Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 13:06

Might have been an idea to think about this before buying the puppy
Jesus.
I just want to know how long he is likely to be able to hold it...

I don’t understand why him coming on the walk is such an issue here, he’s not walking it cause he’s a puppy, he is being carried, I didn’t let people touch the dog I have when she was a baby and I won’t be letting anyone touch this one so no, he isnt going to be overwhelmed or overexcited.

He is going to be in my arms, with me walking, watching and smelling all the sights and sounds.
Which is what we are told to do with puppies anyway to socialise them.

If I’d known it was going to provoke such a reaction I wouldn’t have bothered posting.

OP posts:
Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 13:08

So, at 8 weeks I would just put him down for a nap
I won’t leave him unattended for an hour twice a day, there’s no guarantee he’ll sleep and if he’s awake I feel it’ll be a recipe for separation anxiety.

Puppies are not allowed in our school grounds, even carried. Do you collect your kids outside the gate?
I wait by the gate for two, the third is dog friendly.

OP posts:
alpinia · 06/09/2021 13:13

We always had much larger breeds but when they were small we frequently took them out in a dog handbag (!) to busy places so they could observe. I can't say they ever seemed to need to pee much in the bag and often just went to sleep. A bag is much better as you aren't wrestling a wriggling puppy and you have your hands free. A friend was carrying her young puppy when it wriggled and jumped and it ended up with a badly broken leg. I used to just find a clear spot for them to toilet on but you could use a puppy pad.

Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 13:15

Thanks @alpinia

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 06/09/2021 13:16

I just want to know how long he is likely to be able to hold it

Well no one can answer that question because no one knows your puppy. But seen as you are dead set on taking it with you just be prepared to have wet arms by the time you get back.

Original poster
Powertothepetal · 06/09/2021 13:23

Well no one can answer that question because no one knows your puppy. But seen as you are dead set on taking it with you just be prepared to have wet arms by the time you get back
There’s no other viable option, you can’t leave a 8 week old puppy on its own for two hours!

It’s a walk, in arms, watching, observing and smelling things from arms.
Which is what you are advised to do to socialise.
It’s an absolute non issue.

I was asking because I have only had big breeds before which I know can hold it for an hour (or more).
As I haven’t had a toy before I was thinking some kind mumsnetter who had toys could tell me roughly how long their toy puppies could hold it so I would know to make preparations eg pads on the ground if that’s safe (as in they aren’t as at risk from picking Parvo etc) if it likely won’t be able to go an hour without needing the bathroom.

But it seems that was a mistake, cause the majority of posters seem to think I’m going to make the puppy walk two hours (seriously?! Hmm ) or that It shouldn’t accompany the family on a walk and I should leave it at home (WTAF the pup would be so distressed).

OP posts:
Load3 · 06/09/2021 13:28

@Powertothepetal

Well no one can answer that question because no one knows your puppy. But seen as you are dead set on taking it with you just be prepared to have wet arms by the time you get back There’s no other viable option, you can’t leave a 8 week old puppy on its own for two hours!

It’s a walk, in arms, watching, observing and smelling things from arms.
Which is what you are advised to do to socialise.
It’s an absolute non issue.

I was asking because I have only had big breeds before which I know can hold it for an hour (or more).
As I haven’t had a toy before I was thinking some kind mumsnetter who had toys could tell me roughly how long their toy puppies could hold it so I would know to make preparations eg pads on the ground if that’s safe (as in they aren’t as at risk from picking Parvo etc) if it likely won’t be able to go an hour without needing the bathroom.

But it seems that was a mistake, cause the majority of posters seem to think I’m going to make the puppy walk two hours (seriously?! Hmm ) or that It shouldn’t accompany the family on a walk and I should leave it at home (WTAF the pup would be so distressed).

You don't need to be so rude OP.

Our puppy was not distressed one bit. He had a water bottle and he self settled straight to sleep. We had a video baby monitor on him the whole time.

I did point out that we were actually in the house at the time, just in another room - and also that this might not work for your particular set up.

Lightningrain · 06/09/2021 13:29

They can’t hold it for long at all for the first couple of weeks. Every time they eat/drink/play/wake up they need to go.

I think pup will probably let you know when it needs a wee as it won’t want to go while being carried. If it cries/wriggles you’re probably going to have to put it down. I don’t think ours would have stayed on a puppy pad at that age however. Maybe just try and put them down somewhere that other animals are less likely to have been.

If I were you though I’d try and arrange for someone to drop the kids off for you for a couple of weeks until the puppy has been vaccinated. It sounds quite stressful for it to be out for so long every day, especially if it’s cold/wet.

TabithaTiger · 06/09/2021 13:29

It never even crossed my mind to take out dog on the school run when he was a puppy (he's 11 now). People do seem to have a lot of anxiety around pups these days!

Mine stayed at home in his crate with the radio on, he was fine. They soon get to understand your routine and get used to being left.

copernicium · 06/09/2021 13:30

Isn't the general rule that it can hold wee for an hour per month of age?

DocAutumn · 06/09/2021 13:30

I have no idea what all the anger towards the op is about.

Personally I would just set him on the grass to toilet.