Learn how to understand when your dog is ready to go out into the world to explore.
It’s totally normal to want to take your dog with you when running errands or grabbing a drink with friends, but you should be prepared ahead of time to do so. Luckily, we have the tips that can help you determine if your pup is ready for going out into the world.
In general, it's not recommended to bring unvaccinated pets into public places. That's because their immune systems are more vulnerable to illnesses that other dogs have built up an immunity towards. Puppies and senior dogs are especially vulnerable, so before planning a trip to the beach or park, see your vet to determine what vaccines your dog needs. Betterpet’s Dr. Liza Cahn states that it’s fine for puppies to attend play dates with other vaccinated puppies and friendly dogs, but avoid contact with unknown dogs and places where dogs frequently go until two weeks after their last vaccination.
“ I recommend that puppy owners enroll in puppy classes as soon as possible (see their guidelines for vaccine requirements) and focus on socializing their puppy with people and safe dogs.” - Dr. Liza Cahn
It’s also important to note that some dog parks may require pets to be vaccinated to visit, and it might even be a stipulation in your rental agreement for your apartment or townhouse.
👉Explore our comprehensive list of the vaccines dogs most commonly require.
Puppies aren’t fully vaccinated until they’re around 18-20 weeks old, and as such they shouldn’t go outside beyond going potty or walks in the neighborhood. Puppies especially shouldn’t go to public parks while not fully vaccinated as diseases like kennel cough, distemper, and parvovirus are easily transmitted.
Instead, socialize your puppy with the pets of friends who are fully vaccinated and aren’t currently sick. This can be done at home or in the backyard, and gets your pet comfortable around other animals that don’t live in the same home.
Once fully vaccinated (two weeks after their last vaccination), your pup is free to interact with stranger dogs. Their risk of contracting an illness from another dog is much lower once they’re fully vaccinated. Socialization also doesn’t have to just mean between dogs. Inviting human friends to interact with your puppy or adult dog can make a difference in helping them overcome fears and anxieties.
Mastering basic obedience skills can help you to control your dog in an unfamiliar situation better, especially if something happens that you didn’t account for. If your pet follows your basic commands, it puts both of you in a safer position.
👉The American Kennel Club has a Canine Good Citizen® training program certification, which helps teach good manners to pups and responsible dog ownership to owners.
“Enrolling in a puppy class is a great way to socialize your puppy and start teaching basic commands in a safe environment. Not only is it important to have a well-mannered dog, but basic commands may even save their life one day. For example, telling them to "drop it" if they put something in their mouth that is toxic or dangerous, or "come" if they get out of the house and are headed toward a busy road.” - Dr. Liza Cahn
In the big picture, the only sure fire way to assess your dog’s training is by hiring a certified dog trainer. There are some things at home you can do to determine if your dog has proficient enough recall to go into public. That includes their ability to sit, stay, leave it, lay down, and come when called both with and without distractions. At home in a controlled environment, it might be easy for them to do each of these things, but at a busy dog park or while walking through a parking lot to get into a store there are many more smells, people, animals, and noises to distract them from the task at hand. Work your way up by starting at home, then at a friend's house, then at a dog park that’s fenced in before taking them anywhere else.
Dr. Cahn urges pet parents to “remember to pay attention to and follow leash laws.” As a vet and pet parent, she never takes her own dogs to dog parks and feels that “doggy daycare is much safer because at least the dogs are up to date on vaccines and temperament tested.”
If you find that you’re having a hard time getting your pet to follow basic commands, consider hiring a dog trainer who can help.
Not all dogs were socialized as puppies, so it's important to do it even as they get older. The difference between a dog that typically stays at home and one that goes out in public a great deal is that the latter dogs are desensitized to loud noises and strange sights. The best way to start socializing your dog is to start small. And we mean really, really small. That means a walk in a new location or taking your dog to a pet store, places that are generally safe and friendly to dogs. This ensures that they’re calm and confident in public.
But also feel free to communicate your boundaries with others. If your dog is pooped from socializing or needs to focus on their command training, you should feel welcome to communicate that to others. Additionally, consider collars or leashes that communicate boundaries to others as well.
Sometimes dogs get stressed and anxious in new environments, so you’ll want to pay extra close attention to your dog when taking them out in a new area for the first few times. Some signs include excessive panting and yawning, a tucked tail, or an inability to settle. Some dogs may also refuse treats.
If your dog is no longer having a good time, and the experience is more stressful than it should be, leave.
Not all public places are created equal when it comes to how your dog will react. That’s why you should bring your dog to pet-friendly places like a hardware or home improvement store. Many popular national chains allow owners to bring their pets on leashes. The goal is to find a relatively calm and quiet place, not something like a sports tailgate. Once your pet has mastered a more lowkey outing, you can consider bringing them to a busy coffee shop or brewery.
Some businesses for humans also cater to dogs like Skiptown. This can be a great option to help socialize your dog with humans and four legged friends alike.
Being prepared is the best thing you can do when taking your dog out in public. That preparedness can come in the form of a training bag that has a few essentials like:
Also, be sure to include any other training tools you may need like a clicker or harness.
We recommend going to a new place first yourself to determine if it's suitable for your dog. But sometimes, things can happen even at the places we know and love the most. Whether it’s a paint spill at the hardware store or a fallen tree breaking the security of a fence at the dog park, you should have your head on a swivel to ensure that the area is safe for your dog.
Being prepared before taking your dog into public is the best way for you to ensure a safe and fun experience for all. Plus, it will help to lower the likelihood of any issues arising. Happy exploring!
If it’s a confined area and they have a reliable recall and are well-behaved—as in, they follow all of your basic and intermediate commands—then you can consider letting them be off-leash. But still have regular check-ins on commands to ensure they’re listening and attentive to you. If they start straying, put the leash back on. Additionally, be sure to follow leash laws, regardless of how your dog does off-leash. Some dogs will never be able to be off-leash due to a high prey drive.
You can never be 100% sure about this. But, if you prioritize proper socialization from an early age and conduct proper and regular training, the likelihood of your dog initiating an attack goes down. This doesn’t prevent other dogs from initiating an attack, however. But dogs are animals, and sometimes things can set them off that we don’t account for. If you’re worried about your dog’s behavior consult with your vet.
It takes time! But socializing them early and taking them to new and different environments does wonders for them.
Closely observe body language as this is a key indicator if something is going amiss. Explore our guide on dog body language and what it means.
If they’re unvaccinated, outside time is fine so long as they’re not around unvaccinated, unknown dogs or unfamiliar places. Once they’re vaccinated (two weeks after the last vaccination) you can bring them places where other animals are.
Exercise wise, puppies don’t need nearly the amount as adult dogs, think 15-30 minutes a day of energetic play. It’s important that all dogs, whether puppies or adults, have mental stimulation too.
