Written in collaboration with vets
Every new puppy owner knows the feeling of wanting to take their new companion outside for a walk, but recognising that vaccinations are required first to help keep them healthy.
One of the most important things you can do for your new puppy is make sure they have all their vaccinations. These will protect them against diseases, some of which are life-threatening.
As a responsible owner, it’s vital you understand when puppies can go outside after vaccinations and how to keep them safe when doing so:
It's generally recommended that you wait until your puppy has immunity provided by their second set of vaccinations before they mix with other dogs or play anywhere where other dogs might have been.
This will typically be two weeks after they’ve had those jabs, but you should always be guided by your vet.
Some vets will suggest that the first set of vaccinations offer adequate protection from disease and your puppy will benefit from earlier socialisation.
There is also a distinction between enclosed gardens and public areas. While both are outside, an enclosed garden that hasn’t been visited by foxes or unvaccinated dogs is safe from day one so long as it’s clean.
You should wait two weeks after the second round of vaccinations to take your puppy to a public space, though, as the risks of disease and infection are significantly higher.
Let’s back up a little to see what to expect before that. When they’re first born, puppies get antibodies from their mother’s milk, which gives them temporary immunity against illness. Vaccinations come into play when this immunity wears off.
Typically, a puppy will have their first set of vaccinations at around 6 – 8 weeks of age and then a second set when they’re between 10 and 12 weeks old. This will vary by manufacturer’s guidelines and also the age at which your puppy starts their vaccinations.
As responsible breeders will keep puppies with their mothers until they’re at least eight weeks old, it’s likely your puppy will have had their first set of vaccinations before you bring them home, but it’s important you check this.
As your puppy grows up, they’ll need an annual booster vaccination to keep them safe, the first of which may come at 16–20 weeks of age. If you’re unsure, check our puppy vaccine schedule guide.
After their first round of vaccinations puppies can visit friends’ clean private gardens and meet other vaccinated dogs indoors. They can also be carried in public to ensure they experience new sights and sounds.
Before their second set of vaccinations, though, it’s important your puppy does not spend time in areas with many dogs or spots that are frequently used by dogs for urination until they have full protection.
When they have only had their first set of vaccinations, they can still be vulnerable to illness and disease, some of which can be very serious, such as parvovirus, which is frequently fatal if left untreated.
Like human babies, puppies aren’t born with fully developed immune systems. This means they can’t fight diseases. If they are nursed, they’ll get temporary antibodies from their mother’s milk but after that they need vaccinations to keep them safe.
These vaccinations (which will require an annual booster throughout your puppy’s life) protect against avoidable health problems such as these:
Obviously, even a fully vaccinated pup will be under the weather from time to time. Canine colds are not uncommon, for example.
Vaccination protects against some of the most serious preventable diseases, though, and this is why vets recommend waiting until your puppy has full protection before exposing them to public spaces.
Though they will have some new freedoms after their first round of vaccinations, your new puppy won’t have the full protection they need until their second set of vaccinations has taken effect (about two weeks afterwards, but check with your vet).
This means you have to be very careful before this and not allow your puppy to mix with other dogs or play in places other dogs have been (some diseases such as Parvovirus can stay in the soil for up to a year). When you need to take your puppy out, you can always carry them to keep them safe.
Public spaces aren’t the only places that carry risks for your puppy, though, as the presence of foxes and potentially stagnant water in gardens can also cause leptospirosis in your dog.
If, despite your best efforts, you suspect your dog has contracted severe gastro-enteritis (vomiting and diarrhoea), or any other disease, contact your vet immediately.
Even though it’s vital you keep your puppy safe until they have full immunity from their vaccinations, you don’t want them to miss out on the socialisation process completely.
In fact, from 3 to 12 weeks of age, puppies are highly receptive to socialisation, and this will help them grow up to be happy, well-balanced dogs.
The key here is to give your puppy the opportunity to have positive experiences of the sights, sounds and smells that they will encounter in their day-to-day life. Here are a few of the things to consider:
If you are lucky enough to have your own garden, it’s perfectly safe to take your puppy out there to do their business, so long as the garden is enclosed and hasn’t been visited by foxes or unvaccinated dogs.
If you don’t live somewhere with private outside space, it’s best to rely on puppy pads until your furry friend has full protection from their second set of vaccinations. Don’t miss the advice on toilet training your puppy.
Puppies are little balls of energy, and many of us will find ourselves wondering “when can I walk my puppy after vaccinations?' and feeling a bit disappointed when we realise it’s not until two weeks after the second set.
The good news is though, in the meantime, there’s lots you can do to keep your puppy busy and active. Playing with your puppy, be it indoor fetch or sniffing puzzle games, is a great outlet for their energy, and we’ve got lots of ideas of games to play with your puppy.
Socialising your puppy is important and will help them grow up into a happy, well-adjusted dog. Before they have immunity from their vaccinations, it’s best to avoid contact with unvaccinated or unknown dogs.
However, remember that the whole world is new to your pup and there are lots of things you can introduce them to without any risk. The sound of the washing machine hitting the spin cycle to name but one!
While it’s not safe for a puppy to walk down a busy high street, you can carry them while you walk down it, and they’ll still have the chance to get used to the sights, sounds and smells.
Start practicing recall indoors now, so that your puppy is ready the moment it is safe to go outside. Our come-back-on-command guide will show you how.
It is generally recommended that you wait two weeks after your puppy’s second round of vaccinations before taking them outside.
Yes, if your garden has been visited by an unvaccinated dog or foxes, there is a risk of disease or infection.
Yes, while their protection to diseases and infections is significantly higher, puppies are not considered to have full immunity until after their final booster vaccination, which typically comes at the age of 16–20 weeks old.
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