When can you take your puppy for a walk?

Puppies need to grow and develop before they’re able to enjoy a good walk. In the early stages of development, their physical abilities are limited so it’s important not to expect too much early on.

During those first months, as their bones are growing, the growth plates within the bones, which allow them to lengthen as the dog gets larger, stay soft and can be vulnerable to injury which can lead to longer term problems as an adult dog. The rest of the puppy’s bones are softer too and alongside the rest of their muscular system (joints, ligaments, tendons etc) can be open to injury caused by over-exercising your puppy or from the wrong kind of exercise or play.

However, exercise is still important for a puppy both physically and mentally supporting their development, using up their energy, developing their bond with you and allowing them to discover the world outside through exploration, sight, sniffing and learning.

The Kennel Club recommends walks of 5 minutes per every month of their age up to twice a per day. So, at four months, your puppy would have a maximum of 20 minutes twice a day.

Preparation for walks with puppies is important, extreme temperatures can affect them more than adults, so planning is key. Pups shouldn’t be walked straight after their meals, giving them time to digest their food will help. Watch for signs that you’ve gone far enough, reluctance to keep going, sitting down often or excessive panting are all indications you’ve gone far enough.

Playtime at home counts as well, giving your pup the opportunity to run around and play under their own steam and stop when they want. Games can also be important for building trust and a good relationship as well as introducing instructions and training in a fun way, so keeping a fun session in each day is ideal.