If your little dog has had the all clear from your vet in terms of vaccination so that they can go outside, it's time to get them out to the park and take them around for their first walk. Now this isn't just because it is great fun, dogs love going out for walk, time to get them exercise enoughly, it's also really important for the process of socialization. Now socialization is where you get your new dog used to all the things they are going to have to deal with later in life, so traveling the car is one classic example. So if you get them used to traveling in the car when they are really young they don't have any trouble with it when they are older. Also meeting other dogs, meeting people dealing with children, people on bicycle all those kind of things, if they get to meet those and deal with them before they are about three months old they are much better later in life.
Now Jack here he is an adult dog, so the socialization process has long passed but luckily someone who ever owned him before me has done a really good job because he loves traveling in the car, he is no bother, he is fine meeting other dogs, he is great with children. So that's what you are aiming for. And the way you do that is just get them used to it when they are young. So plenty of trips out in the car, then plenty of trips in the park to meet people and other dogs. The other thing you can also do to help the socialization process is take your puppy along to a puppy party at your vet's. There will be lots of other puppies and puppy owners and also your vet will give you lots of more information about nutrition and socialization and pet care, all those kind of things. But for now let's just concentrate on taking Jack for a walk.
One of the best bets of owning your own new dog is taking him for a walk two, or three walks everyday come rain or shine, works wonder for you and your new companion. Then before you head straight out there into the fields and get walking, there are a few things to really remember and firstly as I said with socialization you do have to wait until your dog is fully vaccinated before you head out into fields and public places because it's as easy as like parvavirus and distemper are still relatively common and your dog could pick them up if they are not protected. The other thing to think about is although I have said it's a good idea to go out there and meet other dogs and people try not to go out there when its really, really busy. So try and pick times which are not too busy, so if they are all dogs there they can get used to it quietly without being overrun with loads and loads of people.
If you have got a puppy or even an older dog and you are going somewhere new it's really important to get them on to the lead. If you didn't really know what's out there and a excitable young puppy could disappear often for hours and hours leaving you chasing them, looking for them and if there is a road out there or perhaps live stock or things you don't know about it's always best to be safe and pop them on the lead when you are going through somewhere new.
Once you are happy that your dog is okay off the lead, will come some tips on how to achieve that in the training section which is coming up and you are happy then in an area with none of these dangers then it's fun to let them off the lead, let them get out there and start enjoying themselves running around because that's really what dog walking is all about, so that dog and you are being out in the countryside, out in the park just having fun and some good old exercise. One thing just to be aware of that while we are on the subject of exercise and walks is overexercising, now if you have got a young dog especially a large breed dog perhaps an Alsatian or even a Labrador something like that you do have to be very cautious not to overexercise them when they are young, up to about 18 months or so because this can cause damage with Arthritis, puts an excess strain on their joint. So try and keep them mainly on the lead and some experts even actually recommendation, let them off the lead at all until they are two years old. I personally think that's a bit much because after all dog walk is all about getting out there and having fun and if they are not allowed off the lead two years then it's not a great deal but do be cautious, lots of regular short walks are much better for large breed dogs when they are young then big long hikes for hours and hours on end. But at the end of the day, just going to remember that walking your dog is all about having time for you and for your dog as well, it's about getting exercise to get out there remember the rules and the tips that we had been through and just have some fun. Jack come on in.
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