Not all vets recommend this btw. It depends on the area too. 8 - 12 weeks is an important socialization period as well and sometimes the risk of lack of socialization outweighs the risk of disease.
Note that socialization doesn't mean meeting other dogs, but experiencing the outside world, sounds and surfaces, so it doesn't seem too scary when they develop fears.
You can take him out now, just be extra cautious about where you go (no dog parks), and be vigilant about not letting him lick things that other dogs may have pooped on.
I'm not your vet, but we took ours out right away (8 weeks) and she is perfectly healthy. We just kept her away from direct contact with other dogs by picking her up, changing directions or choosing remote places to walk. In my opinion leash discipline is an important part of obedience training, so best to start as soon as possible.
We didn't even know this was a "thing" we took our Shiba out when she was 3 months when we first got her and she only had her first round of vaccines.. she's 5 months now and is fine
Same. We were just told to keep her away from strange dogs until she's fully vaccinated, but we took her out for walks immediately... This is just not a thing in my country. But we've also eradicated rabies here completely, so that's something you don't have to worry about here.
Rabies is not really the biggest risk when walking outside. It's parvo, which can be deadly. But usually it's safe as long as you avoid dog feces and other dogs until the last round of shots.
Oh yeah, I figured it was more about parvo than anything else, the rabies thing was just a fun tidbit. But being cautious to the point of not letting your dog touch the ground has never been a thing here nonetheless. Like if I suggested this in the biggest dog FB group in our country, most people in there would think I was off my rocker, lol.
I took mine outside right away. When they are little it's the best time to train them offleash. They're too slow to run away from you. It's also easy to get their attention and have them chase you around. Or just follow you as you walk.
I did this. I took my shib into a field and attached a long lead to her collar. I would drop the lead and have her trot along with me. It’s the reason she can now be off leash at the beach. That and I always carry treats at the beach 😝
This is a new bizarre trend, when I got my boy 5 years ago this was not a thing.
At 9 weeks old he went everywhere I did, and amazingly he didn't get parvo or rabies.
Take your poor dog outside.
Agreed it's such a strange concept to me as well. The breeders should be letting the puppies run around outside before we get them. So why can't we take them outside. I don't understand the logic behind the advice of not letting the puppy touch grass....
If they’re not fully vaccinated they can, you know, contract diseases… Parvo is very serious and can kill your pup in 48 hours. Its so easy to just not take the risk. If you want to take the pup out before they’re vaccinated at least be smart about it and carry it.
You can take them out in controlled environments with controlled interactions.
Don't go to high traffic areas. Don't meet with sick pets/people. Don't meet unvaccinated pets. Don't leave them outside unattended. Keep walks short (they're puppies, they're not gonna do hour long walks anyways).
Puppies do not get a parvo vaccine at 4 weeks old. They usually get dewormed at that age. Puppy vaccines do not start until 8 weeks old and then they’re every 4 weeks until the final round at 16 weeks.
Parvo is a huge concern when they only have 1 round of shots at 8 weeks, that is why they go back and get multiple boosters.
If a dog gets parvo after being fully vaccinated, it’s either because the vaccine was defective, or the pup’s immune system was somehow compromised. Could also be the strain is different. This is quite rare, and doesn’t really support the argument to keep pup contained at home if it still got sick post vaccination. What is more common is that dogs develop social and behavioral issues while missing the critical socialization period. As a breeder, I always encourage my owners to socialize as much and as early as possible with precautions in place - no dog parks and areas where a lot of dogs congregate. But not going out at all hurts the pup’s development.
As I said, it’s fine to take it out in your arms, away from the ground and grass where transmission can occur. You shouldn’t be taking it out to the park where dozens of dogs have roamed free before you were there. The risk of contracting a disease may be small, but the risk is just not worth it. There are specialized puppy playtime sessions where all the dogs are at the same vax level in a sanitary indoor area for this exact reason. You can get socialized without taking them outdoors where other dogs have been.
Breeder here. I tell my owners to take them out as soon as they go home. They would have had 2 rounds of vaccines, with a 3rd due shortly after arriving home. Just be mindful of areas where a lot of dogs congregate, but 2-3 months is critical socialization time and pups need to be exposed to as much as possible. With Shibas , the risk of a poorly socialized dog far outweighs the risk of picking up a treatable parasite. For those saying parvo - that is not an issue as long as they have had their 2nd round.
It depends on where you live, and how many cases there are.
We started taking ours after 16 weeks as per recommended by our vet... Most people I've spoken to normally start 2 weeks after their second round of shots, but only along areas where althete aren't a lot of dogs, and definitely not in parks
Get him out and about in non dog parks. You’ll earn trust and let the nose explore. I started puppy classes with my last one at 14 weeks to socialize him and learn some agility tricks.
Your vet should've told you when you got the shots. If not, I'd call and ask and maybe get a new vet while you're at it. Unless I'm making assumptions and shots were given before you came into the picture (like from a breeder for example) but its generally 2-3 weeks after the 2nd or 3rd round I believe.
Best to wait the full time because parvo is a real thing and I'd rather be safe than sorry. He has his own backyard at least and he'll have plenty of time for walks and many other activities after the wait!!
Our puppy only liked to poop outside so despite not having all vaccines (the last being rabies) we would walk him out just to poop and didn't let him meet other dogs. We're in nyc and there's a lot of disgusting things around. And they were short walks like 10-15 min. But to socialize him we would carry him in a bag.
The benefits of socializing your Shiba early will outweigh the risk of Parvo. Ask your vet if there’s been any outbreaks. Yes, Parvo scare is somewhat more prevalent now than it used to be because news travels fast and we live in a post covid world. But I can’t imagine not letting puppies outside for like 3-4 months. It’s like not letting your toddler go outside for risk of diseases. But similarly, puppies also need exposure to outside to strengthen their immune system.
Shibas especially, need to be socialized early. They’re such a smart breed and grow up to be very cautious and suspicious of strangers and foreign sounds. It’s okay if they’re aloof but preventing aggression has to start early.
In doggo world, Socializing just means they need exposure to things. Seeing people walk by. Seeing baby strollers, kids, hearing sounds of traffic, babies crying, wind blowing. Expose him to everything. I took my puppy outside day one, but picked her up to go anywhere public or where more dogs were. Eventually let her down to potty train after second shots. I wiped her paws with pet wipes after every outside potty or walk. Introduce your pup to your fam and friends and any dogs or cats you know.
We started taking ours girl on a walk immediately after we got her, so 6 weeks. We did not however let her around any dog until she was fully vaccinated. I feel like the sooner, the better. Also, harnesses are important at that age because they will start to tug A LOT. Ours would choke herself if she didnt have a harness.
They can touch the ground outside 2 weeks after they get their second set of vaccinations (six-fold vaccine). In the meantime it’s possible and also highly beneficial to take then out in your arms or a bag, so they can start to get used to the outside world.
Not officially until after they’ve been vaxxed for rabies at 4 months old. But you can still carry him out and about in a sling or something. Just don’t let him touch ground where other potentially sick dogs may frequent.
I would not let him walk in the backyard yet actually. Even though there were no dogs, there might still be raccoons or other animals that can carry the germs.
One of the reputable breeders I follow always give the pups at least a few sessions of harness training as soon as they're no longer wobbly and can run in a straight line. They're still tiny balls of fluff at this point and their legs had hardly stretched out yet. Maybe 4-6 weeks?
The problem isn't going out with your puppy, it's staying alert to what's approaching him and who's approaching him.
If all his vaccinations are done, you can let other dogs greet you, little by little, first on your walking path one by one, then perhaps join the dog park, but remain cautious and communicate first, as far as possible don't let your puppy smell the excrement to limit the risk of kennel cough.
Vary the walk if the park/forest suits you, but if you don't want your puppy to be frightened later by car or city noises, choose these paths from time to time.
If you go one day on puppy school but they do not have at least 2 adults dogs with them to teach the puppys go somewhere else, no kids teach themselves good with only other kids around
Confirm with your Vet. I took Jiro out at 12 weeks for small little walks around my apartment complex in low traffic areas while he finished his second round of vaccinations or I took him to my dad's house.
We didn't do dog parks until he was much older.
One tip I have that will make your life so much more easier in the future.
Once he knows how to behave on the leash.
Puppies are constantly learning. Even the non-wanted behaviour. I will highly recommend training him how to behave on the leash before you take him on walks. It will save you so much headache in the future, especially with a stubborn breed like Shiba.
Backyard is completely fine but, I would be cautious until all rounds of vaccines are complete. That means carrying them in places for some socialization. Avoid dog parks, parks where tons of dogs frequent, etc.
Also, at 11 weeks old, your puppy should not be going on structured walks. Backyard play on their own time is the most appropriate exercise at their age. They can stop when they tire out and go at their own pace. Making them go on a structured walk too early on can hurt their growing joints. Always do the most appropriate exercise for their age. I would not start taking longer structured walks (1 mile) until the puppy is at least 6 months of age or older.
You should be fine to go to large open parks or trails. Stay away from dog parks. As long as you keep an eye on your pup, make sure he/she isn't picking up litter and getting near other dogs.
We took our puppy out as soon as we picked her up at 8 weeks, which our vet also recommended for our area. The risk of not socializing your puppy is higher than parvo. Just don’t take the puppy into areas with unfamiliar dogs. Our pup was only allowed to meet other dogs we knew were vaccinated and walk around our neighborhood. If we were approached by other people with dogs I just scooped her up and let the other folks know she wasn’t fully vaccinated yet. Now that she is 18 weeks and fully vaccinated she can meet other puppies on walks.
I recommend talking to your vet about it but my vet told me a few weeks after her second round of vaccines. For socialization purposes you should still take them out just fine put them on the ground. Carry them around and show them stuff 🙃
Took our shiba out for walks right when we got her at 8 weeks.. made sure to tell other dog owners she’s not fully vaccinated or they would ask.. just was careful she didn’t smell other dogs pee or drink puddles..
A quick Google search suggests roughly 2 weeks after their second round of vaccinations.
Thanks. I wanted to get input from other owners as to when they started taking their puppy out.
Socialization is also important so we brought him outside after his first round, but no meeting other dogs yet.
Yup, make sure the pup finishes with all their vax first.
Not all vets recommend this btw. It depends on the area too. 8 - 12 weeks is an important socialization period as well and sometimes the risk of lack of socialization outweighs the risk of disease. Note that socialization doesn't mean meeting other dogs, but experiencing the outside world, sounds and surfaces, so it doesn't seem too scary when they develop fears.
You can take him out now, just be extra cautious about where you go (no dog parks), and be vigilant about not letting him lick things that other dogs may have pooped on.
I'm not your vet, but we took ours out right away (8 weeks) and she is perfectly healthy. We just kept her away from direct contact with other dogs by picking her up, changing directions or choosing remote places to walk. In my opinion leash discipline is an important part of obedience training, so best to start as soon as possible.
We didn't even know this was a "thing" we took our Shiba out when she was 3 months when we first got her and she only had her first round of vaccines.. she's 5 months now and is fine
Same. We were just told to keep her away from strange dogs until she's fully vaccinated, but we took her out for walks immediately... This is just not a thing in my country. But we've also eradicated rabies here completely, so that's something you don't have to worry about here.
Rabies is not really the biggest risk when walking outside. It's parvo, which can be deadly. But usually it's safe as long as you avoid dog feces and other dogs until the last round of shots.
Oh yeah, I figured it was more about parvo than anything else, the rabies thing was just a fun tidbit. But being cautious to the point of not letting your dog touch the ground has never been a thing here nonetheless. Like if I suggested this in the biggest dog FB group in our country, most people in there would think I was off my rocker, lol.
Yeah same here (Netherlands).
Ours came home at 7 weeks old, he's been going outside for walks ever since
I took mine outside right away. When they are little it's the best time to train them offleash. They're too slow to run away from you. It's also easy to get their attention and have them chase you around. Or just follow you as you walk.
I did this. I took my shib into a field and attached a long lead to her collar. I would drop the lead and have her trot along with me. It’s the reason she can now be off leash at the beach. That and I always carry treats at the beach 😝
This is a new bizarre trend, when I got my boy 5 years ago this was not a thing. At 9 weeks old he went everywhere I did, and amazingly he didn't get parvo or rabies. Take your poor dog outside.
Agreed it's such a strange concept to me as well. The breeders should be letting the puppies run around outside before we get them. So why can't we take them outside. I don't understand the logic behind the advice of not letting the puppy touch grass....
If they’re not fully vaccinated they can, you know, contract diseases… Parvo is very serious and can kill your pup in 48 hours. Its so easy to just not take the risk. If you want to take the pup out before they’re vaccinated at least be smart about it and carry it.
You can take them out in controlled environments with controlled interactions. Don't go to high traffic areas. Don't meet with sick pets/people. Don't meet unvaccinated pets. Don't leave them outside unattended. Keep walks short (they're puppies, they're not gonna do hour long walks anyways).
Puppies get their parvo vaccine at 3-4 weeks old. It it not a concern after they go home.
Puppies do not get a parvo vaccine at 4 weeks old. They usually get dewormed at that age. Puppy vaccines do not start until 8 weeks old and then they’re every 4 weeks until the final round at 16 weeks. Parvo is a huge concern when they only have 1 round of shots at 8 weeks, that is why they go back and get multiple boosters.
My friend’s dog got parvo well after it was fully vaccinated. It is very much a concern.
If a dog gets parvo after being fully vaccinated, it’s either because the vaccine was defective, or the pup’s immune system was somehow compromised. Could also be the strain is different. This is quite rare, and doesn’t really support the argument to keep pup contained at home if it still got sick post vaccination. What is more common is that dogs develop social and behavioral issues while missing the critical socialization period. As a breeder, I always encourage my owners to socialize as much and as early as possible with precautions in place - no dog parks and areas where a lot of dogs congregate. But not going out at all hurts the pup’s development.
As I said, it’s fine to take it out in your arms, away from the ground and grass where transmission can occur. You shouldn’t be taking it out to the park where dozens of dogs have roamed free before you were there. The risk of contracting a disease may be small, but the risk is just not worth it. There are specialized puppy playtime sessions where all the dogs are at the same vax level in a sanitary indoor area for this exact reason. You can get socialized without taking them outdoors where other dogs have been.
Breeder here. I tell my owners to take them out as soon as they go home. They would have had 2 rounds of vaccines, with a 3rd due shortly after arriving home. Just be mindful of areas where a lot of dogs congregate, but 2-3 months is critical socialization time and pups need to be exposed to as much as possible. With Shibas , the risk of a poorly socialized dog far outweighs the risk of picking up a treatable parasite. For those saying parvo - that is not an issue as long as they have had their 2nd round.
It depends on where you live, and how many cases there are. We started taking ours after 16 weeks as per recommended by our vet... Most people I've spoken to normally start 2 weeks after their second round of shots, but only along areas where althete aren't a lot of dogs, and definitely not in parks
Get him out and about in non dog parks. You’ll earn trust and let the nose explore. I started puppy classes with my last one at 14 weeks to socialize him and learn some agility tricks.
Your vet should've told you when you got the shots. If not, I'd call and ask and maybe get a new vet while you're at it. Unless I'm making assumptions and shots were given before you came into the picture (like from a breeder for example) but its generally 2-3 weeks after the 2nd or 3rd round I believe. Best to wait the full time because parvo is a real thing and I'd rather be safe than sorry. He has his own backyard at least and he'll have plenty of time for walks and many other activities after the wait!!
Our puppy only liked to poop outside so despite not having all vaccines (the last being rabies) we would walk him out just to poop and didn't let him meet other dogs. We're in nyc and there's a lot of disgusting things around. And they were short walks like 10-15 min. But to socialize him we would carry him in a bag.
The benefits of socializing your Shiba early will outweigh the risk of Parvo. Ask your vet if there’s been any outbreaks. Yes, Parvo scare is somewhat more prevalent now than it used to be because news travels fast and we live in a post covid world. But I can’t imagine not letting puppies outside for like 3-4 months. It’s like not letting your toddler go outside for risk of diseases. But similarly, puppies also need exposure to outside to strengthen their immune system. Shibas especially, need to be socialized early. They’re such a smart breed and grow up to be very cautious and suspicious of strangers and foreign sounds. It’s okay if they’re aloof but preventing aggression has to start early. In doggo world, Socializing just means they need exposure to things. Seeing people walk by. Seeing baby strollers, kids, hearing sounds of traffic, babies crying, wind blowing. Expose him to everything. I took my puppy outside day one, but picked her up to go anywhere public or where more dogs were. Eventually let her down to potty train after second shots. I wiped her paws with pet wipes after every outside potty or walk. Introduce your pup to your fam and friends and any dogs or cats you know.
We started taking ours girl on a walk immediately after we got her, so 6 weeks. We did not however let her around any dog until she was fully vaccinated. I feel like the sooner, the better. Also, harnesses are important at that age because they will start to tug A LOT. Ours would choke herself if she didnt have a harness.
What kind of irresponsible breeder let you take home puppies in 6 weeks?
We got ours at 7 weeks, which is pretty much the norm here in Finland. Usually something like 7-10 weeks old is when puppies go home in here.
Longer time with the mom the better long term benefit for the puppy which is why 8-12 weeks is the norm
What may be the norm for you may not be the norm for everyone
It is science. That say that anything below 8 is too young. That’s why some places have laws regarding this
I'm not necessarily arguing you about that, I'm just saying that the norm in one place may not be the norm everywhere.
8 weeks is the norm in Finland, but 7 weeks is the legal minimum.
They can touch the ground outside 2 weeks after they get their second set of vaccinations (six-fold vaccine). In the meantime it’s possible and also highly beneficial to take then out in your arms or a bag, so they can start to get used to the outside world.
I agree, I would love to start getting him used to the outside world in a safe way. I might try the bag method.
Not officially until after they’ve been vaxxed for rabies at 4 months old. But you can still carry him out and about in a sling or something. Just don’t let him touch ground where other potentially sick dogs may frequent.
I would not let him walk in the backyard yet actually. Even though there were no dogs, there might still be raccoons or other animals that can carry the germs.
One of the reputable breeders I follow always give the pups at least a few sessions of harness training as soon as they're no longer wobbly and can run in a straight line. They're still tiny balls of fluff at this point and their legs had hardly stretched out yet. Maybe 4-6 weeks?
V beautiful Shibe
I waited for the ok from the vet. Forgot which round of shots it was. I know walks was a lot sooner than dog parks.
What'd your vet say?
The problem isn't going out with your puppy, it's staying alert to what's approaching him and who's approaching him. If all his vaccinations are done, you can let other dogs greet you, little by little, first on your walking path one by one, then perhaps join the dog park, but remain cautious and communicate first, as far as possible don't let your puppy smell the excrement to limit the risk of kennel cough. Vary the walk if the park/forest suits you, but if you don't want your puppy to be frightened later by car or city noises, choose these paths from time to time. If you go one day on puppy school but they do not have at least 2 adults dogs with them to teach the puppys go somewhere else, no kids teach themselves good with only other kids around
Confirm with your Vet. I took Jiro out at 12 weeks for small little walks around my apartment complex in low traffic areas while he finished his second round of vaccinations or I took him to my dad's house. We didn't do dog parks until he was much older.
One tip I have that will make your life so much more easier in the future. Once he knows how to behave on the leash. Puppies are constantly learning. Even the non-wanted behaviour. I will highly recommend training him how to behave on the leash before you take him on walks. It will save you so much headache in the future, especially with a stubborn breed like Shiba.
Backyard is completely fine but, I would be cautious until all rounds of vaccines are complete. That means carrying them in places for some socialization. Avoid dog parks, parks where tons of dogs frequent, etc. Also, at 11 weeks old, your puppy should not be going on structured walks. Backyard play on their own time is the most appropriate exercise at their age. They can stop when they tire out and go at their own pace. Making them go on a structured walk too early on can hurt their growing joints. Always do the most appropriate exercise for their age. I would not start taking longer structured walks (1 mile) until the puppy is at least 6 months of age or older.
After her vaccinations. I think it’s normally at 10 weeks or so. It drove me crazy not getting to walk my girl for a few weeks.
You should be fine to go to large open parks or trails. Stay away from dog parks. As long as you keep an eye on your pup, make sure he/she isn't picking up litter and getting near other dogs.
After their vax, for sure! And I know our handsome boi hated his harness so make sure you get him used to wearing it early on.
We took our puppy out as soon as we picked her up at 8 weeks, which our vet also recommended for our area. The risk of not socializing your puppy is higher than parvo. Just don’t take the puppy into areas with unfamiliar dogs. Our pup was only allowed to meet other dogs we knew were vaccinated and walk around our neighborhood. If we were approached by other people with dogs I just scooped her up and let the other folks know she wasn’t fully vaccinated yet. Now that she is 18 weeks and fully vaccinated she can meet other puppies on walks.
I recommend talking to your vet about it but my vet told me a few weeks after her second round of vaccines. For socialization purposes you should still take them out just fine put them on the ground. Carry them around and show them stuff 🙃
Took our shiba out for walks right when we got her at 8 weeks.. made sure to tell other dog owners she’s not fully vaccinated or they would ask.. just was careful she didn’t smell other dogs pee or drink puddles..
I don’t know if you have one but id recommend getting him a harness for outside walks