Outdoor doods

To help our puppies become comfortable in a variety of environments, and to learn about the wider world, we have started to take them outside whenever the weather is decent (i.e. not pouring rain, in this eternally rainy and somewhat miserable spring we've been having). Over Easter weekend we had three very nice, warm, and mostly sunny days, so we got the pups out into nature for at least a short walk every day. We have a small pond and urban forest close to our house, as well as some open fields, so that is where we tend to go.

It is always risky, taking young unvaccinated puppies into "wild" environments where they could be exposed to viruses, bacteria, and germs, but they do receive some immunities from their mother's milk, which they are still drinking though in smaller quantities than before. We also try to prevent them from drinking from puddles, keep them at a distance from other dogs whose vaccination and health status is unknown, and just keep an eye out for any dangers. Overall I think the benefits outweigh the risks as it gives them freedom to explore and become familiar with new environments. We do some simple training exercises in the nearby open fields, like "go find" (one person hides behind a tree or bushes and the puppies need to "find" them - first they can see where the person hides and eventually we'll have the person hide without the puppies watching), and "come when called" (always a good one to start as early as possible!).