When do you start taking youe Puppies out??
 

I need a little advice, Gucci is 15 weeks (come tuesday) he was about 4.1 lbs now he is 3.10 lbs, (he was a lil chunky but I think he is starting to get to be to his normal weight) he is pretty small and I am just concerened for his overall health. I have heard too many pneumonia and Kennel cough horror stories to just "ignore" that there is some real risk there. Right now it is around 48-60 degrees during the day when will his immune system be strong enough to take him out with me where I go so he isn't lonely at home? He has sweaters and jackets and clothes but I'd rather ask before doing something I MIGHT REGRET as it just seems too cold.

When do you start taking your puppies/dogs out and when is it "Too Cold" He is a dog so I could be way off base by thinking it's not safe, I can take my 100 lb pit bull and their puppies anywhere anytime, but Gucci is so small I worry.

Any help is appreciated!! Advice and Stories you have that may help

~ Thanks!!

That weather isn't to cold at all, Unless he is sick. he should be able to go outside everyday for a run & play. All dogs need to go outside.

Thank you for the reply!! So it is ok then to take him with me when we go places and let him have fun!! I was so worried I would make him sick :confused: He always wants to go with me when I do my starbucks run and when I pick my girls up from school etc. I just hadn't been taking him because I was afraid I'd make him ill from the weather.

A sweater with a jacket is fine to put on him I'd assume..

Is there a time when it is too cold? or any conditions he shouldn't go out in? I am trying to learn as much as I can ...

I took my girls out as soon as I got them. I was just careful about the other dogs they got around, asked the owners if vaccines were up to date and did not let them on the grass until after the 16 week shots. I would not worry about the weather, just bundle them up. Early socialization with other dogs and people is so very important.

You really need to be more careful of diseases he could catch from other dogs, rather than diseases like a "cold." He probably hasn't had all his shots yet has he? These little guys are always sniffing the ground, and other dog's poop is very attractive to them, you might not see any, but they can smell a tiny piece, and a tiny piece is all that they need to catch a disease from what I've read.

i was personally very cautious about letting mine outside when they were babies...unless they were in my bag and going somewhere where they would have limited or no contact with other dogs, i left them at home snuggled into their beds...my vet also said i should wait to take them for walks until they had their shots...when they are this little, running around the house is plenty of exercise and it tires them out quick :D

and this did not cause any socialization issues with miss b or bentley...they both love other dogs and will go up and sniff one that is 10 times their size lol

just my opinion of course ;) :)

I agree. Has he finished all his shots? Wait two weeks after the last round of vaccines for full immunity.

Fresh air is very good for him mentally and physically.

Gucci will have his last set of shots next Monday, Right now he is on his 2nd week after the 3rd shot. I AM NOT TAKING HIM AROUND ANY OTHER DOGS so no worries there.. No way will that happen until he's 6 months or above ;)

I was more inquiring on just taking him out in general, when I take him out he is ALWAYS in his Snuggle Sack in my arms or just in my arms period, no one is allowed to really pet him or anything.. he just likes to be with me so I hate leaving him home when I am just doing a Starbucks run, house visits (and even then I still hold him) or stuff like that.

The only place "dangerous" I was planning on taking him was a Soccer Game :p .. But in my arms of course and potty on a pee pee pad in the back of our SUV no where else. He would definately not be let down in a PARK :eek: God no... I have dealt with disease and seen it's wrath so I am very cautious of where he goes and what he goes near. So I am just concerned on the weather and if it will make him sick.

Would you suggest getting him the bordatella shot before taking him out, I have to check his record but I don't think he got it.

ALSO, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE INPUT SO FAR!! I have been reading EVERY Reply and considering all options and letting all the info sink in!!

I made sure Siri had all her shots before I took her anywhere. You can catch diseases anywhere, things can be carried on a persons shoe and transfered anywhere. It was hard to always leave Suri at home but I knew she was safe and waiting a few weeks for that peace of mind was worth it. :) (my vet spaced all her shots 4 weeks apart, so it felt like forever! :) )

I completely feel you on that, Gucci isn't even allowed to run around our home because his shots aren't done yet, he stays confined to my room and his X-pen in a certain area or IN MY ARMS :p I have other dogs so I am TAKING NO CHANCES with my lil man. His first 3 shots were 4 weeks apart now this last one is being done at 3 weeks apart since it's the 4th and final shot for this year.

He just likes to tag along with me, and although he WILL NEVER touch the ground or anyone's dog I worry he will get sick from the cold weather.

It's nice to see that I'm not the only overly protective Mama ;)

Me too lol :D

Hehe... :) I know I'm over protective of Suri, and sometimes it makes me laugh at myself. :)

same here...i take bailee to my bfs(dogfree of course) and took her to my gmas today(also dog free) but she never touched the ground lol!

I think I'm probably the least protective puppy momma to post on this thread:p;) I think dogs should be allowed outside if they want to go. Walker is a people lover and we go out all the time downtown. German's love their dogs:) so we have plenty of other dogs to sniff around etc. I'm not paranoid (maybe not the right word. I'm not trying to offend you. haha.) about illness since I come from the mindset that if you're going to get sick, you will and as long as you take common sense precautions there is no need to panic.

I love your avatar pic btw. makes me giggle:)

I hope your common sense includes the puppy shots. These shots prevent illnesses that come on rapidly and are deadly. I wasn't even aware of their importance till I started reading the Sick & Injured / Emergencies Talk - YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community forum.

i agree :)

Given his age, I'd definitely make sure he has all his shots and the vet okays him to be taken "out & about". You just need to be careful if there are other dogs/people around that you are not familiar with.

I do feel all dogs, no matter how big or small, should be taken out for exercise and be allowed to run and play in a nice open space, on a daily basis....of course under a cautious eye.

Hi, It's not really paranoid it's over-cautious I suppose and sometimes / MOST TIMES... YES I AM :p but I have reason to be, I have witnessed parvo as said above and it is nothing but PAIN, SUFFERING AND ENDLESS TORTURE ... (my dog lived) but Many Die before their owners even know what has hold of them...

"if you're going to get sick, you will and as long as you take common sense precautions there is no need to panic. "

That may be true with common cold and things like that so I do take your advice in that area as that is the question I was asking :) but with Parvo.. that is not true at all, they get sick from owners letting them out in public with other dogs that they don't think are a threat and in areas they shouldn't be before vaccinations are complete... all it takes is 1 Micro-Scopic Germ to enter their system and the disease starts it's deadly course. I am sure you know this and weren't answering for Parvo but just in case.. I would hate to see your baby get ill :(

Just be careful until he's fully vaccinated. I think he'll be fine as long as he's bundled up in a sweater.

Now that was a great answer!! :D Thank you!! My baby has had 3 shots, his last will be next Monday and he hasn't even touched my tile floor :eek: (even though it's been disinfected 3 million times lol I have other dogs u never know right?) so definately Careful .. maybe even too Careful... but to me it means his life and I will guard it with all my power... I was just worried that he could catch a cold which could lead to pneumonia is all.. But I guess dogs and puppies alike are pretty resiliant in cold weather so Bundled up it is!!!

Yes my common sense includes shots. lol. I just am not a fan of over vaccination either. I'm a nurse and have seen what that can do to humans so I think there is a happy medium which should be found between a shot for ever ill, and no shots at all. It also includes not letting him eat feces of any kind. Not letting him run in the road. Washing my hands after I clean up and "mistakes" You know...the common sense stuff;)

I'm sorry I truly wasn't trying to say you were paranoid, I'm just not. Parvo is its own monster and I didn't think that's what your OP post was about? I took it to mean just letting the dog run around on the leash while you're watching the kids soccer game, or ride along in the car when you go somewhere. You get germs from everything though, and bleaching everything in my home without cause will not make matters better. or prevent my dog from getting ill. I can't protect my dog from the world. All I can do is what I see is best. I think you take fine care of your dog from whats written in your posts and I do the same for mine.:)

and you are correct :D the Original question was about COLD WEATHER and if I should take him out in it IN MY ARMS :p I think a lot of posters just weren't reading my question completely and some were nicely letting me know IN CASE I HAD THOUGHTS OF LETTING HIM RUN FREE, which was nice of them.. But I am already over protective of him so I just wanted to know if COLD WEATHER could cause him to catch pneumonia...

.. I wonder if keeping him secluded could actually weaken his immune system as it's NOT USED to cold weather and such :eek: .. My Yorkie drives me crazy lol... I love him to death but I think worrying about him will be the death of me :rolleyes:

Hmm, I've never had a puppy, but this is what I think. My old dog was adopted when he was 3 and he had aggression issues. I was young and didn't know what to do, and my parents didn't know anything either, so we didn't hire a trainer. This was because he was never socialized as a puppy. Maybe it's just me because of this but if I ever get a puppy it is going out with me everywhere. It was so hard to have a dog that would attack any other dog, person, or cat. Now he doesn't care because he is so old, but it was a nightmare before. He was so weird, give him 30 seconds and he would never ever ever hurt whatever that thing was again. He is sooooo good with my rabbit and when he was little was ok with my mice and hamsters and rats (yes, I was crazy).. but not at first.

Well, of course I loved him anyway, but I wished he would have been socialized. That being said, I would carry him everywhere, and let him socialize with your friends dogs that are up to date on vaccinations in yours or their house. He NEEDS socialization. That doesn't mean you have to take him to the park and let him sniff random poos.. depending on where you live I think it might be ok to take him on walks. My neighborhood is clean with sidewalks and I have never seen a stray dog in my life, so I wouldn't worry about diseases like that. It really depends on your neighborhood.

Anyways, you probably shouldn't listen to me since I haven't had any experience with puppies.. but I have had experience with dogs that weren't socialized and it was hard to have a dog like that. I'm lucky that Max loves everyone and everything (besides my rabbit), and I got an older dog since I was afraid he wouldn't be good with people or dogs like my dog was. Oohhh sun, time for a walk :).

Since you are the OP you know the intent of the question, but your did write.
So I thought it was important to mention shots because lots of people don't know this. You sound like you know much more about it then I do. Since we live in AZ, it's never too cold to take him out, but we have members who take their dogs out in the snow, and the bundled up dogs seem to love it!

:thumbup:

I just got back from my vet. Lady had to have bloodwork done. There was a young girl with a brand new Pappypoo (never heard of that one!) in for her first visit. She let the puppy run around on the floor! :eek:

I am very careful with germs from other dogs. We had to stop at Petsmart and I brought a blanket to line the cart so Lady wouldn't get any germs.

Fresh air, on the other hand, is very good for them. As long as he is a healthy puppy and you put a coat or sweater on him when it's cold, he'll love to be outdoors. Dogs need to sniff the scents and be allowed to act like a dog. I think you'll find he is better behaved and better adjusted with a daily outing.

I think this is what I am leaning towards now, Just bundling him up real good.. In Fact he's on his way to Starbucks with me now!! we are about to leave.. let's see if he likes it... :)

I'm not thinking Starbucks is a good idea because it has food. I just made a thread on where dogs should be allowed but I don't think you should bring him in food places. It's your choice, and really depends on the area!