Can I take my puppy for a walk before vaccination?

As the owner of a new puppy, you’re probably very excited to take your pup for their first walk, but unsure of when it is safe to do so. Vaccinations are integral to making sure that your new puppy doesn’t pick up any nasty diseases when they go outside.

Therefore it’s very important that they are fully vaccinated before going on a walk or socialising with other dogs. Here is our guide to puppy vaccinations, when to get them, and when you can go on that all-important first walk round the block!

Why puppy vaccinations are important

Mixing with other animals is an important part of a new puppy’s socialisation but your puppy will need to have their vaccinations before they can go out and about safely. This is to make sure that they do not pick up various diseases before they are protected against them.

Your puppy will be vaccinated against a range of diseases that could otherwise prove fatal, including canine distemper, canine parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, kennel cough and leptospirosis.

As with human vaccinations, your puppy will receive a harmless version of these diseases so that they develop immunity against them. This works to boost their immune system so that they can recognise and fight the diseases if they are encountered in the future. Booster vaccinations are recommended to be given regularly throughout your dog’s life to maintain maximum protection against these diseases.

To successfully control infectious diseases and their prevalence, vaccination programmes require high levels of uptake within the population. If vaccinations are routinely missed the likelihood of these diseases becoming more common will increase.

How many vaccinations do puppies need?

During their primary course, most puppies will need two vaccinations, and some may need a third vaccination.

Puppy vaccine schedule

If their mother has been vaccinated and kept up to date with her booster vaccinations, most puppies will have received some antibodies from their mother’s milk, which will afford them a degree of protection in the early weeks of their life.
The first vaccination in the primary course is usually given when your puppy is eight weeks old and followed around two weeks later by a second vaccination to complete the course.

Can I walk my puppy after the first vaccination?

A puppy that has only had their first vaccination will not be fully protected, and they need to have had their full course of vaccinations to be able to go out safely.

How long after the second puppy vaccination can they go out?

Vaccination protocols will vary so specific advice should be sought from your own vet, but most vets would advise waiting one or two weeks after the second vaccination before walking your puppy out in public or socialising with animals that may not be vaccinated. For some pups, it can take as long as four weeks after their final injection to be fully protected.

After the primary vaccination course is completed, the next time your dog needs to be vaccinated will be their booster about a year later. The specific vaccination required may vary year upon year due to manufacturer’s recommendations, practice policy or as new scientific studies emerge. For example, leptospirosis booster vaccinations are usually recommended every year.

Your puppy may be a bit tired on vaccination day as their immune system has been challenged. It is not uncommon for the vaccination site to be itchy or slightly irritated.

If you have any concerns after having your pet vaccinated or would like specific clarification on when your puppy is allowed to go on walks, please contact your vet.