My two month old Labrador puppy refuses to go out for potty training and walks. I would like to have some advise on this please
Hello there, and a warm welcome to the forum. Your puppy is only 8 weeks old, so is still a very tiny baby - and too young to be going on walks. Tell us a bit more about what is happening, and what you have tried so far. How long have you had the puppy?
Thanks Julie for the warm welcome. We tried sit and down command, which Casper (the puppy) responded to. After the combo vaccination on 2nd October, we tried to take him out from 4th October. But Casper is reluctant to go out and if we lift him and take out and put in the field, it just sits and refuses to move. The only movement is towards the house.
Hello from me and my big boy Pongo! I'm not an expert but lots of people here are... I'm sure you will get great advice. I just wanted to say hello and welcome to the best, most friendly and helpful forum I've ever come across.... Rosie
Where are you based? Are you in the UK? I ask because most vets here wouldn't recommend a puppy goes outside until one or two weeks after the second vaccination. But risks do vary depending where you are. Your puppy is a tiny baby. Really, really young. You don't say how long you have had him, but you should have only just brought him home. So he has just left his mum and litter mates, hasn't had chance to settle in with you yet and view your home as his. So just take things really, really slow with him. He doesn't need to go out on walks yet at all, he just needs a space to trot round in and play. At 8 weeks I was certainly carrying my pup out into the garden for toilet trips, he didn't just walk out of the door and up a couple of steps on his own.
It sounds as if he is totally overwhelmed by the big outdoors and wants to return to the security of the house. Gradually introduce him to the outdoors, perhaps carry him and let him have a look so that he has the security of you but will gradually find his curiosity overcomes the fear. He is very, very young, so take it slowly. Have you read "The Happy Puppy Handbook" by Pippa Mattinson, you will find it very helpful and will answer many questions.
Thank you all for your advises. I am based in Assam, India. Casper has been with me for the last 15 days. He has got used to the house and the kids. But I think it is too early to expect him to take up toilet training and walks. Thank you all.
It's not too early to start toilet training at 8 weeks, although it sounds like you got your puppy at 6 weeks (which I know is normal in some countries). But just take him outside (carry him) to a spot close to the house when you need to take him out. In terms of going further afield, just take it really, really slowly. Carrying him at first is a good idea.
Rabies Vaccine is not given yet. It will be given on 15th October. And inside the house, the puppy is very lively. From yesterday onward, it has somewhat accepted the outside world and slowly started exploring the surroundings.
Hi and welcome. Your puppy is very young and many take some time to start exploring their new surroundings after being separated from mum and their litter mates. Try to encourage Caspar to follow you and he will soon gain in confidence, and of course carry him around to see different places, people as well. Let us know how it goes.
Hello from Oxfordshire, England where I live with my 2 year old Yellow Lab Molly. The outside world is a very big place when you are a little puppy, soon he will get his confidence and you will have trouble getting him back inside We all love puppy pictures so we would love to see some of him.
Hi Chandan,I have Dexter who is our first dog and now 3 .lll.we are originally from the UK but live in Dubai. Angela
Hi and welcome. I doubt very much that the vaccination will have made your puppy nervous outside; it is just as others have said that everything is new to him and he is very tiny still, so it will take some time for him to slowly get used to things. Do be careful though until after your puppy has had the rabies vaccination at 12 weeks - you dont want him to get sick outside. And I must warn you that the rabies vaccination, although VITAL where you are living, is quite a big one and he may feel a little poorly for a day or so afterwards, so dont worry too much if he seems a bit quiet afterwards.
I've never had a problem with dogs but have with cats and it is often suggested you make sure to give the rabies a couple of weeks apart from the other vaccines. I separate for the dog anyway. Two cats were whacked right out for days if they got them all at once, very lethargic. I imagine rabies is required by law, as it is for me? Do you know if it will be the one year or the three year?
Casper is doing fine now, thanks to your advises. I would like to have advises on another aspect. Casper keeps on scratching his ears most of the time. And he purrs while scratching. I would like to know if it is a normal behaviour?
Hi there You need to check his ears. In good light, gentle lift back his ear flaps and have a look - if they look red, or you see any brown or darkish material in them, you need to pop him to the vet. Dogs scratchig their ears and doing a sort of "moan" is often a sign that they have some kind of ear infection. It's very common in Labradors because of their floppy ears. If your dog has an ear infection, it's important you don't leave this but get a vet to give you proper treatment.
Thank you Rosemary. That is exactly what I and my son are doing now. And we have seen confidence growing. At the same time, the biting is also increasing.
Chandan Goswami Good to hear that your puppy is gaining confidence, just as the biting phase starts. It's a good idea to always have a toy ready and encourage your puppy to go for the toy rather than your hands, feet or clothes. Also helpful is to stand up and fold your arms across your chest and do not make eye contact with your puppy. They usually learn very quickly and the biting reduces as they learn their bite inhibition. Some puppies respond well just to you saying ouch when they bite. You just need to work out what works best for you and be consistent - everyone must do the same. Good luck
