My young puppy whines and won't walk. Is it safe to take him out?

It honestly depends on how many other pets are in your apartment complex. Some viruses, such as parvo, can stay in the environment for several months. If you are taking him out, making sure to use paths that aren't frequented by other pets, or even bringing out a potty pad for him to go on (to get used to the routine of going out to go potty, but remaining safe) can help. As for socialization, socializing with people or pets whose vaccine history you know is the best option until your vet gives the OK to be around strange pets.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and congratulations on your new puppy! Unfortunately, Maximus is not fully vaccinated at this point, so he should not be going outside. Depending on your state, he can be fully vaccinated by 12 or 16 weeks. If this was his first round of shots, he will need a booster in 2-4 weeks and then his Rabies vaccine at 12-16 weeks as well as his last booster. Maximus should have minimal contact with other dogs (even where other dogs have gone to the bathroom) as you can’t be sure they are not carrying any of the viruses that Maximus is not vaccinated for that can make him very sick. I know it is difficult to keep a large active puppy inside, but your vet can work with you to have Maximus fully vaccinated in a reasonable amount of time.

Hello, yes you can take your puppy out for walks however, you increase the likelihood that he may become sick. Because he has been vaccinated it makes it less likely, however, you should consider only allowing your puppy around other pets whom you know are fully vaccinated. We are most concerned with diseases such as Parvovirus, distemper, influenza, and kennel cough. Continue to follow the recommended vaccine schedule for your puppy and be cautious about which other dogs come in contact with your puppy. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I would not recommend it. Without vaccines your dog is not protected against a disease like Parvovirus which can be fatal. The virus lives in the soil and can survive up to one year after it is excreted from the body. The vaccine is highly effective but it must be administered in a proper timeline. I recommend to keep your new pup inside and to get him vaccinated ASAP. Best of luck.

Yes you can bring him outside for potty training. I would avoid areas that are used by other dogs until a few weeks after his last set of shots. This will give his immune system time to react to the vaccines and develop an immunity to keep him safe form the diseases which other dogs may pass.

3. WalkingtheOtherWay In order to reinforce a dog’s natural tendency to follow, once your dog pulls out in front, you should turn quickly and walk the other way. Reward once you feel slack on the collar. This can cause a walk to go no more than a few feet at the beginning, so be patient. The pull back should only be strong enough to get your dog’s attention. Excessive force, especially when using choke chains, may cause neck trauma. For more information, please contact your veterinarian or a trainer who uses humane training methods.

Puppies will gain a lot of weight in the first couple months of life, and it's never recommended to worry about their weight at a young age. In addition, he should not be talking long walks, at most he will need 10 minutes of exercise twice a day. A puppy should get 5 minutes of exercise twice a day for every month of age, i.e. at 3 months 15 minutes, 4 months 20 minutes, etc. I would not talk him on walks just yet given that he is fully vaccinated. You can play with him in your yard, but do not worry about his weight and do not over exercise him. Too much exercise will be detrimental to his growth.