Hi, I thought I would ask whether anyone else walks their bitch when they have pups. Our pups are nearly 5 weeks old. I don't walk the bitch incase she picks something up. We live on a Farm and I know we get both deer and foxes in the garden, but I have to let her out there. We have a footpath across the farm which is used by other dog walkers so am assuming it is best not to take her out...or am I being paranoid? The Stud dog owner has told me to let the pups run in the garden but I am a bit worried about that too. Also as we are keeping a pup does that mean I should not walk her until pup has had all jabs? Sorry if they were thicko questions!! Thanks for reading.

By 3 weeks my girls are desperate to go out, I walk them in areas where there are few dogs and I wash feet and tummies when we get home. My large breed pups would go mad if they could not get out into the garden by 5 weeks to run and play. They have a big run off the puppy sleeping area and the door is open all day for them to come and go. They regularly go out into the garden to play free on the grass too :- https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?v=10200311645126617&set=vb.1018722610&type=2&theater
Aileen

Your bitch knows best.

In the past 30 years I've had to force my newly-whelped bitches outside to relieve themselves for the first few days, but after that they've been queuing up with the other dogs to go for walks, and to my mind a frustrated stir-crazy bitch is more damaging to the pups' well-being (stress hormones are transmitted through the milk) than a relaxed and exercised one! The pups, at this stage, have the same antibodies as their mother, so if it's safe for her to go out and about it's safe for the pups. 

Ok thanks. I will take her for a walk later then. She sits at the patio doors watching up the footpath to see who is coming down it. (It is open for miles behind our house so she can atch who is coming or going) I know she is longing to go up there. I can now keep her away from for several hours anyway. Merlot I can't open your link, says it has expired?!

Our girls are not confind to home only with with their puppies. After the first 2-3 days a happy relaxed bitch asks to go out with the other dogs for her daily walk, She will come up to our regular walking places and I make sure that she makes no contact with other dogs. The puppies have all their immunity from mum and while they are taking her milk, on their home teritory everything should be fine.
But by the time they are ready to leave home they should have stopped taking mums milk, immunity levells begin to drop and this is where new owners must be carefull and speak to their vet about starting vaccinations, usually between 10 to 12 weeks (depending on your vets recomendations).
A strong healthy pup with its mum should not need any vaccinations under 9 weeks of age, it still has immunity from its mum.

Mine are the same as Wee man. They want to go out with the others after  a day or so and it would cause more problems not to take them out.

> By 3 weeks my girls are desperate to go out, I walk them in areas where there are few dogs and I wash feet and tummies when we get home. My large breed pups would go mad if they could not get out into the garden by 5 weeks to run and play.

Ditto, I have never managed to keep pups happy solely indoors much past 4 weeks.  Also of course my otehr dogs still go out throughout and they mix with Mum, and with pups after they are two to three weeks.  I do keep to less dog frequented walking areas (road walking).

Ok, thanks. She has been for a walk on the road and accross our grass field where no other dogs go. She was pleased to get out!