Hi, can anyone advise me? In a couple of weeks time I am going to collect my cocker spaniel puppy, he will be 9 weeks old so not fully vaccinated. I have read that I can take him out into the garden to toilet train him, BUT my problem is that we frequently get foxes in the garden during the night, how can I ensure my puppy doesn't pick up any disease from the foxes?

Its extremely doubtful that the foxes would be carrying anything your puppy would catch BUT: Where are the Foxes getting in? Puppies all explore and if the garden is not secure you could be in trouble that way!

Regards, John

we get foxes in our garden they just scramble the 7ft fence like a cat would when mine were pups they have always gone in the garden and all were fine only thing to watch is that the foxe arn't messing in the garden incase the pup eats it

Foxes carry distemper and mange so to say they dont carry anything is wrong.
Not many have it now if you look at the foxes that come into your garden if they look in good heath then you should have no worrys .
Just keep an eye on the pup so he does not pick anything up the foxes leave behind!!!
I live in the city and have lots of foxes around here and all seem in good condition!!

Make sure at least an area of your garden is secure! You mentioned in another post (which has been removed) that you plan to keep the pup on an extending lead when it's in the garden, because it is very open. That is a simply terrible idea! After all, it will be for the rest of its life, and would be very unkind.

get your injections at 8 and 10 weeks/ --im sure a week indoors wont do the pup any harm,

Jeangenie, thanks for your concern. Sorry, but I don't think i explained myself very well, I mentioned keeping the puppy on an extending lead because John said that if a fox could enter my garden then a little puppy could easily escape. Once my puppy has had all his vaccinations and some training he will not be taken out into the garden on an extending lead.

Hi Jax,
Sorry, but I still think it's an appalling idea to keep a puppy on an extending lead whenever it's outside! It takes several weeks to get them lead-trained for a start! What sort of (and how much) training do you think will be required to make a dog stay close to home in an open garden?