Hi

I have a 12wk old staffie cross Savannah. She joined the family a few weeks ago and is settling in pretty well. I do however have a few questions to run by you all, on the best way to do things etc! Set her off on a good start like!

The first question is, she is due to have her 2nd set of jabs tomoro, which means within the following week i can start taking her out for walks. So Im wondering if anyone has any advice on the best way to introduce the walks for the first time? how long should i take her out for at first, and for her age? She is leash trained ok as we go around the garden to practice. Any tips anyone?

Secondly we have a neighbours cat that frequently visits our garden, and is pretty much used to dogs, and other cats, very friendly! Now luckily puppy has been on the lead when she has jumped over the fence, so i can control the situation a bit. The thing is tho i dont really know how i should handle it really.
I want my pup to be cat friendly, as there are so any in the neighbourhood. At first pup wasnt so sure of the cat, but got used to it a few times after and they have sniffed and had a bit of play (with me keeping getting too rough) Pup get so excited tho when cat comes and just wants to play.........puppy style! -tail wagging n doggie play bows b4 hearing off around the garden. Im just worried incase either of them gets hurt, as she will chase the cat too when it moves. She hasnt been off the lead around her yet.
My usual corection (tug on the lead and a shhhhhtt! and sit if necesary) to make her stay calm around the cat just doesnt take effect, she just pulls and pulls to go get the play with the cat.
What should I do to get them interact without hurting one another.
Any advice or experience anyone has had on this would be fantastic, as its the same scenario every day they see each other!

Anyway I think thats all for now.
Thank you in advance!

talk to your neighbour and see if she is willing to bring the cat around to meet each othe rin the front room of your house or something.

its a controled meeting and if things do go wrng your on hand to help. if a pup and cat have grown up with other dogs and cats there is no reason for them to hate each other.

My dogs have had cats come and go in our house and the garden. never had a problem apart from one cat misty wanted to play the cat was NEW to the area didn't know misty and attacked her. so its not always a case of the dog being friendly.

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For exercise there is a thought that it should be the age in weeks + 1 minute so 13 minutes for a 12 week old pup.

I think puppies can walk for longer but I think it depends how they act on the walk. My DDB puppy just walks about slowly most of the time on a walk with the odd burst of running. If however your dog will tear about the whole time its out then 13-15minutes is enough. Also factor in that you have to walk there and back dont tire him out on the walk then force him to walk back, do 15 minutes for the total walk (there, playtime and back).

Or if you dont have anywhere close enough for the little pup to walk to why not drive there and let him have the whole 15minutes of play then when hes tired put him in the car!

ok thank for the replies

My neighbour is not one for helping out like that im afraid, so its kinda down to me trying to sort something out between cat n dog. The cat is ok with dog, but my pup has never been around a cat untill this one. Still dont know what to do with them! As cat doesnt live with us and not part of our pack its hard to put the cat above the dog. everyday is the same hyper play on the lead when the cat is there. oh well, see how it goes i guess.

Thanks for the walking advice, great help. cant wait to take her out for walks, have 5 days till we can go explore!

It sounds as if you are just going to have to let your pup off lead with the cat.
If it is in your garden all the time, they are going to bump into each other at sometime.
Hopefully the cat will run!!!