How do you walk a Bernedoodle puppy? – Easy Tips and Tricks
Walking your Bernedoodle puppy is something that will be a daily part of both your routine and your furry friend’s routine. Exercise is essential not only for you, but for your pup as well. It’s a win-win activity. Since you’ll need to walk them daily, it’s important to walk them properly. So, how do you walk a Bernedoodle puppy?
Walking a puppy has many similarities to walking a full-grown pup, but there are some important differences to consider. First and foremost, young puppies are susceptible to many illnesses, so most vets will suggest you wait to introduce your puppy to other dogs and people until they’re fully vaccinated. We highly recommend you adhere to this advice keep both your puppy safe and any other dogs you could encounter while out on a walk.
With that important piece of information highlighted, we’ll cover in depth how you walk a Bernedoodle puppy.
What You’ll Need For A Walk
You’ll want to make sure you have the right equipment for dog walking: that includes things like a harness, a collar with tag, leash, water, and potty bags. Please be sure to avoid busy roadways, if at all possible. You want to keep your puppy’s walks as enjoyable, stress-free and as safe as possible. Really, this is standard for walking a dog of any age.
As mentioned earlier, walking your puppy provides exercise for both you and your pal. In addition, it’s also an opportunity for your furry friend to go potty, for training, and just to get some fresh air outdoors. In the case of your Bernedoodle puppy, you’ll also want to bring some treats.
Other Considerations
One of the biggest things we check on before we take Cooper for a walk is to ensure the weather is moderate and not too hot or cold. Weather that’s too hot could cause your Bernedoodle’s paws to burn from contact with the hot ground. Conversely, frostbite on the paws is possible if the weather is too cold. You’ll definitely want to take weather into account even more so with your Bernedoodle puppy. They’re still developing and growing, so any harsh weather could affect them more than an adolescent pup.
Some ideas for days that aren’t ideal weather-wise include your local Lowes, Home Depot, or Bass Proshop. However, if your puppy isn’t sufficiently potty trained, you may want to hold off on those types of trips until you’re confident in their ability to only go outside. In that case, a puppy play date or a good amount of playing fetch or tug of war in the house would be a good replacement for a walk.
Speaking of potty training, we find it best to ask your puppy to “go potty” as soon as you start your walk. This helps to set a routine and also avoid your pup going potty in undesirable areas, like on a neighbor’s lawn.
Distance
Now that you’ve ensured the weather is good and your Bernedoodle puppy is all harnessed and leashed up, consider the distance you plan to walk. We typically take Cooper for at least a mile each day. We allow him to take breaks and give him water if he wants it to keep him cool. However, for a young puppy only a few months old, a mile is probably too much.
Start small and gauge how your Bernedoodle is handling the walk. You can take a look at how much they’re panting or if they’re tongue is excessively hanging out of their mouth. A dog’s tongue hanging is an indication of fatigue and/or thirst. Don’t forget, although they have 4 legs, they have to cover more ground compared to you as an adult human. Increasing distance slowly but surely is the best way to ensure your Bernedoodle enjoys their walk and also gets the most out of it.
Leash Training
Leash training is an important aspect of walking your Bernedoodle puppy. We suggest you start leash training as early and often as possible to establish good habits and prevent any potential issues in the future.
Begin by introducing your puppy to the collar or harness and leash indoors. We recommend a harness since it’s easier to control your pup and prevents any unnecessary strain on the neck that a collar could cause. Allow them to get comfortable with the harness and leash by letting them sniff and investigate it.
Once your puppy seems comfortable with the harness and leash, attach it and let them drag it around while supervised. This helps them get used to the feeling of having something attached to them. IMPORTANT: Remember to never leave your puppy unattended with a leash on, as they could get tangled, injured, or worse.
Once you’re ready to start actual leash training, hold the leash with a relaxed grip and encourage your Bernedoodle puppy to walk alongside you. Use positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, to reward them for staying by your side. Start with short walks around the neighborhood so that your puppy is in a familiar environment. Then you can gradually increase the duration and introduce new surroundings.
Prevent Pulling
When you first start walking your pup with the leash, it’s normal for them to pull or resist the leash initially. However, that type of pulling is not ideal. The idea is to have a leash between you and your Bernedoodle that is relatively loose. Remember, you’re walking the dog; they aren’t walking you.
When you first start walking your pup with the leash, it’s normal for them to pull or resist the leash initially. When your Bernedoodle puppy inevitably pulls, do not pull back harshly. Even with a harness on, yanking hard on the leash could cause injury or create a negative association with the leash.
We recommend you stop walking, stop walking, give a small tug, stand still, give a “heel” command and wait for your puppy to come back towards you. As they make their way back to you, reward them with treats and verbal praise and pets. Have patience as it could take a few minutes for your puppy to come back to you. Repeat this process consistently, and your puppy will learn that pulling leads to stopping the walk and lack of treats. We’ve got more information for you if you’re wondering “are Bernedoodles easy to train?”
Consistency and Patience
Consistency is key when walking a Bernedoodle puppy. Stick to a regular walking schedule, ideally at least once or twice a day. Don’t forget, Bernedoodles have lots of energy, so they need their exercise and mind stimulated which regular walks will provide.
Be patient and understanding, as puppies are still learning and may need time to adjust to the routine.
During walks, make sure you let puppy explore their surroundings and sniff the environment. Sniffing their environment makes them happy and gives your pup a sense of exploration and enjoyment. Make sure to be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on what your puppy is sniffing. Be on the look-out for toxic plants, sharp objects, or other potential harmful encounters.
Socializing
Finally, if you’re still in the process of socializing your Bernedoodle, you can work on having them sit and focus on you if you encounter other pets or people on your walk. If this happens and you don’t want your Bernedoodle to engage, first use a command. Ours is “leave it”. You can also give a tug on the leash or call your pup’s name.
It’s also probably a good idea to ask your Bernedoodle to sit as well. Once the pet or person has passed, ensure you provide a treat, praise, and some loving to encourage the behavior. If your puppy is still trying to engage, despite the command, you could also try showing the treat to keep their focus on you and away from anything else.
In Closing
We hope this article was informative in answering the question “how do you walk a Bernedoodle puppy?”. Make sure you take your puppy for a walk early in their lives and often. Training them properly early will pay dividends in the future. Enjoy your time with your puppy and enjoy the bonding process between owner and pup. Happy walking!