Should I buy a harness before or after getting my 8-week-old puppy?

Training a new puppy can be hard work and I am going through this myself. Start by just leaving the collar on the puppy at first until she gets used to that. Next, attach a leash to the puppy, in the house and let her drag it around the house. Keep an eye on her at all times so she doesn't get snagged at all. Reward her with lots of praise and treats but do not hold the leash yet. Once she drags it around and runs around with it, start picking it up. Follow her around the house, tossing treats so she will get them. Do not pull her and do not try to make her go your way. Next, take this to the backyard and let her drag a leash there. Then start letting her walk around the back yard while you trail behind her holding the leash. LOTS of treats and praise for any forward motion. be patient! Try some squeeze cheese on a big plastic or wooden spoon to get her to move froward if needed. You can also get her used to a harness. For a puppy, or any dog, I recommend an easy on harness that the dog steps into and snaps over the back. For a small puppy, you could also use one that looks like a small vest as well. Use lots of treats and cheese to put the harness on so the puppy is not afraid and thinks the harness is good.

Quite honestly it all depends upon the shape of your dog. Some harnesses tend to fit longer dogs vs stouter dog vs deep chested vs narrow shaped dogs. I would recommend bring your dog to the pet store and having her try on several different varieties to see which fits most comfortably. Most importantly, ask yourself if this harness provides proper support and will not fall off when being used for walking.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zuko. This is completely normal behavior for a puppy his age. It takes young dogs several weeks if not a month or two to become accustomed to a harness and leash. Keep practicing with him, but do not become discouraged if he is uninterested. He will eventually figure it out. You can start by just trying the harness and not attaching the leash in the house. You can also try outside in a grassy area with both attached. Throw a ball or toy and see if that encourages him to walk. Good luck!

I would not leave your puppy in a harness when you are not with him. I always advise removing collars, harnesses and leashes when your dog is home. This is both more comfortable for your dog and a safer way to leave them unattended. There is a chance they could caught in something while running around or jumping at home.

Hello. The best thing to do is start slow & put the harness on for a few minutes 2-3 times a day. Reward her with many treats & lots of petting to calm her. Then attach a leash & just let her drag it around for a few days. Once she seems comfortable, ask her to follow or approach you while gently pulling on the leash. I always have a tasty treat in my hand to encourage her. With just a little time & patience, all dogs will get used to being on a leash & harness. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

So cute! If he seems healthy and is not having any problems then he could wait until he is 8 weeks old for a vet visit. I probably would not vaccinate him at his age and weight. You should limit his exposure to other dogs and do not take him to any public places until he is vaccinated. You could take a stool sample to your vet and have him/her test it for parasites and/or get a broad spectrum dewormer from your vet and give him a dose, especially if he hasn't already been dewormed by the breeder. Good luck!

Wait until the puppies are 8 weeks old and then get one. You can then carefully start potty-training your puppy, They are babies, so they will have accidents. Most likely potty training will not be 100% successful until they are at least 3 months old. If you let the puppy stay until it is 8 weeks old, it will not develop bad habits. On the contrary, it will have the opportunity to get well socialised as it will be able to play with its siblings and still has mommy for comfort.