8 week old pups have only had their first of three sets of vaccinations at the time they go home. They are susceptible to contracting serious and life threatening virus and bacteria however, the 8-16 week old period is also a very important socialization period. I have personally never kept a pup at home before all the vaccinations have been complete. I have always had pups out in public and interacting with people and other dogs but used some common sense. DON’T take your pup to a dog park or any place where many dogs congregate and use the area for a bathroom. Many of the potential viruses etc travel in urine and feces so it’s important to limit exposure before all vaccinations are complete. DON’T let your dog meet other dogs unless you know that dog is up to date on shots and is good with puppies. You don’t want your pup having a bad experience playing with another dog at a young age. If you have friends/family with well-behaved dogs that are up-to-date on vaccinations, arranging playdates is a great way to help your puppy get socialized. 8 week old pups are very capable of walking for 5-30 minutes…it all depends on how patient you are. Walks in the first few weeks will be a work in progress. Stick to your immediate neighborhood and give your pup time to figure out how to walk on a leash.