Puppy Exercise

[eilenej1]

I've read about limiting puppy exercise, but never saw detailed information for what's acceptable and what isn't. Max is going on 14 weeks and is getting really good at loose leash walking now. He's a large breed dog (Catahoula) and walks well with an adult neighbor dog. Before Max joined the family, I would walk with my neighbor and her adult dog for about 3 miles. What is the max distance you would recommend walking at an average to casual pace? And at what point should I increase the distance - still at an average to casual pace?

[lassie]

Hi Eiline ,welcome. somewhere on here recently this question has been brought up. I Cant find it at the moment but do know the poster got alot of postive feedback. have a search you should find it.

[brunosmom]

I have heard 20 minutes at that age...nothing of a hard walk....up until they turn 2 years old .....their joints haven't completely formed in the hips till then... I would gradually increase the 20 minutes as they get older...any signs of distress or pain and I would immediately stop rather than chance an injury that might have lingering effects for the future.....just use good judgment and gradually increase with age.....

[MyDogShelby]

brunosmom has given you very good advice, 20 mins sounds very reasonable. That is about 1 mi at a steady pace.

[BorderLabby]

I have a lot of mixed feelings on this subject, and many a time i have been in a "heated debate" about this on other forums/boards.

Yes, to much exercise can damage the hips and joints, but to little and your going to end up with a destructive, bored dog.

Dogs are like children, they need to stay active and stimulated. At 14 weeks old, personally i'd be giving the puppy around 30 minutes everyday PLUS plenty of mental stimulation. Kongs, buster cubes, short training sessions doing sits, downs, stays, heel etc.

As my Labrador was growing up i took him out for around 30 minutes walk from 3-4 months. By around 6 months old he was getting at least an hour everyday off-lead. By 8 months onwards this was increasing to an hour and a half. And when he was over a year old, he was up in the mountains hiking with me. Bare in mind the hikes i do can be at LEAST 6 or 7 hours long, sometimes longer depending on the mountain i'm hiking up! He managed them no problem, and he loved every minute of it.

While this would be far to much and dangerous for a puppy. I feel by a year old, a working breed dog such as a labrador can handle this without little problems, especially if he has been build up to it, like my lad was.

My lab does gundog training, agility and obedience. I have never had any problems with him being destructive, bored or hyperactive. And i put this down to him having a good amount of exercise and his mind being kept occupied when he is both indoors and out.

Recently i got a BC puppy. Currently she is 11 weeks old and getting around 30 minutes exercise everyday. I do know this is leaning on the 'to much' side of things, but in all honesty, she needs it! If she didn't get this, she would be like a time-bomb waiting to explode in the house! No matter how much training i sit and do with her indoors, she needs out on walks!

Every dog is different. Some are content with a 10 minute stroll round the block, others need a good run off leash in a big field.
Dogs are like kids. Some want to sit on their butts all day watching TV, where-as some want to play sports all day long!

Both my lab and collie are definitly the sporting type! It's in their nature as working dogs! I like having active dogs because i'm an active person myself who enjoys the outdoors!

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded post :) hehe. All dogs are different. Adapt an exercise regime to YOUR dog. You know how much exercise your own dog needs without overdoing it and walking him or her to exhastion.

xx

[MyDogShelby]

Dogs are like children, they need to stay active and stimulated. At 14 weeks old, personally i'd be giving the puppy around 30 minutes everyday PLUS plenty of mental stimulation. Kongs, buster cubes, short training sessions doing sits, downs, stays, heel etc.

I agree with adding mental stimulation through training and some play time with toys to your puppies routine everyday as well as a 20 min walk. That is a great way to "feed" his young mind;)

And too, every dog is different when it comes to exercise, you'll come to learn just how much is enough and when its too much. Your on the right track eilenej1. :)

[Borzoi mad]

He is a large breed and 20 minutes at his age is more than adequate in fact I would cut it down to 10 minutes, and of course play and stimulate him at home throughout the day as well. Any more than this and you may damage his bone structure and this can cause problems for him later in life. My borzois at that age had three 5 minute walks a day that is what is recommended for my large breed.

[eilenej1]

Thanks everyone. Still not sure there's a "magic" answer, but somewhere between 10 and 30 seems to be the norm. And he does get other stimulation throughout the day - just that this question was targeted towards "walks".