Exercising pups

[born2fly79]

I was wondering if anyone has any guidance regarding exercising puppies. I've heard so much about making sure they get plenty of exercise but today, heard that too long of walks for young dogs can be bad for joint development. Klein (my Dutch) is around 5 months. We take walks often (in town, so we are on sidewalks and a paved trail), usually about 1 1/2 miles each time. Yesterday we walked about 3 miles. Is this too far for his joints? I love to walk and want to make sure I'm not including him on too long of walks.

Thanks!

[leih merigian]

What I'd be concerned about in your case is the hard surfaces. It's much better for him to be on softer surfaces.

It's good for him to get exercise, but it would be better if you could take him someplace where you can use trails or something like that, until his growth plates close.

JMO...

[dutchringdog]

Interesting question. I hike with Sadie 2-3 times a week for about 20 minutes with hills and on the days I cant hike, she chases Thalie while Thalie chases the tennis ball, that really poops her out.

[born2fly79]

Thanks! I'm definitely going to try to find more places to take him that aren't hard surfaces. He really likes to play on playground equipment at the park so I'll try to work that in more often!

[Christie M]

I have yet to meet the puppy of a working breed, that hasn't been totally ruined genetically, that has had issues as a result of too much exercise. I know there is tons of guidance on how high to let them jump, how long to run...etc. But I have never seen or heard of an issue in a DS or malinois as a result of this. My pups are encouraged to move until they are ready to drop. I wouldn't FORCE them to continue - but I would let them trail along on any walk, whether it was 12 blocks or 12 miles over any terrain. My pups have always jumped onto, over and through everything. I was recently just thinking about this topic as I watched my 12 week old hop out of her crate that sits atop another one. I thought "Crap, I wonder what people would say about this??"

I think it is important to remember that these are sports cars.....not volvos. Many FR dogs are completing the palisade at under a year. I don't think that any person owning a pet dog is going to push them to the point of injury. So I would say, don't worry.

[born2fly79]

Thanks, Christie! Our obedience instructor also indicated that Klein will let us know when it's too much for him. (She is very familiar with working breeds (mostly GSD's) and had the same opinion that they are more like sports cars, so to speak.) He has yet to do that! Usually he still runs around like a crazy man after his walks! I am still going to try to keep him in grass more when I can, but will rest better knowing I'm not ruining him!

[Kristie E]

huh! So, I feel kinda out there... I never even thought of too much exercise.... especially for Gwen. She just keeps going and going ... like the bunny.... with lithium ion batteries... Izar is such a couch potato...

[Dutchringgirl]

Sadie definatly lets me know when she is pooping out, the toung hangs, and she slows down, When I run her with Thalie, she wont run as far and stands there looking at me. When we are on our way back from a hike, she beelines for the house and dosnt bother sniffing as much.

[k9katet]

Christie - does anyone follow these dogs that are doing such extreme jumping so early to see if their bodies are breaking down earlier? Just curious.

I err on the side of caution. Letty's not doing any formal jumping until she's a year. I did the same with Vada. I know many others in a variety of spots that don't wait but I want my dogs sound as long as possible in the hopes that they live a long life.

[turgi11]

I have yet to meet the puppy of a working breed, that hasn't been totally ruined genetically, that has had issues as a result of too much exercise. I know there is tons of guidance on how high to let them jump, how long to run...etc. But I have never seen or heard of an issue in a DS or malinois as a result of this. My pups are encouraged to move until they are ready to drop. I wouldn't FORCE them to continue - but I would let them trail along on any walk, whether it was 12 blocks or 12 miles over any terrain. My pups have always jumped onto, over and through everything. I was recently just thinking about this topic as I watched my 12 week old hop out of her crate that sits atop another one. I thought "Crap, I wonder what people would say about this??"

I think it is important to remember that these are sports cars.....not volvos. Many FR dogs are completing the palisade at under a year. I don't think that any person owning a pet dog is going to push them to the point of injury. So I would say, don't worry.

Lol I so like your metaphor with the sport car. It a great way to describe it. I think it is more important exercise your pup as much as you have time for and it will help him develop better and took the bad energy from him. If your pup show you he want more walk or run just give him. I think it can heart them if they will not get anough excersice

[Christie M]

Christie - does anyone follow these dogs that are doing such extreme jumping so early to see if their bodies are breaking down earlier? Just curious.

I suppose that's a bad example, although I know that it is true. I simply meant to point out that I don't really force my dogs to do - or not to do- much of anything. Granted, I try to keep them from serious issues. But my dogs jump on and off the furniture, into and out of their crates (which are often elevated) and follow other dogs up and around equipment when being run. I do some jump foundation super early, but only on a 4 inch jump and only to teach the word "hup."

But honestly Heather, whatever you are doing, obviously it works!!!

I liken my situation to other family's second child. I just don't worry as much or try to be over protective. I look at one of my closest friends with an AMAZING Wire haired Pointer. I swear that dog lives in bubble wrap...and is constantly hurting himself. But I am sure I will be the first to cry when I am proven wrong

[Dutchringgirl]

I know with horses, we have a saying, " every horse has only a certain number of jumps in them" but thats an 1100lb animal and these guys are avg 60lbs. But i agree with Christie about not being over protective. Ive seen the same in the horse world too, I used to event and worked my horses up and down everything over every terrain, mud, hard ground and they were all sound. I friend of mine, never did anything with her horse and she was always lame. im kind of the same with my kids and dogs.

[leih merigian]

I lean toward Heather's approach. Especially with agility being our main sport, there is so much repetitive jumping involved. So, we won't even begin using regular height jumps until I've Xrayed her hips, around 14 months, and even then, we'll gradually build up the jump height.

However, she jumps onto and off of logs, over them, climbs over everything, scrambles up steep inclines, and gets a lot of that kind of muscle-building exercise. As much as she's comfortable with. Then there's the fetching, which is very intense for her (as for all Dutches, I assume<g>). I do think that if they're overprotected, they tend to injure themselves more, and all those muscles/tendons/ligaments need to be developed. But, I also think it can be done with care, rather than overly recklessly.