Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-15-2004 01:40 PM         

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I was reading a few websites that say you should not exercise large breed puppies until they are like 8 mos - 1 yr old. One site said that fast running is bad for bone/joint development and increases the risk of hip dysplasia.

It occurred to me that while I never make the puppy exercise, he runs around like mad all the time. How am I supposed to stop him from running fast?
Does this seem like a valid statement?

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Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-15-2004 01:58 PM         

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It is a valid statement, but it's ok for puppy to play and run around. Avoid throwing a ball for him for an hour...avoid letting him jump up into or down from a truck or other vehicle. Excess climbing and pounding down stairs, starting him in a sport too soon things like that will cause damage. Witt likes to leap really high in the air to catch things, I make sure he isn't allowed to do that. I will let him catch something a few times but tossed low, this way he still gets to play but he doesn't have all that weight compounding on young bones and joints.
Different breeds of dogs mature ohysically at different ages and even then individually as well, check into your breed specifically.

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Posts: 478
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 01-15-2004 02:16 PM         

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ooops! Oh, well, that is only large breeds, right? We have a medium breed. Ranger has been walking about a mile a day since he was 4 months old! He has always needed all of that exercise!

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From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-15-2004 03:22 PM         

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what size constitutes "large breed"
Honeybear

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Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-15-2004 04:06 PM         

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I believe large breed is 55-100 lbs at adulthood. Giant breed (my dog) is 100+ lbs at adulthood.

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Posts: 275
From:My IQ is higher than yours, I guarantee it.
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-15-2004 05:53 PM         

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I have a great dane and everything I read about them says the same thing...to wait until they are over a year before beginning more strenuous exercise programs.

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Posts: 227
From:Perth, Western Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-16-2004 12:23 AM         

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i say let the pup do whatever it wants. just stop play when things get real silly. jumping is the worst for a dog of any age's joints etc so avoid him from jumping. apart from that i really wouldnt stop him from chucking maddies around the house, they dont stay pups for long!!

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Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-16-2004 03:56 AM         

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Yes, I think the point is as Maisey said - don't toss frisbees really high for them or start dog sports too early. And you are also not supposed to take them jogging with you for long distances.

I worry about this sometimes, too. We have taken Nala for long walks since she was about 4 months old as well. We had to!

But the way she "walks" with my husband is more like a puppy just wandering around and playing. He lets her zing around on the retractable lead and a lot of times will let her off lead completely. Then she just runs back and forth sniffing things.

Jamiya

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Member

Posts: 478
From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 01-16-2004 05:49 AM         

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Ooops again! Ranger knows the command jump! We tell him jump and he jumps straight up in the air for whatever it is. He is only 7.5 months old! Oh well...I guess we can stop working on that until a few months from now.

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Posts: 536
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-18-2004 09:53 AM         

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I agree with the others.

Depends what your interpretation of exercise is. All dogs and puppies need exercise to some degree but avoid hard core running or high impact jumping etc while everything is still developing. The key is knowing when enough is enough. Let them run/play on their own, but be watchful they are not lagging and forcing to keep up.

I wouldn't start a *set* exercise schedule until the dog is over a year and a half.

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