Public Forum Proceed to Auspet's New Discussion Forum | Pet Directory | Classifieds | Home | LinkXchange


Click here to make Auspet.com your default home page

  Auspet - Message Boards
  Dogs - all types
  running puppies

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   running puppies
knobbles
Member

Posts: 61
From:Australia
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-02-2004 12:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for knobbles     Edit/Delete Message
hi,
Someone told me you shouldn't let puppies run until a certain age until their muscles develop properly. Is this true??? And if so what age? I didn't think this was true when they told me as I'd never heard of this before...

IP: Logged

Maisey
Member

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

posted 02-02-2004 12:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maisey     Edit/Delete Message
You can allow your puppies to run and play naturally. If you have large breed puppies you should not allow them to do things like jumping alot, in and out of a truck or car, up and down stairs, over jumps in sports, repetitive stuff, jumping on and off decks that sort of thing. I was told that the amount of time you should limit this kind of behavior depended on the breed,as some breeds physically mature faster than others. I limited my Catahoula X carefully until he was a year, he is only 14 months now and i am still careful with him but I let him jump in and out of my truck, mostly because i just can't lift him anymore! Slippery floors such as tile should be avoided too. Maybe someone else with more specific or accurate info will pitch in here.

IP: Logged

knobbles
Member

Posts: 61
From:Australia
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-03-2004 04:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for knobbles     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks for your reply Maisy,
My little pup is a dobermann. We have quite 'high stepped' stairs leading to the back which she can just get up and down... and we also have floorboards and tiles which are quite slippery. I'm a bit worried now- is this ok for this breed? I know they are not extra large dogs. I don't think I can carry her up and down the steps every time she needs to go outside for the next year!!

IP: Logged

susan_cude@hotmail.com
Member

Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-03-2004 09:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for susan_cude@hotmail.com     Edit/Delete Message
Hi, I don't think you need to worry, they are steps right? he's not jumping down to the bottom without using them. I personaly have never heard of puppies not running, but Maisey makes a good point. I have a mini dauchy so I have to be careful with her because of the way she's built (long back) just keep an eye on him, and perhaps you could put some throw rugs on the slippery floor. In my opinion, he'll be fine! but that is just my opinion, I'm no expert.

Good luck! Susan

IP: Logged

Maisey
Member

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

posted 02-03-2004 11:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Maisey     Edit/Delete Message
Just make her walk up and down the steps and no racing through the house. I think there are some Dobie people on this board who may be able to add something.

I found this on a site for Golden retreivers, but the info is true for any breed of large puppy and your Dobie is a large breed.

Exercise
Goldens, by nature, need a lot of exercise, but puppies should not be pushed beyond their limits. It is very important not to let your puppy jog or run for too long, especially on pavement, until they reach at least 18 mos. of age. If you are a runner or jogger and want a companion, use grass or dirt surfaces when ever you can and do not start training your puppy till he is at least 18 mos. no exceptions and work up starting with walks to jogging do not flat out start jogging any dog no matter the age. You are asking for orthopedic problems if you are not moderate with your puppy. Running and playing at their own pace is fine on their terms of when it's time to stop. Walking is great. The pressure that is put on the skeleton in repetitive movement such as running or jogging can be really hard on any immature skeleton. Jumping is very destructive of joints in young dogs. Once they have reached close to adult size, they can run on dirt at the level to which they are conditioned. Some of our dogs hunt, and the adults can run for hours. But, like humans, a dog must be conditioned before they can work that hard. Goldens love to work, and they will literally work themselves to death if you let them.

This site had lots of good information on it for new puppy owners as well, I did not read all of it and didn't agree with some of it, as always read for yourself and decide for yourself what makes sense for you and your pup. http://www.briergoldens.com/puppy_faq.htm

It's not that you should go overboard trying to limit your pup, let him play naturally, but things that you might do everyday...like I always take my pup to work with me, in fact I take him just about everywhere, I drive a truck so it's quite a jump for him to get into the cab or the back. Jumping up and down in and out of the truck would have been repetitive jolting on his joints,if I had let him do it everyday everytime we got in or out. He is 14 months old now and starting flyball training, I am still not letting him do repetitive things. He is learning to jump over the jumps but at their lowest setting and just to teach him the pattern, not at full speed. You don't want to do forced excersize, like taking your puppy jogging on the road or starting a sport too soon. It's just an ounce of prevention now, can prevent some of the orthopedic problems later.

IP: Logged

susan_cude@hotmail.com
Member

Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-03-2004 02:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for susan_cude@hotmail.com     Edit/Delete Message
Good info Maisey, Thanks! Mine are small as you know, but some of that still applies.

IP: Logged

knobbles
Member

Posts: 61
From:Australia
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-03-2004 06:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for knobbles     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks again! So much info- so helpful.
That's made me feel better... sounds like just a bit of common sense. I'll have to do something about the stairs though, my other dog jumps to the side of them coz he cant be bothered walking up and down properly, and I'm sure the other will do the same when she grows up. I worry about my precious dogs so much and it's very disturbing hearing all those nasty stories of people wanting to harm dogs. I haven't heard any stories like the poisoned hotdogs or slashing over here (Oz), but we do worry about people trying to bait our dogs over the fence so they can break in, we don't live in the safest town.
Anyway, thanks again!

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Auspet.com


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.45c
















© 1999-2017 AusPet.com