Amount of puppy exercise

cato · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:54 am Post subject: Amount of puppy exercise

I'm confused as to how much exercise our 5 month old Labrador should be getting. Some books say just playing in the garden until 6 Months then controlled walking up until 12 months.

Other people say however that we should be taking her to the park at an early age to socialise her with other dogs. This would of course not be very controlled exercise.

Can any body help.

Thanks

Karen · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:02 am Post subject:

Hi there

We've always gone by the 5 mins per month of age of daily exercise, including playing in garden.

These previous posts may help you, there's another link within this post to a previous discussion also.

http://www.labradorforums.co.uk/ftopict-890-exercise.html

Corbie is 5 months also and I take him for a 25 min walk but this includes his sniffing about - he doesn't usually play outside during the day. I do let him have a run off the lead as well as lead walking when we're out.

Fay · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:07 am Post subject:

Hi

Harvey is also 5 months and he gets 2 15 minute walks a day, which includes a run off the lead.

The only time he goes outside otherwise is to go to the toilet, when he might have a bit of a wander about.

Best wishes

Fay

frodosmom · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:06 pm Post subject:

Hi...

well we di not follow the rules....Frodo is 5 ++ and he runs & walk for about an hour (minimum) a day Rolling Eyes

... I do realise that his bones are not fully developed but i guess this is what he wud be doing if he was in wild..... Smile

atleast an atheletic dog here Wink

Happy walking
Vidhya

rufusmum · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

I agree with Vidhya. Rufus's gets no less than an hours walk a day.

Like Vidhya i know his bones aren't fully developed but the more exercise he gets now the stronger and healthier he will become.

NigelB · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 11:24 am Post subject:

This is one area that isnt black and white, where a good dollop of common sense needs to be applied. The reason exercise needs to be moderated is because of stress on young joints. That reasoning is applicable to infants of all species but especially to those that are susceptable to joint disorders. But what constitutes "exercise"? walking around the house and garden is exercise, just as doing an agility course is!

Personally I dont time how long Harvey's walks take. He is coming up to 7 months old so should be getting approx 30-35 minutes a day, however no way would I let him run with other dogs for that length of time as it would be too much .. equally a 30 minute walk on a lead just isnt enough. I suppose he gets about 45mins of off lead a day, taking care to put a stop to any over exertion if other dogs, rabbits, etc. gets him going

I realise some will take issue with this, but if I restricted him to a gentle 30 minute stroll he would only go tearing around the house and garden anyway, so whats the difference? ... ultimately I believe what needs to be avoided is exercise which the owner forces on the dog e.g. I read of one guy who was lead walking his 11 week old Lab for 2 miles a day! Confused

.. and situations where the dog gets so excited that he over exerts himself, playing with older dogs being the worse culprit

I just feel that nowadays there is so much focus on the fear of joint disorders in later life that there is a danger of under exercise hindering muscle development, weight problems and general fitness issues in the young dog JMHO

cato · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:58 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone for your advice it would appear there are many opinions. I guess I'll just try and take a middle line.

Thanks

JohnW · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 3:17 pm Post subject:

Hip dysplacia is not a simple thing. purely hereditory and nothing else. For a puppy with perfect hips there is possibly no harm in a reasonable amount of exercise, but few dogs have perfect hips. Restricting exercise will not make the hips better than they are but over exercise WILL most definately make less than perfect hips worse! I am a firm believer in limiting early exercise to 5 minutes per month. Remember, this is the exercise part, time spent sitting on the corner seat watching the world go by is not part of the exercise time. I take a young puppy to the common and watch a bit of the cricket match or to an exemption show where she can lay beside the ring and watch the other dogs. My puppies are often out most of the afternoon without breaking the 5 minute rule.

Regards, John

frodosmom · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 4:10 pm Post subject:

Hi John & Nigel....

When i take Frodo out he get OVER-EXCITED and just want to run...even if i pull him back with the leash....i always find him choking Sad

... the fear of collasped wind pipes is always at the back of my mind.....If i pull him hard he's choking...coughing...Breatheless Sad

....I just don't know what to do....I know he over exerts himself without realising....coz when we are back home he takes an hour to get his breathe to normal....

What do i do....i'm thinking of letting him a harness.....

Alos wud like to mention at home hez a complete angel....guess he burns off his energy when we are out Wink

Thanks in advance
Vidhya
Vidhya

frodosmom · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 4:24 am Post subject:

Hi penmic....

Frodo is being OVER EXERCISED.... I'm helpless coz he just wnats to RUN RUN RUN....even at home he's love to run...I cannot tie him up to stop his running....

I will get an Harness..... what they teach here is Heel, frodo will be learning this soon but sadly they use choke chain Sad

thanks to this forum i've said NO to choke chain.....but i do like the idea of Lead....will have to read more on Lead walks as i will have to train myself.....

Thanks for your advise Smile

Vidhya