Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject: Exercising 5mth old pups
im just wondering how much exercise we really should be giving our pups. They are running around the back garden and they go out at least twice a day but concerned we may have over walked them.
I always thought the rule of thumb was 5 minutes of exercise like lead walking per month of their age. (please correct if i misunderstood)
So they can still be playing in the garden and not be eating into their exercise "quota" if you will.
Theory is that they can stop and rest as much as they want in the garden.
just be careful with ball throwing and games like that. try not to encourage them to jump, or twist too much.
I always thought the rule of thumb was 5 minutes of exercise like lead walking per month of their age. (please correct if i misunderstood)
That's about right. It's FORCED exercise where they can't stop if they want to, so it applies to off lead exercise as well, if they are having to keep going to keep up with you.
To be honest, if they are playing most of the time at home, I'd probably cut the exercise right down, as their joints will be taking a pounding just running around after each other.
Many people recommend the five minute "rule" (guide) which says five minutes of exercise per DAY, for each month of the dog's age. So at five months of age that would mean 25 minutes per day.
It is a guide and people interpret it differently. I used it for Minnie and stuck to it pretty closely. I included off lead exercise because she was always on the move and would cover more ground off-lead than on. I didn't include time at home playing in the garden, with our other dogs etc. though or she'd never have left the house!
I used it up to a year of age, as recommended. As she approached a year of age, I started increasing her exercise gradually until I was happy for her to be out for as long as we wanted.
Edit, sorry, started typing and wandered away from the computer before coming back and posting so apologies for any duplication
Thanks very much, yes they are playing around the garden but i take them out the back field which takes 10 - 15 mins and its a good fun aswell because grass high and they have a good play i aslo take them to the local shop and back in the evening... i may need to cut it back a little bit... but they are very active boys!
i may need to cut it back a little bit... but they are very active boys!
The more you exercise them, the more energy they will have to expend.
As puppies, they are still growing, and over-exercising can potentially cause serioius joint problems such Hip or Elbow Dysplasia
It could also mean the difference between for example, asymptomatic poor hips and full blown hip dysplasia.
Are the pups litter brothers? did you have experience of litter siblings prior to getting them? Are they ever apart?
It's a good idea for pups so close in age / litter mates to have time apart for training / exercise to avoid them bonding with each other to the exclusion of their 'human family'.
" i may need to cut it back a little bit... but they are very active boys! "
its boring and much said, but TRAINING individually tires the body and brain in ten mins way more than twice that running about free. Both need doing, but reduce the free running and do more individual training and making them concentrate for longer and longer periods and they will be knackered in no time
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
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