Letting him off the lead.

[Stacia]

This may give you some idea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyseal_plate.

[Bernie]

Thanks Jelinga: that tells me there is something called an epiphyseal plate. So what?

[Judy]

Ultimately your dog is your responsibility and its up to you what you do with it, we can only tell you what we do with our own dogs and why, over the years, we have come to those conclusions. Have a google, there's loads of information out there, some of it it written by vets eg; http://pointseastwest.com/tag/exercising-puppies/ This site seems to give a balanced view and more info than can be gone into on a forum.

Final word of warning, increasing a pup's exercise won't make it quieter and easier to live with it will just make it fitter and more lively! Just thought I would throw that in as its a common theme amongst new dog owners on here. Fun training and brain exercise is as good if not better than straight physical exercise for pups. Little and often with both types.

[Bernie]

http://pointseastwest.com/tag/exercising-puppies/ This site seems to give a balanced view and more info than can be gone into on a forum.

He says "Research has shown that over exercising puppies leads to a number of disorders including hip dysplasia".

My understanding is that hip dysplasia has genetic origins: if a dog does not have the genetic predisposition for it, then exercise won't cause it.

I'd have more faith in what he says if he specified the research in question.

[Bernie]

Ultimately your dog is your responsibility and its up to you what you do with it, we can only tell you what we do with our own dogs and why, over the years, we have come to those conclusions.

So far I haven't heard any good reason why people come to those conclusions.

[Alice]

My understanding is that hip dysplasia has genetic origins: if a dog does not have the genetic predisposition for it, then exercise won't cause it.

sorry, but that's an over-simplification and not really true. There's a genetic element, but injury can and does play a part. Hence a dog with an injury to one side will end up with a much higher score on that hip.

Feel free to disregard anything we say, but experience leads us all to advise that you don't over-exercise your puppy. Whether over-exercise will be actively injurious to it might be debateable, but I'd rather err on the side of caution. An over-tired puppy is also not a particularly fun one to have around the place.

[Malfuss]

Thanks Jelinga: that tells me there is something called an epiphyseal plate. So what?

Do you have any scientific evidence to back up what you say about exercise damaging joints? I don't think there is any.

I see various vets quoted as saying there isn't any such evidence, so it will be interesting to see what if anything Vicky comes up with.

He says "Research has shown that over exercising puppies leads to a number of disorders including hip dysplasia".

My understanding is that hip dysplasia has genetic origins: if a dog does not have the genetic predisposition for it, then exercise won't cause it.

I'd have more faith in what he says if he specified the research in question.

You're a feisty old one aren't you. Personally, I would prefer to err on the side of caution rather than thinking I know better than everyone else. But, as Judy says, ultimately it's your dog and it's up to you what you do with it.

[Breezybrook]

Very interesting responses, thanks everybody.

Breezybrook: does that mean your pup didn't go into a town or near a road until it was 10 months old?

Yes, it does, in fact my dogs have never been into town we are fortunate not to have the need to go to such places, as we are rural and we just set off across the fields!

If your pup pulls on the lead on the way home you should be able to correct this with correct use and timing on the slip lead, but he is a bit young yet.
Don't forget that training at this age should be fun rather than strict lessons.

[Stihl 090]

some people you just cant help!!
do you let him jump in the car as well?

[Bernie]

You're a feisty old one aren't you. Personally, I would prefer to err on the side of caution rather than thinking I know better than everyone else.

I've never said I know better than everyone else, on the other hand I don't accept what I'm told unquestioningly. So when people say things that don't seem to add up, I ask for justification. "Everyone else" doesn't say the same things about exercise causing injury. As I said above, I have found vets saying that (moderate) exercise doesn't cause musculo-skeletal damage, and so far I haven't been shown any evidence that it does.

My dog's breeder told me that going up and down stairs would damage my puppy's joints. That didn't seem to add up, and I've found since that it is a widespread myth. See what I mean?