How far is too far when walking a 4month old pup??

[Bryn]

so is the 5 mins per month of age for the whole day or per 'walk'

[Anne]

I've always applied the 5 minutes per month to two walks per day. Size of dog is also important - a cocker will physically mature quicker than a labrador or a St Bernard! I was told by my vet that my working lab was OK to walk for 1-2 hours once he reached 10 months. With a breed labrador I'd wait until it was 14-16 months as they are so much heavier. However, you do need to take account of how much running around the pup does during the day too - if he's with an older dog or a young child and is galloping about all day that will do more harm than a 10 minute walk twice a day! If he's in a kennel then 15-20 minutes steady walking twice a day really shouldn't do any harm.

I use the exercise time to also do some bits of easy training: walking on lead, sit, watch, perhaps a down if it's not too muddy or wet! Exercising the brain of a pup tires them out better than lots of walking and you get a well behaved dog into the bargain! To socialise, I take my pups out to see the world go by which, if it's a nice warmish day, means a sit in the park or at the local shops watching all the activity and obviously having lots of fuss from passing joe public.

Anne

[Tarimoor]

The 5 min rule relates to forced lead exercise per day.

[Bryn]

Ah right, thanks for clearing that up. Don't plan to introduce a lead for another week at least and Bryn is very good at letting me know when he doesn't want to go for a walk

[Bruneval3]

Just my views on this, I personally think too much worry goes into all this, common sense applies here surely!

I have a 13 wk old Lab pup, she goes out with me on gentle walks for about 30 - 45 mins, most of this time is sat on a bench letting her see other people, dogs, bikes etc pass her. She is allowed plenty of time off lead to free play, sniffing all of these new smells, hearing birds, ducks etc.

At home she is in company with my 2 adult GSD's, plays in the house, garden etc and spends some time in the kennel.

I know of certain top GSD breeders who for the first year of a pups life confine them to a 4'x4 kennel, this is just purely to assist with hip and elbow scores! Is this fair? Most definitely for me no. Each to their own, but for me a pup should be allowed first and foremost be a pup, however common sense tells you when it's time for rest and undisturbed rest at that, JMO

[Tarimoor]

Forced lead walking is different to allowing your pup to stroll along and have a play, it's just that, forced, ie the pup has no option but to follow you. How often do you hear about families who get a pup, and expect it to walk to the school and back with them every morning and afternoon, and also end up with a dog that pulls on the lead because they haven't got time to dawdle about training a dog whilst walking the kids to school. My dogs all have hours of free play time each day, but I do stick to the guidelines in allowing a pup to play rather than stick a lead on it and drag it around for longer than necessary because I've got to get somewhere.

I don't know anyone who confines their dog(s) in an attempt to get low hip scores, I'm not sure it would do any good in any case, if they are genetically predisposed to HD I think in a lot of cases it is apparent at around the 6 month mark. And in any case, it's not just the hips to worry about, it's elbows, shoulders, pasterns, stifle etc, etc. You wouldn't stick a child on a treadmill to get fit, you'd encourage them to run around and play, it's the same principle

[Bryn]

I think you have to strike a balance, all young animals need play/exercise to developed bone, muscle and cardio, without putting undue strain on joints and/or sickening the pup.

Bryn is 9wks today and is now doing 2 'free' walks of 10-15 mins plus short runs in the garden as and when. Only put a collar on him today and don't plan on introducing the lead until around 12 weeksprobablyh ahve the lead on to and from house to riverbank, which should run nicely to his obedience training course which starts 28th Feb, when he'll be 14wks.

[mrsozzy]

My neighbour is currently doing a lot of research into getting a Labrador and one breeder has told her not to walk the puppy on hard surfaces for the 1st year and not let it jump in or out of a car so that it protects the joints.
She asked me my opinion and I said that personally I wouldn't be taking a pup on long walks but 'road' walking them does keep their claws down.
Our dogs get 2 walks a day, a shorter road walk in the morning before breakfast and a walk with a grass free running and play in the evening.
I did say to my friend that what is the difference in joint impact between walking on hard compacted grass/soil/clay or a tarmac or concrete road
I have suggested listening to breeders advice but take some of it with a pinch of salt.
I also said that she should trust your own instincts .
Any thoughts?

[trekmoor]

Who makes up all these facts and figures ?

Wullie

[romanriver]

Wullie, around here its breeders with known health problems, advice is don't let it off for 18 months etc etc, when pup develops a problem its either owners fault or too far down the line to refund.