Gundog Training Forum

Hi; Ive been walking my lab pup a couple times a day which will be roughly 3/4 a mile each time (before work and at night, each time after he`s been fed). I was told Im walking him too far for his age and just to let him run around the garden as his joints will suffer in the long run?? I told the guy he was talking bollocks but have since had someone else tell me more or less the same. Hes a big pup for his age and enjoys the exercise but would welcome your thoughts as I obviously dont want to be doing any harm. Ive only had him a few weeks so not as though Ive been doing it from birth!
Thanks in advance

3/4 mile daily is not going to do him any harm. However at birth it must have been difficult.

At that age - a 5 minute dander 2 or 3 times a day is fine - suppose that would be 3/4 of a mile.
My post is for your statement "each time after he`s been fed"
Watch he does not get twisted gut walking him after he has been fed..... I am no expert, but I was always told walking/exercise/play wait 1/2 an hour or so and then feed.

*****Wonder does that apply to me, I take the dogs out after my dinner........******

Thanks for that; hadnt realised.

craigavonjoe wrote:At that age - a 5 minute dander 2 or 3 times a day is fine - suppose that would be 3/4 of a mile.
My post is for your statement "each time after he`s been fed"
Watch he does not get twisted gut walking him after he has been fed..... I am no expert, but I was always told walking/exercise/play wait 1/2 an hour or so and then feed.

*****Wonder does that apply to me, I take the dogs out after my dinner........******

Do you burp and fluff a lot?

Recommended for Labs is to feed an hour after exercise or two hours before. Exercise roughly 5 minutes per month of age so four months equates to around 20 minutes or 3/4 of a mile ambling along. My gut feeling would be to exercise in small doses when the dog is growing fast so as not to put stress on the joints, unproven though! I suppose it also depends on what kind of exercise you give the pup, a neighbour of mine took her GSD for shortish walks when it was a pup but threw things continuously for it so putting enormous stress on a youngster's joints. Not good in my not so humble opinion.

I use to go across the road to the field, and let him scamper out playing fetch etc, not for long but he wasnt forced to walk anywhere, i found 15 minutes of playing was enough, although im sure if i kept going he would of, sounds random, but we come up with rules for dogs and puppies etc, but not toddlers? and babies?

Just been learning heal work on the way out and letting him off the lead and sniff about and play on the way home. I live in the middle of no where up a single road so no issues with traffic. I appreciate the feeding advice and will put that in place from tonight- might even help with getting him to go back into his shed!

andyshaw wrote:I use to go across the road to the field, and let him scamper out playing fetch etc, not for long but he wasnt forced to walk anywhere, i found 15 minutes of playing was enough, although im sure if i kept going he would of, sounds random, but we come up with rules for dogs and puppies etc, but not toddlers? and babies?

Maybe because toddlers and babies whinge a lot when tired but puppies generally keep going until they drop? Tiny pups will sit but the slightly older ones just carry on because they want to be with you and are enjoying themselves too much to stop.
It's OK to go further occasionally but routinely over doing the exercise is probably not too good for them.

Judy wrote:

andyshaw wrote:I use to go across the road to the field, and let him scamper out playing fetch etc, not for long but he wasnt forced to walk anywhere, i found 15 minutes of playing was enough, although im sure if i kept going he would of, sounds random, but we come up with rules for dogs and puppies etc, but not toddlers? and babies?

Maybe because toddlers and babies whinge a lot when tired but puppies generally keep going until they drop? Tiny pups will sit but the slightly older ones just carry on because they want to be with you and are enjoying themselves too much to stop.
It's OK to go further occasionally but routinely over doing the exercise is probably not too good for them.

You havnt met my toddler then ...... he gets faster and fitter when tired, im sure he does backflips in his cot when he goes to bed! I guess at the end of the day, you can do all that your 'meant' to and still have a dog with joint problems, and you could do everything your not 'meant' to and have a dog thats fine! I think its impossible to do exactly right all the time, but a balance is nice i was trying to stop mylo jumping small fences and climbing of tress etc, then back at the house as soon as you turn your back he was jumping from sofa to sofa! I gave up in the end trying too hard, i think even puppies will hold some abillity to not go to far when playing, i think out on a lead walk is different though, as they have no option but to trudge along

I've heard 5 mins for every month old they are, up until 6 months. So a 4 month old pup would be 20 mins. Personally I find that kinda tough... If I'm going for a walk, I like it to be substantial lol. I think they size of your pup probably plays a factor.