 How much exercise is to much?
#161433 - 11/06/2007 01:24 PM |
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Hello, MoJo is now 4 1/2 months old. I was watching the 8 week to 8 month puppy video yesterday (for the 3rd time) and Leeberg strongly stated not to over exercise a pup. Since MoJo is a pup and has lots of energy, I take her out 2 or 3 times a day. The 1st walk is in the am. I take her to the beach where she chases the ball, walks on the Granite Rock Out Croppings and digs in the sand. We usually leave from the house and walk back. The whole walk takes sometimes 2 hours. Is this to much???? I do bring her water and when she lies down in the sand I let her rest until she gets up. The 2nd walk in the after noon is usually 30 minutes but at a nice brisk pace. Is this to much? She also chases her tail A LOT, so im thinking maybe this is a way of expressing she needs more exercise?? (my 98 year old grandmother says she has worms, when she chases her tail :{ )
Any advice??????
Thanks Susan
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Susan Brandi Smith ]
#161435 - 11/06/2007 01:42 PM |
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IMO, 2 hours sounds like an awful lot for a pup that young. What kind of dog is Mojo? Sorry if I missed that...
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Jenni Williams ]
#161438 - 11/06/2007 01:50 PM |
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Mojo is a GSD.. Your dogs are beautiful...
Can you advise what would be appropriate??
My husband wanted to start jogging with her, but according to the video that has to wait until she is at least a year. She appears that she is very eager to jog/run.
Thanks for responding so quickly..
susan
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Susan Brandi Smith ]
#161440 - 11/06/2007 02:11 PM |
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I do not think it is too much. As long as there is rest time at the park if the dog wants it. I would be concerned if the dog wanted to lay down while you were walking to or from the park.
I was doing about 3- 45 min to 1 hr off leash walks when my dog was that age. (I was not working at the time!)I would walk slowly, let the dog explore at his own pace, zoom when he wanted too... If he had lay down on the walks or seemed at all low on energy I would have worried. He is a smaller breed than a GSD however, so consider the advice of the GSD owners as well (Like Jenni  ).
I would say no to running for a while yet. Let the dog run about in a self directed way, but it is still to early for the repetition of jogging, especially on hard surfaces.
The tail chasing thing is not from worms, and it sounds as though your dog is fairly well exercised. I think it is a neurotic behavior, best stopped before it gets serious. If you do a search on this site you will come up with some threads on tail chasing.
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Susan Brandi Smith ]
#161441 - 11/06/2007 02:12 PM |
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Since your puppy is out walking with you and able to play on the beach, which is "soft" ground. I do not think that 2 hours is too much as long as there are rest periods and as long as you are not making him jump onto and off of things.
Pups that are allowed to "do it themselves" pretty much can stabilize themselves when running around turning and things like that.
What I would not do is take the pup on walks or allow him to run and play on hard surfaces like concrete. This is hard on joints for even older dogs, but definitley too much for a growing pup.
I would not start jogging with him until he is much older.
Also....tail chasing can be a sign of needing more structured exercise and needing something to do. When does she chase her tail? Randomly? When she is overly stimulated or excited? During playtime?
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter |
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Carol Boche ]
#161442 - 11/06/2007 02:15 PM |
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Susan Brandi Smith ]
#161443 - 11/06/2007 02:18 PM |
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My husband wanted to start jogging with her, but according to the video that has to wait until she is at least a year. She appears that she is very eager to jog/run.
Hi Susan, MoJo is a real cutie, but:
No jogging, no jogging!!! I have no doubt that she LOOKS up for it, and would probably follow you for as long as she could, but serious exercise (running alongside a person or a bike, etc.) should wait until all her bones and joints are done growing. If she overexerts herself at this age, it could have lasting negative effects.
If she wants to run around in circles on the beach, by her own will, she's welcome to do that - she'll just stop when she's tired. But having her jog with you will put her in a situation where she may overdue it out of desire to please you (by following). Let her be a playful and energetic puppy, but let her burn off steam HER way until she's old enough for more structured exercise. On your 2 hour walks, do you give her chances to lay down and rest along the way, if she needs it? More short periods of activity throughout the day might be easier on her than one or 2 long ones... JMO
~Natalya
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Susan Brandi Smith ]
#161444 - 11/06/2007 02:19 PM |
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Jogging depends on how much. Let her chase a ball or something if she wants to jog. My uncle absolutely trashed his GSDs hips by running her as a pup; they will do anything to keep up w/you, and often, they don't act tired. I'd wait, but it's fine to let a puppy "self-limit" and wear themselves out. I think I may have misunderstood your previous post. You said the whole walk (including playing) takes about 2 hours...and I was picturing a hardcore, 2 hour walk on pavement, at an adult pace...not at all the same!
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Jenni Williams ]
#161447 - 11/06/2007 02:36 PM |
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Hi Thanks all. I sometimes cant sleep at night wondering if what I do with my pup is the right stuff. But asking questions and getting answers on this forum is absolutely the best. Our walks are from the house which is about 10 minutes to the park on the pavement. We just walk (no running, jumping etc). When we get to the beach I use the 24ft drag line and let her be free to do what she wants. I never make her climb the rocks, she does it her self and loves it. The last couple of days its been
quite warm here 78-80 degrees, so she gets warm on the sand. Thats why I believe she rest for a minute or 2 then ready to play. I just let her do what she wants out there to explore. She can rest when ever she wants.
David, thanks for the URL, good information. I ususally try to do the mental work in the am before our walks. Ill work on doing this more.
She seems to chase her tail when she is excited.
Thanks again for all your advice.
susan
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Re: How much exercise is to much?
[Re: Susan Brandi Smith ]
#161453 - 11/06/2007 02:59 PM |
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Our walks are from the house which is about 10 minutes to the park on the pavement. We just walk (no running, jumping etc). When we get to the beach I use the 24ft drag line and let her be free to do what she wants. I never make her climb the rocks, she does it her self and loves it. The last couple of days its been
quite warm here 78-80 degrees, so she gets warm on the sand. Thats why I believe she rest for a minute or 2 then ready to play. I just let her do what she wants out there to explore. She can rest when ever she wants.
susan
This sounds absolutely fine to me.
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