Hi all - Me again! I've been looking all over this discussion forum for the answer to another question I have, and I couldn't find it, so here's another post!

My GSD just turned 1 year old and is about 75 pounds. I've heard that pups (I THINK he's still considered a "pup" at 1-year old!) shouldn't do long-distance jogging or high-impact jumping because of the potential damage to their hips, joints, etc. So my question is, when is an appropriate age for us to START? Right now we limit activity to short sessions of fetch in the backyard; obedience training; "find-it" games; and half-hour walks. He's very enthusiastic and high energy, and very healthy by all accounts. However, I would like to jog with my dog in the neighborhood or the woods, or go bicycling with him. Also, I think he'd be a great agility dog, and would like to get into jumping and other stuff like that too. So, what's the general common knowledge about age and endurance/high-impact exercise so as not to risk permanent damage to his joints?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Generally, from what I have seen and heard one year is the generic answer. If your dog was a giant breed, or large beyond the standard I would suggest 18 months.

I would lean towards 18months personally, but I would start imprinting the jumping machanics at a year with low jumps and not too much running. If you think about it, if you hold off on the stress you are going to still get years and years of an active dog, if you jump the gun on the stressfull activity then you will limit yourself to up to half the time of his life that he/she could be running/jumping.

My pup is 9 months old and we are doing very low jumps. Basically she is stepping over them just to learn the routine. Your vet can xray to see if the growth plates have closed but you should be pretty safe at 16-18 months. Not sure if Ed sells it but there is a great book by Christine Zink called Teach Your Dog To Soar that teaches all kinds of games and exercises to build your dog up to safe jumping.


Lisa

I am a little suprised by what is said here regards the jumping age of a Pup. Mine is 12 months Old and he jumps a 1m jump without any effort at all plus he goes over the angle Climbing frame again he has no trouble doing this, He will be eligable to go for his BH in a few months then ScHh1 the month after at about 16 months old, this will entail jumping a 1m jump and the Climbing Frame, I say go for this but he still has a bit to go on the Obedinece side, but if he improves enough with this he can have his chance at least with the BH test for a start
At the end of January 2008 he will be 14 months Old and i will get his hips and all the other leg bones Xrayed

Doesn't nurtering have an effect on the age a dogs' plates close up. Like if nuetered, tend towards the older side, and for intact dogs one could tend toward the younger side to start pushing the limits?

Ignorant, but willing to learn.
Randy

Altering causes the grown plates to stay open longer and most dogs will end up taller and lighter built that unaltered dogs. To what degree taller they get I'm not sure but a lot of males neutered young tend to look very bitchy.


Lisa

 Quote: lisa kidd

a lot of males neutered young tend to look very bitchy. Lisa

Bet they act pretty bitchy, too. Sorry, just the way that sounded made me laugh.

I did not know that a neutered Dog changed in anyway with its Bones Etc, to an entire Dog but its a good way to learn new things. I say 'Fred' Jumps a 1m high Jump and he can without a run at it, a couple of strides and he is over But he only Jumps over then Back not a prolonged jumping session, same with the Climbing Boards Over one way then back and thats it for the Training on those that day
He is coming on steady in his Tracking, still a little fast and wayward at times but did not start him until a couple of Months ago i was a bit late doing it.
As we say over here 'Steady away', and it will pay off in the end

Yeah Steve I just recently learned about the ramifications of nuetering and spaying at too young of an age myself. I'm still really bent out of shape with my last vet about it. And nuetering age is now one of the first questions I ask and judge any DVM on when I meet them. Wheather casually through the tracking club, the SchH club, or interviewing them for the job of caring for my animals. And from my, abiet informal, poll is that none have come clean with the facts unless confronted with direct questions about growth plates, final bone structure, disease studies of various types, mental developement, and what is best for the animal as a final decision. None.
For us dog owners that have no interest in breeding the up side to nuetering and spaying are numerous, but what is never passed along willingly is the age factor. Why I don't know, maybe its some kind of social engineering plot, and one of these days I aim to capture some disenfranchized DVM in a corner with a bottle of Jack Daniels and find out. But until I can come back with the full scope of the plot, you'll ask the questions directly to your vet, demand answers and then make an informed decision.
What started me on this rampage (if you will) against DVM's? It started for me on 10/02/07 on this very forum with an innocent sounding guestion from Jennifer Mullen about growth rating and nuetering. Check it out, it leads to more educated people then I talking about what happens to dogs and bitches that never get a full allotment of hormones.

Mad as hell and I ain't going to take it no more.
Randy

Edited by randy allen (11/25/2007 10:33 AM)
Edit reason: spellig