My first post: We will be getting an 8 week old GSD pup in late May. Have watched Leerburg pup 8wk to 8mo video, Monks of New Skete video and read 5 books. I'm having trouble finding guidelines about what constitutes exercise for puppies up to 12 months. I know that play time is exercise enough for an 8 week old. When can I start walking the pup around the neighborhood (on lead and away from other dogs)? Our pup comes from good hips/working lines, but I want to avoid hip and elbow issues at all costs. I know that "a tired pup is a well-behaved pup." Any help would be appreciated.
Stephanie St Julian Webboard User Reg: 10-16-2007
Posts: 801
Loc: Galveston, TX
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From what I have learned if the puppy wants to lay down and stop and rest. You should let it. That is what I do with my boy. I never force him to extercise. Like I may go on short walks but if he acts tired I pick him up and go home and put him in his kennel for a nap. After a little water break of course.
Now I dont have a GSD I have a chi and a 30 pound mutt.
BUt I think they same thing apllies for all breeds. At least I go by what I have learned. With my gang.
Pretty much dont push it to its limits like you might key word might do a older dog.
Let the puppy tell you when it is tired.
Now as far as how old you can start walks I have not made it that far with myne. But I will say phoenix has started getting long walks in the past few months due to her hiper ness going through the roof.
My chi or 10 weeks old can run around my porch one time and be done LOL.
Edited by (12/31/1969 06:00 PM)
Edit reason: To change information
Reg: 04-08-2008
Posts: 211
Loc: NE corner of Europe
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I am lucky enough to have a pineforest near sandy seaside about 10 minute drive away from my home. I love the hills that they run up and down from. I whouldn´t overdo it with pups and youngsters but I have concidered it safe for them. I defenately whould´t run the dog with a bike or do heavy jumping- by this I mean jumping high and/or alot. No force, just free moving (and I consider very long walks where the pup is forced to walk just not to be left alone despite the fact they whould rather rest, forced moving). I have heard labrador owners and breeders that they limit the dogs walks to 5 minutes per every month of age but I think that it is rather extreme.
I started out with short walks for my puppy, watching him. If he wanted to stop and rest I let him then took him home. But by 12 months he was going with me on my 30 minute daily walk. Walk, not run. I didn't start playing games with him where he' jump until he was 18 months old.
When he was a little guy we'd roll a ball for him to chase in the family room/kitchen area. When he was a little bigger we'd throw a ball for him in our fenced back yard. My clue that he had enough was when he'd get the ball and lay down with it.
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