Hello everyone! Thank you for all the previous answers to my questions, they have been helpful and reassuring. This noob here has another question about over exercising.

It's been said a lot that over-exercising a pup will result in bad hips, but what is over exercising exactly? The only descriptions I've seen are "your pup will tell you". So vague!

Similarly on leerburg: "New owners need to be very careful of over exercising a pup. This means no jogging until after the dog is 12 months old. This means not exercising to the point of exhaustion, or taking the pup for long long walks. Around the block is fine, a 2 mile walk is not fine."

What is jogging exactly? Is it when the pup is full-on running? Is it okay for the pup to trot along with you on a brisk walk? Is a 1 mile trot okay?

What is "exhaustion" in a pup exactly? Is it when it starts panting?

What about other exercises like chasing a flirt pole or playing with pups until it's tired? Isn't it the same?

How the heck do you tire a pup out if you don't have a swimming pool ? The marker training will only last a few minutes and it's not enough to get all the energy out. He gets bored with chewing and toys.

Do you basically just have a pup that is never walked-till-tired for the first year of its life? It's just easy living for the first year?

What if I already took it on one or two brisk 1 mile walks, will this damage the hips?

What sort of dog is this?

My English Shepherd pup, now 9 mos and 65 lbs, lanky and tall, is routinely going for 4 mile walk runs with my husband. The dog is unleashed, and my husband is slow, the dog is running thru the woods away and back.

My ACDx went for long runs as well. He showed some vague lameness around 5-10 mos.

Exercise builds muscle which helps to protect joints. Dogs need exercise to build muscle and bone. Without exercise the dog is in danger of jumping, bounding because he is so full of beans--in my view this is more dangerous than controlled walking and trotting. Frisbee is dangerous for a pup in my experience, especially an under-exercised heavy soft pup who might be a little on the chubby side.

I don't see anything wrong with a 1-2 mile long brisk walk unless the dog is already showing some
orthopedic problems. In fact I'd recommend it.

Others may disagree!

Hi Betty! Thank you for replying! This is a german shepherd pup. It's comforting to read your answer! I was afraid I had damaged his hips from a few sessions of exercise!

Your pup is only about 12wks. A mile is too much. Think more in terms of him exploring for a period of time, not how far you go.

The repetitive pounding on the joints from jogging is what you want to avoid till he's around 15-18 mos. That age always seems to get revised, they may be saying something slightly different now.

Climbing up is ok, jumping off is not. As a general idea, I try to only let them come down off of things like a single step, where they don't have to jump. They wil still sometimes jump, but I do what I can to avoid it.

In everythng when they're so young, I think more in terms of time then distance or even how much exact excercise they get at once. I quit while they are still interested. I don't do much on hard surfaces like concrete, except walk on it. The running around and playing is on grass.

DITTO on what Steve stated...at least for GSDs.

I don't do any running on treadmills or heavy running until 18 or so. No all out running retrieves etc. But I tend to be very conservative in those regards. Lots of walks (short ones) at the beach, the park, the woods etc where the ground is not hard. And lots general free time to explore for the pup.

The only pavement walking is in parking lots heading for stores to visit for socialization purposes.

Didn't realize your pup was such an infant.
BABIES don't go 2 miles!

Take Anne's advice re-beach, woods, parks. That sounds great to me, especially off leash. That way the pup can relax when he becomes tired, then blast off again when rested.

I use long lines (or leash) on young dogs until their recall is sold. Pups get to explore free in my fenced yard or elsewhere on a long line, with in my reach to step on the line if needed. Never loose in an open area. Didn't want to confuse anyone.

Also I usually wait until close to 2 years for hard work....because growth plates on GSDs don't close until around 2 years of age.