Quote:you could be setting him up for arthritis in future.

Well, I have yet to see a dog without DJD/arthritis, whatever when they are old. Officially, the growth plates are supposed to be closed at 9 months =/- a month or so.

As far as a mastiff goes, I didn't realize they even got off the couch. Is it possible to run a mastiff hard???? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

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Quote:you could be setting him up for arthritis in future.

Well, I have yet to see a dog without DJD/arthritis, whatever when they are old. Officially, the growth plates are supposed to be closed at 9 months =/- a month or so.

As far as a mastiff goes, I didn't realize they even got off the couch. Is it possible to run a mastiff hard???? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

hey jeff: <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> yourself.

i'll have you know my mastiff can and does run in deep snow for hours when we take him skiing. full gallop a lot of the time. he can't get enough of it. we're training him for skijoring this winter. we also take him on very long and demanding backpacking trips where he carries the heavy stuff, like a pack horse.

my last pack mastiff never developed arthritis after a long life of hard exercise. (he lived to be nearly 12). maybe if you always see arthritis, you are always running/jumping your dogs too hard too young?

i wouldn't run any large breed hard until they are at least a year old. preferably 18 mos. to be on the safe side. a friend of mine's aussie is crippled at the age of seven, probably because she took it biking and jogging as a pup. she regrets it now!

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where he carries the heavy stuff, like a pack horse

I'm sorry, but when I read that, I had a mental picture of him, well.., carrying a pack horse <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Some dog!!

lol, jan! i need to watch my sentence constructions. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

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different breeds complete their bone growth at different ages. i don't know what it is for mals.

Growth plates in a Malinois are closed sometime around 14-18 months. You can check by feeling for the growth plates on the ribs, and on the joints in the front legs.

So, maybe swimming could exercise the dog pretty well and not cause all the stress on the joints and bones. I am a runner ( not in comparison with these dogs though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> and I take a low impact exercise like swimming and throw it into my routine. I get a great workout, but don't have the shin splints the next day. Just a thought.

I have a dutch shepherd pup, similar to a mal I guess, never owned a mal <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> but people had warned me away from the breed since they are so driven, more so than anything I've ever owned or lived with before, but I took my chances n bit the bullet. I love my lil girl, she's so much fun, but I can fully understand the warnings I received now. She's coming up to 15 weeks old, she's tempremental, has temper tantrums when she can't have her way, never sits still unless she's in the crate with something to do in her crate, and she's only ever sat on my lap 3 times without biting crap outta my hands, n all 3 times were when she was exhausted from watching other dogs training on the training field n was asleep LOL but even when she's asleep, my hand has to be in her mouth at the least.

People ask me what breed she is, I try to play it down as much as possible, I've told some people "she's a mutt" simply because I don't care to explain anything about her to people. I see people around me get annoyed at a moderately low drive dog wanting attention or playtime... I'd hate to see how they would ruin a dog like a mal or a dutchie. I would NOT own this dog if I wasn't as dedicated to training as I am... if I didn't have anyone to help me train her, I wouldn't even attempt to have her, because even though she'd probably be fine with whatever I'd do with her, she'd be bouncing off the walls all day because she clearly needs an outlet.

Most people shouldn't own dogs... let alone a dog with high drives and destructive behaviors lol... these "anti-crate" people will learn a quick and dirty lesson that's for sure.

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.......I would NOT own this dog if I wasn't as dedicated to training as I am... if I didn't have anyone to help me train her, I wouldn't even attempt to have her, because even though she'd probably be fine with whatever I'd do with her, she'd be bouncing off the walls all day because she clearly needs an outlet......Most people shouldn't own dogs... let alone a dog with high drives and destructive behaviors lol... these "anti-crate" people will learn a quick and dirty lesson that's for sure.

And, *huge* point to remember: never choose a dog whose energy level is a lot higher than your own! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> There's no way I could do justice to your puppy..........at least, not without two or three constant helpers.