JulesP Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 So the latest advice is that you don't walk puppies. You socialise them and then let them free exercise. Whilst I agree with not going for massive long walks I can see the benefit of short (30 min) walks. My older dogs all got walked from 8 weeks of age. They are border collies and I knew I had to keep them active etc. Neither seemed to suffer from this. Brock my 2yo is a total couch potato and didn't need to be walked as a puppy (I'm on acreage btw). The latest addition is a different matter! She is a bit of a 'doing' dog. A day of not training her and I can notice it!! So who is walking their puppies?? I don't want to feel like a mean mum! Dog ownership used to be much easier in the old days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budyjelle Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 (edited) I have been walking my 11 week old puppy for one week....though by walking her, I guess I mean taking on lead out to the front garden and gradually progressing each day to 2 houses away then four houses away...Now we do 20 minutes (1000 human steps) each evening. In the morning, I usually have some activity planned...going in the car to visit someone..or have coffee down at the shops at an outdoor cafe...something to assist in her socialisation. She (Cocker Spaniel cross) is getting on quite well on the lead...she seems to get in the zone really quickly and trot along till distracted...LOL Edited January 20, 2008 by Budyjelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tess32 Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 When my pup has had his vaccinations I'll be taking him on a very short walk outside. By 4.5 months I think 15 minutes or so is fine and then I increase. Collies don't tend to have many joint problems though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceanaussi Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I did what I've been told with my first dog: "Don"t take her outside until she had ALL vaccinations" and "Don't walk a puppy." BIG mistake!!! It took me many months to get her to walk properly outside of the yard on the leash. I'm getting a Weimaraner puppy in 7 weeks and I certainly will walk him twice a day. Not sure how long, I'll observe the pup and decide then. Properly between 10 to 30 mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillybean Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I didn't take my puppy for any official walks till after she'd had all her vaccinations, which was at 16 weeks old. Before this though she was playing fetch with me at home, attending puppy school and having doggy play dates with some friends dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kayne's Mum Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 So the latest advice is that you don't walk puppies. You socialise them and then let them free exercise. Whilst I agree with not going for massive long walks I can see the benefit of short (30 min) walks. My older dogs all got walked from 8 weeks of age. They are border collies and I knew I had to keep them active etc. Neither seemed to suffer from this. Brock my 2yo is a total couch potato and didn't need to be walked as a puppy (I'm on acreage btw). The latest addition is a different matter! She is a bit of a 'doing' dog. A day of not training her and I can notice it!! So who is walking their puppies?? I don't want to feel like a mean mum! Dog ownership used to be much easier in the old days Interesting. I'd never heard that before. My poodle baby gives himself more excercise when he runs around like the devil is chasing him. LOL When we go for walks, it's just that, a walk. No running. Was this rumour started by one of those doggy carry bag designers. hand bag style a ralph lauren carry bag perhaps or should we invest in this, like, oooh, let's be like a real mummy. IMO. Load of crap. Give them a couple of years and they'll chane their tune, saying owners are been cruel by not allowing little pupy bones to develope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinGus Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I didn't walk my puppy until after all her vaccinations. But then I think I ruined everything by letting her run around a lot at dog parks and on dog friendly beaches!! I now take her for a 15-20min walk every day, or sometimes a run in the park. If she doesn't get a run in the park, she comes back and does zoomies in the front yard! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 I felt guilty half way around the walk and picked her up and carried her! That got lots of comments. It did work well though. A walk and a training session meant a nice sleepy puppy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 (edited) I felt guilty half way around the walk and picked her up and carried her! That got lots of comments. It did work well though. A walk and a training session meant a nice sleepy puppy LOL - so you're either a meanie who makes their puppy walk or a nutty dog lady who carries it :p There is so much confusing information out there, although mostly it comes down to common sense. I admit I was fairly cautious with Zig - carried him everywhere (plenty of car trips, socialising, outdoor cafe lunches, trips to the vet just for a cuddle/treat) until after all his vaccinations should have been active. Our first walk out the front gate was so scary for him - he was this super confident puppy until his paw crossed the starting line....I ended up doing 5 or 6 (1 minute!) adventures out the front gate with him every day until he started to relax. He was one of those puppies that was absolutely OTT when he was awake but needed a LOT of sleep to balance it out (still the same at 14 months). Even now, I use walks for learning rather than exercise per se....relaxed loose lead walking, learning when sniffing and leg lifting is allowed (park/laneway vs letterboxes/shop fronts), meeting (and ignoring) strange dogs tied up at the shops or barking madly behind fences, being calm when meeting kids/adults etc. 10-15 minutes of this is hard work (for both of us ) and he usually passes out when we arrive home. I prefer to take him to the beach early in the morning for a free run to burn up that excess energy. Ziggy is an inside dog nearly exclusively - our yard is quite small and not at all suited to zoomies :D ETA: If I had the chance I wouldn't change a thing....Zig is super confident and nothing much phases him....loves dogs (a little too much but I'm working on that), people and activity and is more than comfortable with novelty and loud nosies (fireworks, thunder). Edited January 21, 2008 by The Spotted Devil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odette Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 We started taking Odette for walks pretty much straight away, for the first month or so, and then were told to keep her at home until she had finished all of her vaccinations. Luckily, the vet tood us they hadn't seen parvo in our area for over 7 years, so it was all ok. She had been going to puppy pre-school, and playing with friendly family dogs. She had her last shots at the end of december, so mid january we started walking her again, she was about 4 1/2 months old. I take her everywhere with me now, she LOVES it. Why wouldnt you walk a puppy that has been fully vaccinated? I don't understand the reasoning...????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 We started taking Odette for walks pretty much straight away, for the first month or so, and then were told to keep her at home until she had finished all of her vaccinations. Luckily, the vet tood us they hadn't seen parvo in our area for over 7 years, so it was all ok. She had been going to puppy pre-school, and playing with friendly family dogs. She had her last shots at the end of december, so mid january we started walking her again, she was about 4 1/2 months old.I take her everywhere with me now, she LOVES it. Why wouldnt you walk a puppy that has been fully vaccinated? I don't understand the reasoning...????? Because if you, as the owner are dictating pace and duration of walk, it's very easy to over do it and damage growing bones and ligaments, particularly if you do it on concrete paths. I shudder every time I see a young pup being dragged along struggling to keep up with its owners pace. Lucien's Mum: IMO. Load of crap. Give them a couple of years and they'll chane their tune, saying owners are been cruel by not allowing little pupy bones to develope. It's developing bones that are the reason for the caution. Having seen the damage that can be done by over exercising a pup, I support such caution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkyTansy Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I take the weim baby out for 10 minutes, at the most... at least once a day but sometimes twice... 5 minutes of that is off lead on grass where we practise recalls etc. She is a very active pup, and without at least one walk, she has a second wind at 11pm which not only tires me out, but exhausts all the already settled dogs too... I have no problem walking a young pup, but short walks only! It is annoying to see a new large breed puppy in the neighbourhood being taken daily for long walks, or running after the kids on bikes etc... those owners are sometimes the same type that walk the dog until the novelty wears off that they are no longer cute and cuddly and not worth showing off, and they just stay in the back yard... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odette Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Because if you, as the owner are dictating pace and duration of walk, it's very easy to over do it and damage growing bones and ligaments, particularly if you do it on concrete paths. I shudder every time I see a young pup being dragged along struggling to keep up with its owners pace. Ahh, i see... Odette DEFINATELY dictates the pace I was using an extendable lead to being with, but she tugs so hard on it, ive gotten her a much stronger lead, and she is only a little dog!!! When she was very little, if we did see her slowing, we would carry her the rest of the way, never made her walk if she didnt want to.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Because if you, as the owner are dictating pace and duration of walk, it's very easy to over do it and damage growing bones and ligaments, particularly if you do it on concrete paths. I shudder every time I see a young pup being dragged along struggling to keep up with its owners pace. Ahh, i see... Odette DEFINATELY dictates the pace I was using an extendable lead to being with, but she tugs so hard on it, ive gotten her a much stronger lead, and she is only a little dog!!! When she was very little, if we did see her slowing, we would carry her the rest of the way, never made her walk if she didnt want to.... Odette, teach your pup to walk on a loose lead or you'll be regretting it for the next 15 years.. Extendable leads teach dogs to pull - that's the only way they extend. That's why I usually don't recommend them to people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odette Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Because if you, as the owner are dictating pace and duration of walk, it's very easy to over do it and damage growing bones and ligaments, particularly if you do it on concrete paths. I shudder every time I see a young pup being dragged along struggling to keep up with its owners pace. Ahh, i see... Odette DEFINATELY dictates the pace I was using an extendable lead to being with, but she tugs so hard on it, ive gotten her a much stronger lead, and she is only a little dog!!! When she was very little, if we did see her slowing, we would carry her the rest of the way, never made her walk if she didnt want to.... Odette, teach your pup to walk on a loose lead or you'll be regretting it for the next 15 years.. Extendable leads teach dogs to pull - that's the only way they extend. That's why I usually don't recommend them to people. Yeah we've got a standard lead now, i just bought it on the weekend.. My partner is really keen to teach her to heel (i personally dont mind if she pulls ) so we'll be trying to teach her that soon. We used the extendable to teach her recall mostly, and thats worked a treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 I had someone in my puppy class that was going on 20km bike rides with their 4 month old puppy! I thought that was a bit much to say the least. Poppy is fully vaccinated and has been going to puppy school since 8 weeks. She really enjoys hanging out with me. We had a nice adventure yesterday, went to petstock, the walk and then on a bit of a drive. She was very good. The walk was a bit too long that was why I picked her up! I'll reduce it next time. She is getting rather heavy to be carrying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 JulesP: She really enjoys hanging out with me. I think you've just hit the nail on the head! I just take my pup everywhere I can (within reason) - provides them with all the socialisation they need plus it tires them out mentally. One other thing I found with my pup is that he had no idea when he'd had enough.....would run and play all day if given the opportunity, getting more hyper and silly as he progressed. I'd see puppies his age sleeping peacefully under their owner's feet while he was bouncing around like a loon.....he just couldn't pace himself or relax! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nillasdad Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I can't see anything wrong with a walk around a block for a pup once the vacc are done. Helps build up a bit of mussle mass and gives extra stimulation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 Poppy definately has an off switch so that is good. I took to a show the other week and she spent most of the day laying watching quietly or asleep. I had to pick up and carry her back to the car and she didn't even open her eyes. Was pretty funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I took my puppy for walks from the day I got him. Not far, not fast and not for long but it got him used to traffic going past, other people, walking on different surfaces and being on a lead. He also got a short training session each day, either inside or in the front yard. Now at 10 months of age, I can (and do) take him just about anywhere dogs are allowed. Yesterday I took him into the Melbourne CBD (a first for my country lad) and he simply took everything in his stride. His behaviour was exemplary and nothing fazed him at all. He even sat under the table (outdoors) throughout a 2 hour lunch in Carlton while I caught up with some friends. He's so used to being with me that he just settled himself down, secure in the knowledge that I wouldn't go anywhere without him and wouldn't let anyone step on him, and snoozed for most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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