Big Dog Pup Exercise

[Akitaowner]

just wondering what the views are on walking big dog pups - ive been told they dont need daily walking until theyre at least a year due to to much stress on the joints can cause problems later but our yard isnt huge and i like taking him out and about he seems to be enjoying it and socialising well, and want to get some muscle tone for showing but i dont want to be causing damage??

thoughts?

Sorry - This might be better in general discussion???

Edited August 31, 2004 by Akitaowner

[poodlefan]

Hi Akitaowner.

Your question came up during this thread. http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=13380

My view is no onlead exercise until the pup has reached its full height (not the same as fully developed) for you that would probably be close to 12 months.

This is not the same as no exercise outside the yard - with an Akita its important to get them out and about anyway. Whereever possible, exercise them off lead in safe places so that they (and not you) dictate how much they do.

Short onlead walks are fine - you really want to avoid during lots of km's on concrete with growing bones.

[Ci]

I think short walks (20 mins) and supverised play is fine but keep it gentle til they are about 12 months old.

Training is also good because making a pup sit three times is just as exhausting to them as a walk.

15 mins of training and some play and 20 walk a day, lots of getting out and about socializing with humans as well as dogs - you will be fine!

Edited August 31, 2004 by Ci

[gusgem]

As an owner of three large breed dogs, I think exercise is of utmost importance, if nothing but to socialise them. If you can try to go o an off lead park, where he can tell you how much is enough. This will also stimulate him so that he doesn't become bored and destructive. I don't have a problem with on lead walks, depending how old the pup is....I wouldn't be walking a 12weeker out and about....I think it is ok once they are about 6 months and have some muscle tone. If you are worried about straining his joints, think more about his weight....I was once " told keep them skinnny but keep them growing", this way there will be no extra strain on his bones...I have had great success doing this with my labs, whereas some people have fat pups and hip/elbow probs!

Best of luck, hope he goes well in the show ring!

[Vijitha]

Exercise is important to ALL dogs, unless there is some physical problem of course.

We own a Malamute, we had him from 8.5 weeks old. He is now 2 years and 8 months. I started to walk him at 14 weeks (had to wait for the second injection). About a walk around the block I started with. And gradually increase. It depends on the dog. Some dogs at a young age have a lot of energy. We socialised him from a young age, in the parks or in puppy school. Your dog will show you when he is tired.

How old is your pup?

[Dogsfevr]

yes a dog will show when its tired but it needs to be at home not half way through a walk.

I have setters which are a large breed,they free run alot but i do walk from 12 weeks.

I will go half way down the street & back for quite a while then at 6 months to the end of the street & back & then after that as far as i feel the dog can go without stress or over doing it.

The problem is pups will go the distance we will but it doesnt mean its good for them.

I believe the socializing is important & i also believe the short walks encourage co ordination skills for clumsy pups, as to muscle tone that will develop with the age of the pup & built up carefully.

Just use commonsense

[Sagittarian]

Exercise - or exercise?

Meaning, there are different levels. Socialisation is highly important. So is basic muscle toning.

As a breeder of Saints for more than 25 years, I find that a little formal work is good, along with lots of social contact and normal puppy playtime. I don't road work until after 12 months or even later for a large male.

poodlefan is spot on. Once their almost max height is reached, then we start to walk more. Until then, even shows are restricted to a bit of a walk to make friends, and the actual showing. I hate seeing little pups (well, little to me) dragged around and around a showground when they are obviously struggling.

We are lucky to have almost 5 acres, of which about 1/2 acre is open to the dogs daily. As pups they get to explore and work as much or little as they want.

Good luck with your baby!

[fifi]

Hi there Akitaowner, fifi here, also a breeder of very big doggies, as has already been said, keep them on the leaner side, dont overdo red meat or supplements IE: calcium ect.

we just have backyard play, but the puppies dont do playtime with adults, until they are a year old, they socialise and sleep together, but have pup only playtime, as those fast turns and rough adult games can demolish growth plates.

we also take them out for socialising, car rides and very short toddles up the road for lead training, and to the occasional show, but wait until at least 12 months- and later for big males before we start to build up to paddock gallops and long walks.

when I do reading on the history of the hunting hounds & other hunting breeds, I often read about ancient hunting practises, one of wich was that the bigger dogs were never taken on the hunt until after their 2nd year, but were often taken on lead only after one year to aquaint them with the smells & exitement.

a little restraint & caution in that first year, will reward you with soundness later, pups will usually run around a yard enough to build muscle & ligament strength.

fifi

[Mel774]

What about training? Like a 45min session of dog training... that involves a fair bit of walking. Is this going to be putting stress or is this ok because it's on grass and not constant walking??

[fifi]

Hi Mel, personally, I think a session that long is too long for a pup, I dont think a young giant breed has the mental maturity or the physical stamina.

when I used to take my young one's to training, I'd swap dogs over a few times during the lesson, we had a good trainer who did not do long sessions with young dogs, and didnt mind if you swapped them about.

I did find that under six months in a wolfie pup was difficult in a standard puppy/novice class, as the sharp turns and constant sits are very straining to gawky giant babies. we just do some basic training at home now, and rely on general outings, shows and visits for socialisation.

we could never keep up with the little guys! and we always got a laugh as they were half way down the park while my big boofy boy was just collecting all his limbs and starting to walk!!!

fifi

[Mel774]

hmm.....

The puppy school classes go for 45mins, but it involves mostly socialisation at the beginning and end, and not much walking because it's all done in a pen.

The jouvenile classes are 45mins and there are large breed dogs there (like a little growing german shepherd) that are quite young. Maybe I should discuss this with the owner and with the teacher (I watch the puppies and jouveniles every week as part of my training). The classes are not all walking and there is a lot of completing an activity one at a time.. but I don't want to put stress on my pup. Also I'm doing the delta course next year and want to take my dog who will be about 6 months old then but now I'm worried that he may be too young (I wanted to get him much earlier but unfortuantely we had a long wait to get approval, make sure I had the means to care for him, and then find a litter). I don't know how much work we go through with the dogs during the course, but I know theres a few deltas here that I could ask.

Edit to say: My pup is not a giant breed, but still a large breed suseptible to hip and elbow issues (Golden retriever)

Edited August 31, 2004 by Mel774

[Greytmate]

A little bit of swimming will help build up muscle tone without putting stress on the bones. But I wouldn't go for more than 5 minutes or so at a time.

Mel, don't worry too much about your puppy classes. Most puppy classes are structured to allow for plenty of rest between exersizes. While classes do go for around 45 minutes, a lot of the time is spent talking and socialising. If a puppy is looking too tired in one of my classes, I will ask the handler to allow the dog to rest. When training at home, puppies only need 5 minute training sessions. Discuss the issue with the instructors at your school to see what they have to say about it. As you are learning to instruct, it is topics like this that you will find interesting and helpful.

When you enrol in the Delta course, let them know the age of your puppy.

Whether or not the dog, or the breed of dog is prone to hip or elbow problems, the guidelines for not over exersizing still apply. All dogs have growth plates that can be damaged, and the larger the breed, the longer it takes for the bones to fully form.

[Akitaowner]

thats all sounds pretty straight forward - my pups 6 months for those who wanted to know and i have great problems at training when there are little border collies in his class that spend the whole hr watching their owner to see what they want them to do next - whereas my boy gets really bored and goes sniffing and investigating he cant concentrate for long unless hes the centre of attention!!! and with the temp warming up i have to be pretty careful he doesnt overheat as well with the romping and running around.

i mainly asked about the (lead) walking yes i can tell if hes getting tired but as it was pointed out before he will try his hardest to keep me happy and im still walking.... also its not like hes a little pup that i can just pick up and carry!! hes over 30kg now!! he doesnt seem to fat?? but then i dont want to underfeed him how do u know its enough? he doesnt always eat all his food so i remove it

anyway thanks all those that replied!! :pant:

[Ci]

It is not a question of under feeding him, it is a question of keeping him on the lean side rather than the heavier side.

If he doesn't want to eat then don't make him. A dog will not starve itself.

Big dogs bodies are under alot of stress growing and developing and if his soft bones have to grow while they are carrying a heavy weight it can cause damage.

The damage that occurs in pup as they grow oftern doesn't show up til they are older and one minute you have a healthy dog, the next at four or five they have problems.

It is more about being sensible and on the safe side and remembering and treating your puppy as a puppy not as an adult dog.

They are babies and they get tired and they will keeping going and get over tired if we as their guardians don't watch over them.

I find with a training that it is better to do an exerise (ie sit or drop) two or three times when the puppy does it correctly and is enjoying it then leaving the pup alone than repeating it over and over again til the dog loses interest and is bored and then hates doing it and plays up more next times.

Puppy class is more about socialization and the basic training to get you pup started.

Edited August 31, 2004 by Ci

[Mel774]

You're right greytmate, it's all very interesting and helpful! I am learning so much about dogs everyday through this forum, it's fantastic. Things I would have never known. I'm so glad I have been here for a few months before getting my pup, I feel more confident that I will be raising him the right way.

I'm looking forward to learning things like canine first aid etc as part of my course. I think it's so important for instructers to know more than just how to teach a dog, because most owners come to training for help and advice on how to raise their happy, well behaved dog.

Thanks everyone who has given me such valuable information

[Axel]

he doesnt seem to fat?? but then i dont want to underfeed him how do u know its enough? he doesnt always eat all his food so i remove it

Hey guys.. i am no expert but from the advise i have gotten off my vet etc.. about feeding my 6 month old GSD is that you will know when he is getting the right amount of food when 1. he sniffs around and looks for more when hes finished eating. 2. he maintaines a healthy/leaner weight and 3. he is happy and bouncy, willing to learn (makes it easier to use treats if you like to train)...

so maybe it would be an idea to lessen the servings of food you give your Akita? if the puppy is telling you when it has had enough and not the other way around then perhaps you are feeding a bit too much??

I dont know like i said i am no expert, maybe someone who knows a bit more on what they are talking about could shed some more light? id be interested to know a bit more on this as well?

because really, how DO you know how much to feed a puppy?? Like i said above, i feed my pup based on those 3 points, and have never had a prob with weight or condition..

[Guest pawsonpaths]

Hi,

As a dog walker on Sydneys North Shore - I recommend to all my clients ... that balance is key.

If you walk your dog on the streets and take him or her to off lead parks, make sure they have short time of both.

I mean, really it all comes down to development of the bones and muscles. Right? So, if you dog is un-healthy this is going to be majorly distorted. And if a dog isn't receiving it's daily walk or park visit? Is it really a healthy dog? It needs the stimulation, along with the vitamin e from the sun and so much more. It needs these things to develop in the first place!

I think more harm can be done, not letting a pup (big or small) socialise and excercise, on a regular basis. Just be mindfull not to over do it. Enjoy your dog now. A hip problem is one of millions that can bring your pet to it's fate. I know this sounds depressing, but I am with dogs all day every day .... and you can only protect them from a hand full of things. And the reality is, there are hundreds more, that can get the better of them!

Beccy

PAWS ON PATHS

"Your pets bestfriend"

[email protected]

[Clyde]

Hi,

As a dog walker on Sydneys North Shore - I recommend to all my clients ...

Thread hijack

What areas do you do? Terrey Hills?

[aatainc]

Sorry pawsonpaths, I disagree. I think you can do a lot more harm by walking a young pup than by restricting its exercise.

I think the amount of walking showdogs described is great. Less would be fine if you were able to do lead training and walking around the yard a little bit.