Elfin Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 We are looking to pick you clever people's brain's again... Our Deerhound pup is now 5 months old. We are struggling to restrict exercise as she seems to have endless amounts of energy, but are paranoid about damaging her growth plates. If we let her run (like a crazy psycho dog) around at the park with our two older dogs until she flops (about 20-25 minutes), she is happy, but we worry that she is doing more exercise than she should be. If we take her on gentle quiet walks with gentle off-lead runs, she gets home and goes mental around the loungeroom (and I mean MENTAL. She can jump from one couch to another, clearing the coffee table in between at very high speed!). We are doing lots of "thinking" work with her as well, to tire her mentally, but she just wants to run. (And do amazing circle work!) Any suggestions, or are we being paranoid parents? Thank you in advance for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lappiemum Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Try fnding something that will be more of a mental stimulation; zoomies are good fun but physical exercise is only part of it - have you looked at some of the interactive toys? Play with other pups (med - large!) is also good; it also teaches puppy socialisation and is mentally stimulating. Let us know how you go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all that glitters Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Oh I see loungeroom zoomies every night!! It's crazy lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I would not be too worried Elfin. I have a giant breed puppy too and brain has not quite caught up to physical size yet. A romp in the park is good exercise - the time is about what I would do too - it also gets the dog using different muscles than in a usual walk. It is not 'forced' exercise. You should be the one who calls a stop to it (you control the play) as they will just keep going. If they are getting too excited/ wound up then there is nothing wrong with putting them on lead for a short time out to calm down again before resuming play. Zoomies are zoomies. Boo will frequently do them after exercising when we get back into the house. I rearranged my lounge as he was leaping over the couch. They are going to happen so just have their circuit clear! If you are doing on lead walks - use them as a training session - heels, stop/sits, stop/stays etc - practice what you learn in obedience class if you go. It is extended 'forced' exercise such as running a giant breed pup for kms on a road every day which will cause the long term issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 never allow zoomies in the house - that is one thing I NEVER let my dogs do. Play is outside, quiet is inside. You risk the dog injuring itself severely if its rushing up on furniture or smashing something. zoomies are outside, pups will limit themselves. The trick is more not long marching on hard surfaces, up/down stairs or jumping on/off things like couches, in/out cars etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Just be careful when she's playing with the others that she doesn't push herself too hard. My young Borzoi bitch has been a terror for it, and has thrown her back, shoulders and pelvis out several times by her first birthday. This has then caused her pain and movement restrictions until we found a really good vet chiropractor for her. They can have drive to run, and muscular power that is too great for their skeletal development. Maybe try structured walking, on a lead, including some jogging. This can have the added effect of being a little more mentally draining than free running. So they get more tired without pushing their growing bodies to the limits. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Wow - inside zoomies with something that size. No thanks :D I won't even let the little people (13-15kg fully grown) do indoor zoomies, let alone a Deerhound! Is it possible to give her shorter but more frequent exercise and training so she doesn't have all that pent up energy to let out in? Then again, zoomies are not necessarily about exercise, at our house it's more about the sheer joy of the moment (dinner time LOL) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 (edited) Wow! So many replies in such a short time... thank you all! I feel a bit better after reading your responses. We do several short training sessions with her each day to tire her mentally, as well as "interactive" toys such as a Kong filled with frozen goodies. We try to stop the loungeroom zoomies, as they are not only destructive, but we also worry about her hurting herself as she jumps around (up and down off couch, sliding into the walls etc.) This was our concern, that we were giving her too much exercise at the park with the other dogs, but after reading the responses here, it might NOT be too much. When we were restricting her exercise is when loungeroom zoomies occur. Nattylou; we are worried that she pushes herself too hard when playing with the older two, so when she starts to slow down, we put her back on lead and take he home. And you are spot on with her "throwing things out". I took her to our chiro when the older two went, and she was "out" in her neck and hip... once again, this leads us back to the dilemma... park zoomies, or loungeroom zoomies? It seems limited zoomies at the park may be the lesser of two evils? We go to puppy classes (show classes) and she plays with the other dogs there, but can be very rough. It is difficult to find a pup of a similar age and size that will provide more "appropriate" playtime. Thank you all sincerely for your help. Edited June 3, 2009 by Elfin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Nattylou; we are worried that she pushes herself too hard when playing with the older two, so when she starts to slow down, we put her back on lead and take he home. And you are spot on with her "throwing things out". I took her to our chiro when the older two went, and she was "out" in her neck and hip... once again, this leads us back to the dilemma... park zoomies, or loungeroom zoomies? It seems limited zoomies at the park may be the lesser of two evils? It's hard isn't it, when they just love running so much! I hate trying to restrict my girl too much, she just gets sad. You pup is probably better off without the sharp turns and jumping impacts of the inside zoomies, the park play sounds like the go! I'm glad you've got a good Chiro - they're gold! I do wish you had a video of the inside zoomies though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 I do wish you had a video of the inside zoomies though.... Inside zoomies are actually quite frightening, especially when you combine one 45kg Deerhound dog , one 30kg Deerhound grumpy bitch, one 22kg Deerhound pup(that has not grown a brain yet), one 8kg angry cat, and a small 2 bedroom flat with polished floorboards. Terrifying, infact. Luckily, the rest of the crew rarely join in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkycat Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Deerhounds are my favourite Our deerhound did "figure of 8" zoomies around the garden with our shephard X and they managed to push the side fence over. Photos pleeeese -or have you posted some in another thread ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 I can post photos of calm deeries or park-zoomie deeries, but loungroom-zoomie deeries are not photographed as I am too busy yelling/moving furninture/holding paintings on the wall/trying to stop carnage. I haven't posted photos before as I am a classic technophobe and am yet to learn how to. I shall do my best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poodle wrangler Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 My vet reckons backyard/ loungroom zoomies cause more injuries than on-leash exercise e.g. walks. Also, that more dogs are born with structural problems (e.g. hip dysplasia) than are made that way by "overexercise". That said, use common sense- a problem avoided is best! Training and bones for chewing are good energy burners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 I can't win.....my Dally comes home from an hour's run at the beach and THEN has an attack of the lounge room zoomies In a very small house, I just concentrate on getting the cats out of the way in time for the madness!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Hi Elfin, we don't allow zoomies in the house because of injury risk, and also we like to teach the wolfies that inside is for quiet behaviour, otherwise it could be chaos !! I like the older pups to build muscle by galloping, but not with other dogs who could knock into them. the younger dogs are allowed supervised time with an older dog, but no wild stuff until over a year old. I've made the usual mistakes in the past with my first wolfies by over lead walking, crashing / growth plate inuries with rough play (luckily nothing requiring surgery or permanent) and now have learned my lessons :-)) fifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I like the older pups to build muscle by galloping, but not with other dogs who could knock into them. the younger dogs are allowed supervised time with an older dog, but no wild stuff until over a year old. Thats how we do it here. Lack of muscle on large pups can be just as harmful. This doesnt mean over the top exercise but they need to use there muscles to gain strength to hold that frame up. Common sense is so easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I can't win.....my Dally comes home from an hour's run at the beach and THEN has an attack of the lounge room zoomies :D In a very small house, I just concentrate on getting the cats out of the way in time for the madness!!! Tell me about it! We can come back from a BIG walk which means instant sleep on the trip home - come home and he has to zoom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Hi Elfin, we don't allow zoomies in the house because of injury risk, and also we like to teach the wolfies that inside is for quiet behaviour, otherwise it could be chaos !!I like the older pups to build muscle by galloping, but not with other dogs who could knock into them. the younger dogs are allowed supervised time with an older dog, but no wild stuff until over a year old. I've made the usual mistakes in the past with my first wolfies by over lead walking, crashing / growth plate inuries with rough play (luckily nothing requiring surgery or permanent) and now have learned my lessons :-)) fifi Hi fifi We definately try to stop her running around inside, but we were worried that we were doing too much exercise with her at the park (ie. galloping). We let her run around for 20-25 minutes (she goes berserk; loads of "circle work"), and even then, when she gets home she goes mental around the house. We put her in her crate but still sometimes throws herself around in there. We do lots of short training sessions to mentally exhaust her and she gets a lamb flap and stuffed Kong every day to chew on. She just never stops, and at times I am nearly in tears trying to stop her from doing stupid stuff as I am so paranoid about her growth plates. She went to the chiro yesterday and he said to back off the exercise, so I am feeling guilty that we are doing too much with her. Thank you for all your replies, we really appreciate the time you have taken to help us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaKoda Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 I love zoomies.. I have 2 great danes but fortunately they dont do them inside, as other have said playtime is outside & inside is quite time. The most action I let happen inside is a roll around on the mat chewing on each others ears & jowls etc. Ours are the same after a trip to the beach, we get home bath them & then its zoomies around the yard & they're dirty again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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