princesszelda Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 We have a 10 week old Bernese Mountain dog (Bella, who I've talked about in posts before). We've been starting to take her for short walks & she really seems to love it, but I've been reading that we shouldn't be walking her yet. Is this too soon to be walking a puppy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aziah Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 She'd have only had her 1st vaccination yes? I don't take mine out until after their 2nd vaccination... Also when you do start to walk her, don't over do it, she's a large (giant?) breed and heavy road work isn't something I'd be undertaking until she's much older I'm sure others with large breeds will have better info but JMT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princesszelda Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 Yes, Bernese is a giant breed. She has only had her 1st vaccinations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I'd be taking the advice of Bella's breeder. Is there anything in her puppy pack about exercise? While it can be good to get pups out and about to see the world before their second vacc, I probably wouldn't be walking a pup very much in areas where a lot of other dogs could have been. That said, I guess she's already almost too big to carry around - which is what I'd do with a smaller breed. Leash walking aruond your rard a bit certainly wouldn't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashka1 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Exercise is important, but don't over-do it. Not only will proper exercise provide Bella with an outlet for all of that energy, it helps her develop muscle tissue which supports those heavy bones. Taking your puppy on a very short walk in the cool of the day can also help to establish a bond between you and your pup, and will begin socializing Bella to familiarize her with different people, places and situations.As she is not fully vaccinated, you may want to avoid public places until all shots are complete. Games of fetch on a soft, non-slippery surface (carpet, grass) or practicing to walk on a leash around the house or backyard are great for now. I dont tend to walk the Newfy pups until they are about 4 months then just up the street and back. This is more about socialisation than excersise and also to excersise their brains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princesszelda Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 I'd be taking the advice of Bella's breeder. Is there anything in her puppy pack about exercise?While it can be good to get pups out and about to see the world before their second vacc, I probably wouldn't be walking a pup very much in areas where a lot of other dogs could have been. That said, I guess she's already almost too big to carry around - which is what I'd do with a smaller breed. Leash walking aruond your rard a bit certainly wouldn't hurt. I need to give the breeder a call later this week, so I'll ask her then. You're right, though: Carrying is not going to be an option for too much longer! 10 kgs at 10 weeks, and growing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim & Tanya Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Yes, Bernese is a giant breed. She has only had her 1st vaccinations. We also have a giant breed (Mastiff)... We waited until after 2 vacc to take him out & about in public places, we also only walked him for about 20min max until he was about 6mths old, then gradually increased... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seita Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 If you have access to a secure open area it is good to let pups self exercise by letting them offlead or on a long line if that's not possible and let them run around at their own pace and sniff etc everything. I would avoid dog parks and high dog traffic areas until after 2nd vaccination but 2 weeks after that vacc (approx 14 weeks) you can take her pretty much anywhere. A quite park that doesn't have a lot of people/dogs going through it is a good spot if using a long line - great way to train recalls too. School grounds are also good for letting puppy off lead as they are usually fenced and the oval is often a distance from the gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milzi09 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I have always used this guideline below, building up very very slowly. 8 weeks - 5 minutes 12 weeks - 10 minutes 16 weeks - 15 minutes 20 weeks - 20 minutes 24 weeks - 25 minutes etc. I 've also found this really helps with training loose leash walking as well because your training the length of time in gradual incrememts. At 8 weeks its only generally extremely short walk down our street, stopping frequently 'to be a tree' or for a sniff or to say hi to the neightbour etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim & Tanya Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I have always used this guideline below, building up very very slowly.8 weeks - 5 minutes 12 weeks - 10 minutes 16 weeks - 15 minutes 20 weeks - 20 minutes 24 weeks - 25 minutes etc. I 've also found this really helps with training loose leash walking as well because your training the length of time in gradual incrememts. At 8 weeks its only generally extremely short walk down our street, stopping frequently 'to be a tree' or for a sniff or to say hi to the neightbour etc. That's a good guide there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princesszelda Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 Thanks everyone - spoke to the breeder today & she said that a 5 minute walk to a park, a play around, and a 5 minute walk back was ok. Only another week or so to go until 2nd vaccination! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percyk Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 i start walking about 11 days after the 2nd vaccinations not too much exercise until all the knobby bits in the legs grow out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 What have you done so far in terms of socialisation for your pup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 My GSD pup is 24 weeks (and 28.3kg) and I haven't walked him for exercise yet. He goes out for obedience training at the local park (working with distraction) and walking on leash training but the majority of his "exercise" is off-leash and in the form of play. I also take him swimming on a weekly basis as this is low impact but excellent for building muscles and strength. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all that glitters Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 I started taking my girl for walks as soon as she was fully vaccinated, but we started with 5 minute walks up the street and back, then progressed to 10-15 minutes and so on. So originally our walks were down the street a bit, cross the road, and back. Alternating different directions each day. Then it got to further and further, now we go around the block as it's a 25 minute walk and she's nearly 7 months old. I pretty much followed milzis schedule!! My girl loooove her walks, so much to smell and do, and I can practice heel and sit and drop at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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