airlock Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Hi, Our Kelpie cross is now 5 months old. we have been increasing his exercise a bit lately witch is great for us as he is much calmer in the house and much happier at night. I know working breeds require a lot of exercise when they are fully grown but i'm really not sure how much is to much at this age. I really enjoy taking him for long walks and runs and would like to do more cycling in the forest with him but like i say i'm not sure if this is all a bit much for him at this stage. how long and how intense should his exercise be at this stage in life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 My Kelpies are just allowed to run free until 12mths of age, and let them choose their own intensity. It sounds like you have the current amount of exercise just right if he is settling (too much can make them over tired and naughty at this age, just like human kids). Although they do not need exercise monitored as much as giant breeds they can still over do it and end up with injuries or skeletal problems, particularly because they just want to please you! Another factor is the more exercise you give them the more they need as they get fitter!! My Kelpies find mental stimulation exhausting rather than just exercise as they mature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertDobes Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 A maximum of 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age up until 12 months, so 25 min for a 5 months old puppy, is the rule I have followed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonwoman Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Hi, Our Kelpie cross is now 5 months old. we have been increasing his exercise a bit lately witch is great for us as he is much calmer in the house and much happier at night. I know working breeds require a lot of exercise when they are fully grown but i'm really not sure how much is to much at this age. I really enjoy taking him for long walks and runs and would like to do more cycling in the forest with him but like i say i'm not sure if this is all a bit much for him at this stage. how long and how intense should his exercise be at this stage in life? You are biking a 5 month old puppy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Hi, Our Kelpie cross is now 5 months old. we have been increasing his exercise a bit lately witch is great for us as he is much calmer in the house and much happier at night. I know working breeds require a lot of exercise when they are fully grown but i'm really not sure how much is to much at this age. I really enjoy taking him for long walks and runs and would like to do more cycling in the forest with him but like i say i'm not sure if this is all a bit much for him at this stage. how long and how intense should his exercise be at this stage in life? Long walks are not suitable for pups and biking at 5 months old isn't suitable in my opinion. It isn't the physical exercise that they need - it is the mental stimulation. They do need physical movement but teaching them manners, tricks, herding etc is more mental exercise and will wear out a dog more than hours of physical exercise. You do realise you will create an extremely physically fit animal who will require more and more exercise.. This is the mistake I made with my current boy - I was running him for a couple of hours. Now we train, mentally for half an hour. His physical exercise consists of play time, ball chasing and socialising with other dogs.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airlock Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Thanks, ill dial it back for the next few months and throw in a few more training sessions instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 (edited) No biking airlock. Way too young for that k. Walking on lead 5 mins per month... eg . 25 mins per day for your pup, max. Your pups still growing so you have to keep concusion to his legs etc to a minium. Working him on any hard surfaces roadways,paths etc for any length of time is a no no. Free play in a safe b.yard is fine as he can choose when he is tired & rest. You can train him to do basic trick's & obedience to tire him mentally wiith no chance of causing his growing body any injury :) Edited October 6, 2013 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Conventional wisdom says to limit exercise, but a recent experimental study (nice big sample size, studied pups for 2 yrs until hips Xrayed) suggests that exercise on soft surfaces before 3 mo is good while stairs are bad. See: Housing- and exercise-related risk factors associated with the ... www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22620698 I would say the jury is out on this one. It may be that good muscle development more than compensates for stress on skeletal structure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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