It’s always so exciting having a new member of the family, especially if it has four legs and is covered in fur! Often, we are so overwhelmed with the new addition that we can get carried away and some important rules get thrown out of the window. I remember when I had my first dog and as soon as I could, I wanted to get out there and take him on walks for miles!
So, let’s look at how much we should be exercising a puppy and adolescent dog compared to an adult dog and understand the risks that can be involved.
Table of contents
What exercise can my dog have?
It is best to start small and then gradually build up your dog’s exercise, up to the point when they are fully grown. Even at 8 months old, in many breeds their bodies and bones are still developing. With that in mind, there are some safety nets that we can work within in order to keep our dogs safe.
- Keep walks restricted to 20 – 30 minutes twice daily
- Lead walks may be better rather than off lead running
- Provide more mental stimulation through the use of puzzle toys
- Teaching your dog new tricks can help to tire them mentally
- Avoid agility based exercises until they are fully grown
How much exercise should my dog have?
When puppies are young, they need to be stimulated. You’ll quickly find out that a bored puppy can become destructive, nippy and quite frankly – a bit annoying! However, exercise should be in short bursts and should be a mixture of both mental and physical stimulation.
You may have heard about the 5 minute rule with exercise – but there is no scientific evidence to back this up. However, the rule does have its benefits and makes sense in some respects. Just remember that every puppy is different.
The 5 minute rule follows a simple principle – 5 minutes of exercise per age (in months) of the puppy. In this instance, an 8 month old puppy could have 40 minutes of exercise up to twice a day if we were to follow the 5 minute rule.
However, whilst a puppy is still growing, I would say that 40 minutes of exercise twice daily may be excessive for a dog that is still growing.
Why is too much exercise dangerous?
You may think that the more exercise you give to your dog the better. And in some cases, that may be true. Working breeds such as Spaniels and Huskies will absolutely appreciate all of the exercise that they can get – once they have reached maturity.
In fact, once a dog is fully grown, any breed will appreciate near-endless amounts of exercise. It all just depends on their energy levels.
The problem starts when too much exercise is given to a puppy. Whilst animals are young, their growth plates are still forming. Growth plates are found in bones and can almost be thought of as ‘weak spots’ whilst the animal is still growing. As they get older, these growth plates fuse together to form a strong bone structure.
What damage can occur?
Unfortunately, permanent damage can be caused if a puppy receives too much exercise whilst they are young. An injury to the growth plate can cause lifelong problems that are unlikely to resolve. Conditions include:
Hip dysplasia:
Commonly seen in Labradors, hip dysplasia is where the hip joint does not sit in the pelvis correctly. The hip joint becomes unstable causing symptoms such as lameness, stiffness and the inability to walk correctly.
Arthritis:
This condition affects the bones and joints of an animal and is where the joint becomes painful and inflamed. Bones usually have a smooth surface to reduce friction, but in some cases, bone on bone can grind and cause a rough surface, resulting in pain.
How can I limit the exercise for my puppy?
Whether your puppy is 4 months old or 8 months old, it is important to monitor and regulate their exercise until they are fully grown. This will minimise the risk of damage to their bones. It would be best to avoid the following whilst your puppy is still growing:
- Running for prolonged periods of time
- Frequent or constant jumping
- Halting suddenly after running
- Prolonged walking on hard terrain
- Exercising with fully grown dogs
- Rough play
Diet plays a huge part in growth
Whilst your puppy is growing, a well balanced and nutritious diet is key. Whatever brand you chose, make sure that you purchase a food that is specially formulated for puppies. This will give them all of the nutrition that they require in order to grow and function correctly. Bones and joints will develop a whole lot better if they have all of the nutrients that they need. If you are unsure of what food to feed your puppy, speak with your veterinary practice for further advice.
Final thoughts on exercise
No matter the breed of your dog, start your exercise regimes slowly. Whilst it might be exciting to go out all guns blazing on their first walk, it will benefit them in the long run to be eased into an exercise plan. Monitor your dog throughout their walks and pay close attention to see if any symptoms such as soreness, stiffness, or limping develop. If you are worried about your puppy and are unsure of how much exercise to offer them, speak with your veterinary practice for advice.
Remember, many practices offer nurse-led consultations to discuss all aspects of how to care for your puppy.
Further reading:
Discussion
This is such a helpful read thank you! Since our older dog was diagnosed with arthritis we’ve been more careful with our pup and this is such helpful information. We’ve been using joint supplements for them both, as a treatment for the older one but a preventative for our younger boy. The supplement we’ve been using antinol has been such a blessing!