Your opinion about exercise during puppyhood - Page 2

Mindhunt
over here they take it literaly and the dogs have absolutely no muscle development at all, for example the pup at 12 weeks will just have 3x 15mins walk on lead, no off lead play etc, i know some do not even let the dog run until over 12months, it is confined to lead or cage

I tell my new owners no walks on leash unless necessary for potty breaks until 6 months, then no more than 1/2 mile until one year old.  After one year they can do anything.  Free play in the yard is fine as much as they want (after reading this I'm going to add a caveat that they shouldn't be with big dogs, hadn't thought about that), no repetitive movements, no jumping into the truck for a ride every day, etc.  I also tell them all a story about the only dog from my breedings which ever ended up with hip dysplasia - the owners ignored my advice and took her for runs up to 5 miles when she was less than 6 mths old saying "she likes it, she seems fine."  Moderate HD on prelims at one year.  Never produced one since.

Unfortunately I have had a few who took it to the opposite extreme and didn't give the dog any exercise.  That resulted in it's own set of problems so I try to emphasize balance now.

Nohing young is ever likely to exert its self to that extent on its own that it will fdo harm to its self a puppy tires quickly, Rests then goes again that is normal, I walk my pups normal from 8 weeks old to get them used to the leash. Short walks at the pace the Pup wants to move at, Tracking begins at 9 to 10 weeks old just the beginning and then i play with the Pup with treats getting it to sit and down and walk beside me. all these are kept short not because only the Pup is young but its because it cannot focus only for a few minutes and gets bored, i stop before it gets bored.
I never think about its joints or anything else i never have, I guess i am so used to handling Dogs of this age it is second nature and what i do is instinctive anyway. Next week i will go through it all again with Hektor when i bring him home and i will do as i have always done they turn out fine never a problem with there Joints etc so i carry on the same way with this little fellow
Steve1

I don't do any forced excercize with young dogs (biking, jogging, etc). but I let them chase a ball till they stop. If they like swimming, same thing.

If they get injured playing, then they are just injured until they recover.  These are GSD. I don't baby them.

and if you have to baby yours,  then maybe you just think you have a GSD.

Rik

Just to add a bit more.......No jumping from truck or suv bed and discourage from running up and down stairs..... As small puppies I carry mine up and down the stairs until they're too heavy to handle safely. Same with the suv..... and of course they hate it!

When a pup is out in a pen, watch to make sure it's not pacing back and forth too much...trying to play with the dog in the pen next to it.....especially if the pen's bottom is concrete.

Mindhunt - thanks, she doesn't seem to be in any pain, and is going crazy (and driving me crazy) in her crate.

Rik
Excatly a Pup is a Pup they know when playing when its time to stop as i said they rest and play again.
Me. i never even think about it they are not to be wrapped up in cotton wool
Steve1

I think people baby puppies way too much.  Going for a 2 hour bike ride at 12 weeks is dumb, but so is keeping them rested and in a crate after 20 minutes of play.  They are free to wrestle, run, romp, jump, chase, bite, lead follow or whatever they want as puppies. 

I am like Steve and Rik, I don't really do or not do anything special, other than just letting the dog self-restrict and not doing a lot of forced exercise (biking/jogging).  I do take leash walks but they are not accessive.  My dogs get most of their exercise running around our yard and playing with each other anyway.  If one dog is tired he will walk away and lie down.  They are active dogs but are not going to play until they drop dead.