physical exercise from puppy to adult dog which physical exercise - Page 1

How much exercise do you give your dogs each day or for a week in here

do you go for long walks or bicycles with them or swim with them??

how much exercise for pups and young dogs

I take long walks with them and we swim in special swimming pools for dogs to build conditioning and muscle a few times a week year round

I dont have an answer. But was wondering how do you teach a young shepherd to swim. We have a nice big bay close to the house that I would like to swim my 8 month old pup in but was wondering how to begin... do they require a swimming vest?

Never had to teach any dog to swim, usually they dive right in. The ones that don't will after a ball or frisbee. Never had to teach them how to do it, never used a vest (though I would if I were out on a boat or not in sight of land or the dog was going to be swimming for extended periods). With pools I always make sure the dog knows where the stairs out and how it can get out on its own.

My 6 month old pup has already been on 5 mile runs with me. He is virtually tireless and has a great capacity for endurance. Overall he gets (needs actually) at least 2 hours per day of continous exercise and brisk walking. His bursts come at dawn and dusk. He also will chase the ball and frisbee with great intensity and alternate with tugging.

He is a not a natural swimmer, but he swims. I go in the pool with him. He's been in about 6 times now and has become more calm and situationally aware. He knows where the steps are and how to exit the pool on his own. Added benefit of the swimming as there is an almost instantaneous body temperature cool down after the above mentioned exercise. We live in the US Southwest (desert). With inbound summer months, keeping the dog cool when outdoors will of course be paramount.

GK1, I'm curious - is a 5 mile run with a young GSD ok on their joints? I was told not to do anything strenuous until they are at least a year old?

Thanks!

Jcmeyer I dont teach the pup to they can swim ,but we just put the West ón If the pup should panic and dont swim so hé Does not go under water and give them bad experience with the water The Adults dont get the West ón and the pup is not getting the West anymore hé Will jump In by himself to get the toy

Jcmeyer I dont teach the pup to they can swim ,but we just put the West ón If the pup should panic and dont swim so hé Does not go under water and give them bad experience with the water The Adults dont get the West ón and the pup is not getting the West anymore hé Will jump In by himself to get the toy

The first time our Fiona seen open water was when she was 9 months old. We took her with us on a wilderness canoe trip. Since she is ball crazy we brought along her ball thrower and some road hockey balls because they float. This is how it turned out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnukMlLF8UY


We never run her on hard surfaces but she runs and mountain bikes with me in the woods as well as hike with the wife. Her anaerobic exercise for French Ringsort is 12 repetitions of ball chasing sprints twice a day.

Conspicuous

The amount of roadwork the 6 month old is getting is a point to consider.  When on pavement or hard trail, I average about 8-7:30 min miles. On the dirt surface track, 7-6:00 min pace. I only sprint on soft grass.  However, no matter how fast I run, the pup merely trots or bumps up to an easy lope. He only sprints off-lead when chasing the ball/disk and not until he is well into his exercise and loose.

Equal to his desire to run and chase, is to bite and tug, so I oblige, but gently and with no ripping or abrupt jerking movements. Permanent teeth are now in. 

His diet is 100% natural, mostly raw meat and other proteins. He is drawn fine and never overfed in order to slow his rate of growth. Pure Czech W/L. I would like to think his physical constitution is above the average GSD.

Will this level of activity break his joints down eventually? Time will tell.

But an inferior diet, neglect of his natural instinct for physical exertion and inattention would kill him far quicker..