When and how long to run a pup? - Page 1

I need opinions please. My husband is a very health concious kind of guy. He runs, bikes, hikes, etc. My new pup is high energy and gets plenty of walks but we have heard conflicting opinions on when to start letting puppies run. He is now 14 weeks and is walking over 3 miles pretty much daily on a bike trail but shows not only willingness but need to run. Hubby would love that but is afraid he is too young. We've been told to limit running/jumping while young. At what age should he be ready??

I asked a similar question some months back about an 8 month old I was thinking about buying. I asked how far and how long if running loose with me walking. The answers that I remember were 45 - 60 minutes because the dog could stop, run, walk etc. at will and not forced to as on leash or biking. This was an 8 month old though. IMO 14 weeks is to young to go that far and 3 miles a day might be too. I have a 4.5 month pup that takes about 3 short walks a day all total maybe 1.5 miles.

Yup, I just about had a stroke when I read this.. here is the important thing here.. growth plates.. your dog should not engage in any hard impact repetitive motion activities until his growth plates are closed.. for large breed dogs this is 14 MONTHS... by all means play and chase each other.. it needs to be short distances on yielding surfaces... I don't even like to let young dogs jump in and out of my vehicle crates Certainly you mean a cumulative amount of distance equalling about 3 miles not a sustained 3 mile walk.. good gracious! These are young babies, would you expect your 6 month old toddler to walk 3 miles??.. NOT! Does a 6 month old toddler have immeasurable energy?? yes, but they get age appropriate activity. Your puppy need to learn about housebreaking and to respond to his name no matter what (in a happy manner of course!)and to learn games and tricks..of course you can go out and play in the yard and engage in activities together.. fetch a ball and bring it back, learn the 2 ball game, learn the gimme dat collar game and ready set go game.... Puppyhood should be a blast - for puppies and humans, it lasts a very short time but you can build a great relationship with a dog with the right games and rewards!!

Thanks Trailrider, I appreciate the info. Do you mean walking 3 miles is too much? He seems to love it and it gets some of his energy out. We have two terriers and he torments them relentlessly. We try to keep him excercised to lessen this. The terriers have put up with it so far but if they decide to gang up on him I'm afraid they would hurt him. Thery're small but pretty rough when need be, talk about prey drive!! Anyway, I've been told by our obedience trainer to let them work it out by themselves but I have concerns. They ganged up on my last GSD under the shed when he was 4 months and chewed up his leg pretty good. I keep a close watch on them but you can't be there every second and I don't think he could defend himself enough with those little puppy teeth. Anyway, if 3 miles is too long, how else should we release enough energy to keep him out of trouble??

That's 3 miles total, 2 to 3 walks a day.

I agree with DKiah, that is way to much and yes MPO I think even when you break it down in 2 walks it's to much. You have to keep in mind if their not on a free walk(where they can stop and go, or stop all together)then you can really mess up their hips/elbows etc. I had a lady that bought a puppy from me at 3 months old and wanted to start jogging with him and go 5 miles a day. I said absolutely NOT. If she did this I would not guarantee anything. My puppies right now are just that PUPPIES, and they are 6 months old. You really need to research what you can and can't do, so you don't destroy a good puppy. JM2 cents

DKiah, Thank you, you've pretty much answered everything I was asking!! We will now limit those walks to 1/2 mile each and play more games (which we also already do but will increase). I walk him for 2 blocks around the neighborhood in the evening, I'm not the excercise nut in the family. Our house is somewhat isolated on 2 acres but neighbors are fairly close and I'm trying to get him used to new smells, noises, people, etc., I don't do the distance thing.

This is exactly why I'm asking, my husband thinks to stay healthy (dogs AND people) you need to be in constant motion and I couldn't convince him on my own. I'm the one who's trying to tell him he's going too far. Maybe now he'll listen. He can take the terriers if he wants company. I'll be happy to stay home and play ball in the yard!

I would also limit his time with the other 2 dogs, who I assume are adults.. who said let them work it out??? jeez louise!! again, you are talking about a baby who needs to be protected, not that he shouldn't be exposed to lots of "safe" situations but this is not one of them Your pup needs to bond to his people before he bonds to any other dogs or decides on his own that little dogs are good for getting them before they get you!! You would not allow him as a large adult to terrorize the 2 smaller dogs, the reverse should also be true!! All dogs and people need down time and puppies sleep a LOT (they are growing, just like babies).. you husband must have been a terrier in a previous life!!! Tell him to chill!!

Let me just clarify about the terriers, they are 7 YO female and 8 YO male. I do not let them in the yard with him, only the house. He mostly torments them first thing in the morning and again when things are winding down at night. After my experience with my last one I won't make the mistake of leaving them alone together uncrated! But I do leave the room to get things go to the bathroom, etc. I don't want them to attack him AT ALL even if I'm right there. I also don't want him to think he can bully them, I'd like them to live together peacefully. Right now it's all a game to him, like everything else but when he gets going he won't quit. I didn't want to use his crate as punishment but last night I had enough and gave him a time out in another room IN HIS CRATE. He did come back 10 min later with a different attitude. Maybe that's what I should have been doing all along. It was his obedience trainer who said they should work it out but she doesn't know the terriers! They'll put up with a lot but once my female has had enough she can call on the male and he'll do her bidding. He weighs almost 40 lbs. and they about 18 but I still think they could hurt him if given the opportunity.