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Proper Walking Time/Distance for Pup

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  • Shannon Henne
    • Gold Top Dog

    Proper Walking Time/Distance for Pup

    Shannon Henne

    Posted : 4/9/2006 5:58:18 PM

    I know that you can't walk a puppy "too far" or "too long" but how far is far and how long is long? [;)] My lab is almost 12 wks now, and I'm just wondering what the best way to gage our exercise is. And, since I live in a condo, we do more walks than outside yard playing. Is the exercise limit a total, or per session?

    I read and re-read my books, and I've asked the vet tech that lives in my complex, and I've seached the net. But the typical answer is "not too far" or "not too long".

    Is there an exercise progression guideline like there is for the ability for the pup to hold "it". (ie: months old +1).
  • huskymom
    • Gold Top Dog
    huskymom

    Posted : 4/10/2006 4:53:31 PM

    Ha ha sounds like my dad with money questions!  Too Much! Too Expensive!

    Its really a tough question to answer because all puppies are different.  My rule of thumb is that if the puppy sleeps contentedly when you need to do other thing, he is getting enough exercise.  Also if you give him too much exercise he will start to require said amount of exercise everyday.  For instance my friend and I have dogs that are brothers.  Siblings from the same litter.  Her dog needs several miles of running a day to sustain him.  Mine needs alot less running than his brother because I havent trained him for endurance yet.  However training tires his brother out more quickly than it does for mine.  So my basic rule of thumb is that if the dog is well behaved you are giving him enough exercise.  If he is into everything all the time, its time to get out the leash.  Sorry I don't have definate numbers for you.  Maybe someone else will.
  • mudpuppy
    • Gold Top Dog
    mudpuppy

    Posted : 4/11/2006 8:42:36 AM

    actually you CAN walk a puppy too far and too long, especially one of the larger breed dogs. Steady walking can damage their joints. Pups do better if allowed to exercise at their own pace-- i.e. lots of off leash play time. I would only be walking a 12-week-old pup on leash for training/socialization purposes, not for exercise.