wishpoo

Hi all,

Just found interesting advice about a spoo - that one should not start jogging
or jumping with dogs younger than 14 mos . !

Is that true ??? Can that injure their hips

Fur Elite

In general you shouldn't exercise a puppy until they are a year old....maybe not quite so old for a small breed, but to be safe I would wait a year. That means no long walks on pavement either. The exercise they get playing outside is really all they need. Don't want to damage the growth plates.

Fluffyspoos

With larger dogs like standard poodles, all that jumping can damage their growing bones. You can still do weave poles and the tunnel and low jumps that they don't actually JUMP over (just kinda run over) I believe though.

wishpoo

Thank you so much for the extra input :beauty (2): I did not know about that !!! I guess we learn as long as we live ; ).

Is any other kind of activity best to avoid during the first 12 mos. ? Like - going up and down the stairs or something like that ???

Thanks a bunch !!!!

jak

Actually weave poles shouldn't be done until at least 1 1/2 years old as the twisting can damage their spines.

But yes, no jumping over elbow height until at least 1 1/2 years old as it can damage their growth plates. I know a Standard Poodle puppy that was made to jump in and out of a ute, owner's didn't know, the puppy developed walking problems (but luckily it worked out reasonably well), and then completely unrelated got Addisons :(

But yes, growth plates can be damaged in bigger breeds, so little exercise on hard surfaces like concrete etc., never make a large dog jump on concrete either.

wishpoo

Thanks Jack !!! I also saw that you posted on another thread that up-and -down the stairs is a no-no for a puppy . So how old should be a puppy before it can go up and down the stairs ???

Thanks in advance

jak

Well, it really depends on the stairs, and how they go down them.

If they are soft carpet stairs, they should be fine if they can walk up them easily, but monitor them going down, as they tend to take some steps in groups, so try and get them to take 1 at a time, making sure they don't jump the last couple. It won't really do too much damage if they are 7-8 months old, it really depends on how they go down the stairs and how much growing they have.
So, [B]walking[/B up and down the stairs should be fine if the can easily manage it, but make sure they don't just take many coming down.

If they are concrete etc. I wouldn't let them walk down unless it is a very small gradient.

There is no really definite age, it just really depends if they take them all together which is basically jumping off something high, and how easily they can do it.

Olie

OK, so I dont read to far into this...

Are you saying do not take them on walks on pavement? Ex: Sidewalks/Pavement? Thats excersize to me.

dbrazzil

So how many reps does your dog do on the stairs when they are just starting out?

Mandycasey'smom

LOL Try stopping Mandy from running jumping and living life to the fullest. She has always lived like this from puppy on. I did not ask her to run jump or spin she just lives life to the fullest when given the opertunity.
Would I have done classes with her at a young age NO but deffinatly thinking about it now she is the talk of the dog park with her running. People just laugh when she begs their dog to chase her but they can never catch her and give up.