I have a feeling this is going to sound really moronic.
I have 2 puppies. They are almost 8 months old. They weigh about 35 pounds (no, they’re not overweight - not even close). They are not going to be large dogs. I’ll be surprised if they go over 45 pounds. Ginger is leggy and Holly is stocky.
Now that you know about their physiques, here’s the actual question.
How much exercise is too much? Until very recently, their exercise amounted to chasing each other throughout the house. Unfortunately, they also spend a very large amount of time sleeping. They probably only spend about 2 hours a day rough-housing with each other.
Is it too much to expect them to walk 5 miles over very hilly terrain right off the bat? I want to take them to the recreation area and around the trail there but when my boyfriend is at work I don’t have a car so we’d have to walk there and back. The whole walk is 5 miles. Even being overweight and out of shape, I know I can do it. But, they can’t tell me how their legs and feet feel and I worry about pushing them too much.
Even though this isn’t MPSIMS, I’m an obnoxious dog owner so here are my girls Holly sleeping
Wow! They sure have grown! What funny, roundy ears the one has.
I think it would be a bit much for them to walk 5 miles right off the bat. I might try just walking a mile then turning around and heading back and then see how they are. Maybe do that for a week, then add another mile until you go the whole way. Once they’re used to it they’ll love it for sure!
I’m not a dog owner but I often walk with my friend and her dog for their daily hike which lasts about an hour and a half. Depending on the terrain or time my guess is that we cover 4-6 miles (the dog even more since she runs out into the woods and comes back while we stay on the trail). This dog needs it, she thrives on activity and is happier for it. If I were you I’d start off slow, they will probably give you a clear indication of whether they like it and want more or not. In my experience, well exercised pets are happier and easier to live with. A bonus for my friend and myself is that we get our exercise too and have lost some weight and built up our stamina.
Most dogs can out walk most humans and dogs love to walk and need the exercise.
I wouldn’t hesitate to take them on a 4 to 5 mile walk but I’d keep an eye on them during the walk for limping, lethargy or overheating during the summer. The following morning, observe them as they awake and begin moving around. Any signs of joint or muscle stiffness or do they simply get up and move around normally? If you see any signs of stiffness, reduce the length of the walk until they wake up and move around normally and then you could try to slowly increase the distance. Dogs are like humans in that each one is a little different.
It’s commonly said on dog boards that one should NOT rigorously exercise puppies (especially long runs) until they are fully grown (around 2 years old). This is hard on the joints or the long bones or something.
Normal puppy roughhousing and running around like nuts is fine, because the puppies stop on their own (and possibly because there’s more variety to the motions than a steady long-distance trot).
I don’t have a citation for the age at which it becomes okay for them to really go and go. Some dog sports say 18 months or 2 years; one puppy website I saw said 6 months, which your two cuties have already passed. I’d err on the side of caution, personally, having recently read tales of torn ACL surgery on dogs.
Young dogs could easily be expected to cover that distance with training. You need to do shorter walks to get them fit for the distance. But here’s your dilemma. Dogs are fickle. When they get tired or thirsty, they can quit and refuse to move. They can lie down for an hour on you. They also can get injuries just like other exercisers. You need a backup plan, maybe a backpack plan. Can you carry a dog in an emergency? Can you make a cell phone call and get a ride? If you perform this walk often enough, your emergency plan will be needed.
I know of runners who jog miles with their dog. Some dogs can do it day after day with little trouble. I also know of others who could not make it work because of misbehavior of various sorts.
I met a woman who biked with her dog (that’s tricky and requires a special leash so the dog doesn’t cross in front of the bike) and she rode with one of those enclosed kiddie bike trailers behind her bike, with water and bandages and stuff tucked in the pockets. If something happened to her dog, she could pop him into the trailer and zip it shut and bring him home. Seemed like a very thoughtful plan to me.
walking 5 miles should be a piece of cake for a dog, provided that you get them plenty of water before and especially after. i run with my lab/collie mix all the time and she easily outruns me.
Thanks! I am actually uploading some more right now. They should be up in an hour or so. I do NOT actually make my sweeties wear bandannas by the way. We won a prize pack from Pure Mutt and I had to take pics to send the magazine blog that hosted the contest. As soon as the pic was done, the bandanna came off. I wear it now when I take them for walks.
Thank you everyone for the advice. The trail at the rec area is 1.8 miles so I think we’ll stick with that for now, or walks around the neighborhood until their older and until I know their abilities better.
