Exercising Your Puppy

Bone Growth

When you get your 8/10 week old puppies, please keep these images in mind. Although this photo is a very young puppy, it's to show how much has yet to be formed.  Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited, bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

 But when you're letting puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile wit no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the change to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

 Once grown you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.

 Remember you wouldn't expect a new baby to run straight away. Never leave unsupervised on anything above ground level puppies don't have very good depth perception and will step off anything with a second thought.






Exercise

Keep in mind the picture to the left. Now exercising your puppy has a 5 Min rule.
  • 5 mins exercise per month of the puppies life so if if your puppy is 4 month old no more than 20 mins in 1 day. 
  • They will be playing and sleeping a lot whilst they are young so include them by all means when you go out but they may need to be carried in between the activity.
  • Training is great but your puppy will have an attention span of a goldfish. A 5 min practice on obedience will be more beneficial than a 10 min walk mental stimulation works wonders towards naps.



Activities when bigger

Agility is a great activity and sport for all dogs and in particular Cocker Spaniels. They love to please and exercise is great for mental stimulation for both dog and human. A great sport for adults and kids to be involved in. Rottweilers like to work as this is also what they were bred for. We participate in Man trailing with ours and scent work. Koda loves it and sleeps well afterwards. Any kind of obedience is a must as you must ensure your dog is always under control when in public.Contact your local dog trainer or club for any information when the can participate.