for wanting to walk in the park without being bounced on by giant b*stard dogs?

[bohemianbint]

Shouldn't people keep an eye on their fricking dogs and not let them run all over parks and scare the crap out of people? Was subjected to about 5 minutes fending the world's biggest dog off before the stupid bitch of an owner came sauntering round the corner. Don't people understand that just because they think their dog is great doesn't mean anyone else does?

Sorry Hercules, couldnt open your link.
Being a VN I have seen many cases of hip dysplasia.It can be a sudden thing or a gradual thing. Not all big dogs will get this of course. I have a german shepherd who weighs 52 kilos. Not because he is fat but because he is very tall (more like a donkey!) Walking is definately good but 2 hours a day can cause problems later on in life. This has happenend to dogs when they are older and owners have been shocked as they were so agile before and loved lots of excersise. Jumping is best avoided too. We take my dog up the downs every day and has 1/2 hr - 1 hr but he just gets knackered (cos he is big). He also goes swimming in a hydrotherapy pool a couple of times a week, which is great excersise without putting any weight on his legs.

Thanks dionne. I know quite a lot already about large dogs as I said I have a giant one. . I've never read anywhere that labs should have less than two hours a doay once fully grown. OF course an old dog will need less. COmmon sense really.

Where did you get walking a lab for two hours a day will kill them??

Yeah, sorry I wasnt getting at you. Theres no strict rules or anything. Im just going by what I see at work. Some dogs are fitter than others. Labs are used as working dogs at times. Gun dogs (type of lab) are better for this.

As I say, just going by experience. But yes it is down to common sense.

There was a particular cas from work. Not so long a go, where the Lab was over walked / excersised. And he actually died. His heart couldnt take it. He was 4 years old, wasnt overweight but he was out too much. Sounds ridiculous, I know but thats what happened. Also when a dog gets hip dysplasia through over exersion theres no turning the clock back. Thats why I take mine swimming, less weight on legs.

I took dss to the park yesterday and there were huge dogs runnung around all over the place. We somehow made it to the play area only to see a dog running around inside there as well, with a its owner and a child also there. Was extremely p*** off and left to go to another park. I wouldn't approach a dog owner to remove their dog as sometimes people can become aggressive.

I had a Rottweiler moment this morning. Two great hulking things off the lead bounding along the canal towpath - owner emerges from around the corner ahead strolling along without a care in the world. Oblivious to the fact that I've just almost wet myself. Prat!

Can I ask how much you pay for a hydrotherapy pool? I have a felling htere is a place somewhere newar me and I've never considered it before. Is it just really for big dogs/ i have a cocker as well. Is it if they are poorly or just an exercise thing?

Its great for all dogs! All dogs are healthier for it. It can get expensive. I pay £5 for a 40 min session, which is more than enough time for dogs. They generally have a ramp for easy access for dogs etc... And they should have an instructer there too to make the whole introduction easy for you and your dog.

Let me know how you get on. I love it. Lots of fun!

Oh and it can be for poorly dogs or just excersise. They tend to seperate the sessions though.

Thanks. SO can both my dogs go at the same thime then?

Yep! Shouldnt be a problem at all! It might be best to take someone else with you 1st time. So one person per dog until they get used to it. Some dogs dont take kindly to being put in a pool to start with. You should phone them 1st to book as they only have a certain amount of dogs in the pool at 1 time. They have dog toys for the pool etc. I hope it goes well for you!

Also, dont wear long trousers if your walking round the edge of the pool. Shorts or short trousers are better cos you get soaked from all the splashing! Talking from experience here You need water proof shoes, or at least ones with good frip. I just wore trainers. I think you can get in the pool too if you like, but best ask about that 1st. Some places vary.

Thanks

I've got a lab and did a lot of research about the breed before buying him. All large dogs are prone to hip problems and thats why Labs should be have their hips xrayed and graded before breeding and then before you buy a pup you should check the scores of the parents, low scores = good hips and higher = worse.. the worse they are the more susceptable they are to hip problems although not all hip problems in labs are because of this some are cause by over exercise or other trauma. As with most larger breeds you are recommended to limit exercise for the first 12 months, some say 5 minuted per month of age although i have never done that i have just used my own judgement as i found that if i went by that it was never enough for either him for me so most of our walks are around half an hour with a couple of longer walks at weekends of sometimes 2 hours. My personal view is a Dog is a DOG, not a child and they should be looked after and loved but no molycoddled they are desined to walk for miles and miles and miles and do a days work so they should be given sufficient exercise, i would personally rather my dog had a full and active life of bounding around, jumping in the river and generally having fun but only live till 8 than have a dog i was too scared to let off the lead incase it damaged it's hips but got to 15 miserable and boring years old, that'd be cruel. Dogs need off lead exercise, keeping a dog on a lead all the time is so awful Of course dogs should not under any circumstances be in childrens playareas but you should be able to train your dog not to be a pain in the arse to people anywhere else you chose to go, i see a lot more pain in the arse kids than i do dogs tbh.

Just because My dog doesnt get 2 hours a day exercise it doesnt mean he has a boring life Thank you!! He goes up the downs every day for anything upto 1 hr and he goes swimming twice a week! We also have a big garden for him to play in and we walk him down the road to shops or relatives home etc. He is a 52 kilo dog. He couldnt walk 2 hours if wanted to! He is rescue so we never got an actual hip score. But working an a vets I got 'help' from colleagues who have said his hips are ok.

Its nothing to do with having a boring life! Its more to do with moderation and a healthy life. I believe you can have healthy and fun together!

He is not on the lead up the down btw