Can you give a dog TOO MUCH exercise?

[NorksAreMessy]

i have two Yorkies and a sort of Westie.
We walk for one and a half to two hours four mornings a week and half an hour on the other days.
They also have a twenty minute trot on lead every evening.
I am really loving these long walks, and would like to increase to every day, but would the dogs be OK?
They show no signs of exhaustion when they get back , but they do sleep for most of the rest of the day :)

I worry because my DH has heard that Yorkies shouldn't be given a long walk every day (or that MIGHT have been 'don't NEED a long walk every day')

Any advice please...I am itching to go out

If the dogs seem fine and interested in walking I would give it a go. As long as they are not puppies, or elderly dogs, or dogs with arthritis/elbow/hip dysplasia or similar health problems, I don't see why not.

Thanks booboostoo.
Nope, they have no health problems and are between 2 and 6 years.
They absolutely love it , we live near a large variety of walks, so it is different every day
In fact the sort-of-westie has slimmed down from her previous chubby self since we have been walking so much.
Wish I could say the same for myself:(

Walking lots is not a problem, but avoid too much ball throwing etc (not that I think you are), as that can put stress on joints etc. Lucky dogs you have!

Oooh, Ellengirl, hmmm.
We are hill walking and the dogs to race up and down the hillsides rather than walk steadily along the paths. Will their joints suffer?
No ball throwing. Yorkies not interested and the sort-of-westie just takes the ball and hides it, never to retrieve.

I wouldn't worry if it's their choice- if you're walking and they didn't want to run, they wouldn't. As they're not young puppies, they're unlikely to damage anything by running up and down slopes. Ball throwing is fine in moderation- but it involves rapid jerky movements which is what can cause the damage. Sounds like you'll be greyhound- like in no time with all the walking you're doing!

Thankyou for your help and advice...I will be up that hill tomorrow with three happy pooches
I love MN!

when our jrt was similar age to your dogs we used to do a lot of mountain walking. we would walk all day. i dont know anything about yorkies but would say as yours are past puppy age, not elderly and in good health it is actually good for them to do a lot of walking. our dog is now 14 and is still in good health. she can still walk a few miles but at a slower pace and will sleep more. i think all the exercise she had when younger has stood her in good stead

your dogs sound very lucky to have an owner who wants to walk them a lot

Thanks chick
i do think it is me who is lucky to have them. The joy they bring is out of all proportion to what little I do for them.
I am looking to the day when the oldest says 'enough is enough' and doesn't want to join in, but in the mean time when they are soooooo excited about it, I just eanted to check I wasn't harming anyone.

We saw rabbits today. There have never been such excited pooches. Poor bunnies.

Wanted....you know that is what I said, right?