Off lead advice needed..

[Windyatthebeach]

So, we have a saluki cross dpuppy.. Just over 5 months old. Breeder was quite sure no off lead running /stairs until about a year old. We have 2 Lurchers who are amazing off lead. Perfect recall..
Managing lead walking great (with a Halti). But as soon as Lurchers are off lead she goes bonkers.
Do I have to wait til 12 months? Happy to hear we do but she howls and goes on ridiculous!! Am plotting a plan of action with sitting and treats /praise if she sits and waits while they have a daft run off (dunes and totally empty!). They do have separate walks on a morning but altogether pm.
She is very very loud!
Ears currently ringing!
Youngest ddog is now 7 and all memory of dpuppyhood has gone!!

Is the off lead restricted to avoid injury? My parents in law had a whippet (so similarly quick) that used to go so fast it would injure itself very easily by turning too quickly as a puppy.

What was the logic behind waiting?

Something to do with joints (odd name?) and she tbh doesn't have much control over the longest legs she has!

Similar to whippets then. Long legs, speed and poor co ordination as a puppy could result in an injury.

I bet she'll be like a rocket when she is allowed off lead though!

She is a blur as it is!! More worried about accident and no vet!

Parents in law whippet has ripped out a dew claw and damaged pads on paws when off lead running as a pup. Completely recovered but just a result of turning too quickly at high speed.

She has had pulled muscles and had her foot stood on by our husky and hobbled for ages! Drama queen already!
Think def going to wait a bit. So hard though when our place is so empty and ddoggy friendly atm!!
Lurchers are so much more easy going!
Not sure what I was thinking going outside the box!

Saluki cross what other breed?

A year with no off-lead seems a long time tbh.

Its to fo with joint/bone formation and avoiding arthritis when they are puppies you are only supposed to give them restricted exercise.
5 minutes per month age twice a day so if pup is three months then 15 mins twice a day etc.

I've got whippets and they've all gone off lead, including running freely with my older dogs, right from day one. Initially, from eight weeks, just in the garden but as soon as vaccinations allow out on walks as well. In fact they all got plenty of opportunities for free running (again, including with adult dogs) whilst they were still with the breeder. Never had any injuries (nor any possibly related problems as they've got older) plus it's great for recall training to start whilst they're really small and less likely to wander, particularly when you've got reliable adult dogs to help!

Honestly it would never occur to me to keep a sighthound puppy on lead until they're a year old to protect their joints. They're not particularly prone to joint issues anyway and exercise is important for both physical development and maintaining a healthy body weight, the latter being one of the biggest environmental factors in avoiding joint problems.

I'd recommend having a read of this article (written by this chap) about restricting the exercise of young dogs with aim of protecting them from joint issues. I'd also recommend this blog post, although it's specifically about hip dysplasia (which may or may not be the particular issue your breeder is concerned about) it does touch on exercise in puppies/young dogs.

Very helpful thanks!! Her df is full saluki. Dm is deerhound /greyhound cross.

That's interesting reading. I have a scent hound (basset) so speed is not an issue. Always been advised 5 mins exercise per month of age because their bones are heavy and need to develop.

TBH I didn't stick to this as I didn't want an unhealthy and potentially over weight dog, as excess weight seems far worse for their joints. Had no issues so far and she is very healthy and fit.

Parents in law may have just had a very clumsy puppy!

I let her off!! She beat the others back!!
Didn't go far and just for about ten mins - could feel my BP rising!!.

With a big breed like deerhound in the mix you need to limit exercise. Even on lead.
At 6 months my wolfhound pup plays in the garden. We rarely venture further. It’s not joints. It’s growth plates.

She is only having less than half an hour twice a day. Dd takes her in the morning alone and I take her evening with our other ddogs. (3).
Ah knew it was leg related!! Having a dpuppy at this time had been very stressful to say the least.

At 5 months anywhere close to an hour a day is way too much. Especially for anything with giant hound in it.

What would you suggest? She has a lazy stroll in the morning and a faster pace with the other ddogs at night.