Labrador Puppy

[achangeisasgoodas]

We have a lovely lab puppy, she is now 14 weeks old so is able to go out and about for 15-20 minute walks. However as a family we are used to going for considerably longer walks and we are really missing these at the moment.

My question is for large breed owners, what did you do when they were puppies!? She's too heavy to carry with us and too young really to leave at home! Do we just stop walking so far until she's old enough? DH suggested getting out our old mountain buggy and I'm not sure if that is ridiculous or genius!! The other option is to leaver her in the car once she's had a 15 minute blast since it's not hot at the moment but I'm worried about her being stolen.

Your DH is officially a genius! .

Yep we used a buggy and a rucksack. You may have to do some work to get the puppy used to it before you go out and about.

A few treats in the buggy not moving , then increasing to slight movement etc.

Enjoy your walks

You just have to build it up, 5 minutes for every month of their life till a year

We have a border collie and followed the 5 minutes for each month, until 6 months old, when we did a longer walk each week of about 3/4 hour, then a 30 rest and then another 3/4 hour walk home.

Thanks for the replies, we definitely don't want to go above the rule of the 5 mins per month especially given how fast she's growing. It's more about how we can take her with us without her having to walk!

Pram sounds like it might be a winner and I'll check it the backpack idea too.

The five minute rule has been completely debunked.

What is important is the type of exercise rather than amount.

So NO stair climbing or slipping and sliding on wooden floors or chasing balls but basic walking and running when the dog can regulate themselves is fine.

Key point though is regulate themselves so 14 month old puppy should be sleeping loads and given the opportunity to do so.

Completely debunked? Why would you over exercise a puppy? You wouldn't do that to a toddler

Her pup is also 14 weeks. Not months

Why no chasing balls? Our 15 week cocker loves this in our garden. And we try not to let her go on the stairs but she doesn't agree with that part of the puppy book....

I think a mountain buggy type will be a great idea! If you can get them stay in it :) otherwise maybe take it turn for one of you to stay home with pup until it's old enough to do more. These small sacrifices we make when they are young mean they will be able to do more when they are older so it's worth it in the long run. Unfortunately our little 8 month lab is currently on lead walks only with suspected elbow dysplasia so she's gone to slowly building up to do a good length walk and now back to 20 mins on lead :(
I think you are meant to play fetch with them when they are too young as the sudden running and stopping and turning involved is extra pressure on their joints - I could be wrong though!

Debunked or not, I would always stick to the five minute rule regardless, especially with a large breed known for dysplasia like a Labrador.
I just wouldn’t take any chances

@Sheepareawesome

Why no chasing balls? Our 15 week cocker loves this in our garden. And we try not to let her go on the stairs but she doesn't agree with that part of the puppy book....

No chasing balls because of the impact it can have on growing joints. They often run quickly land awkwardly when chasing balls which can lead to serious joint and muscle damage.

We didn't allow it until ours was 12 months. Same with stairs - we carried him.

Excellent video by specialist on causes of Hip dysplasia on CAMS facebook page. Long but well worth a watch.

The main reason is being overweight. Overweight dogs have a 30% greater chance of getting HD and at an early age.

Lean dogs have a 7% chance of HD but not usually before 11 yrs of age.

A dog with HD but is lean will not show symptons and it will not afect lifestyle until much later in life than an overweight dog.

Correct exercise prevents HD, castration in many breeds does not affect HD if performed at correct time for breed.

Correct exercise being walking and running.

Stairs and slipping on wooden floors etc will damage hips. Flyball and agility can cause injury.

The 5 min rule has always been wrong. Came about by GSD used in an experiement. Caged GSD had their legs pinned in a position to put less pressure on hips and uncaged GSD did not have the same position on them. The caged GSD had less HD, but this was due to the hip position not the lack of exercise. It is a bit like the 5 a day no scientific reason for it and chinese whispers has kept it going.

I meant are NOT meant to play fetch with them. Sorry typing to quick on my phone and not checking

@PollyRoulson

Excellent video by specialist on causes of Hip dysplasia on CAMS facebook page. Long but well worth a watch.

The main reason is being overweight. Overweight dogs have a 30% greater chance of getting HD and at an early age.

Lean dogs have a 7% chance of HD but not usually before 11 yrs of age.

A dog with HD but is lean will not show symptons and it will not afect lifestyle until much later in life than an overweight dog.

Correct exercise prevents HD, castration in many breeds does not affect HD if performed at correct time for breed.

Correct exercise being walking and running.

Stairs and slipping on wooden floors etc will damage hips. Flyball and agility can cause injury.

The 5 min rule has always been wrong. Came about by GSD used in an experiement. Caged GSD had their legs pinned in a position to put less pressure on hips and uncaged GSD did not have the same position on them. The caged GSD had less HD, but this was due to the hip position not the lack of exercise. It is a bit like the 5 a day no scientific reason for it and chinese whispers has kept it going.

Please could you clarify what the CAMS facebook page is please I tried to search it but can't find it.

I would be really interested to read the up to date advice as the books we have are about 10 years old and definitely say the 5 mins, and no agility, both of which we are sticking to. We only have 1 room with wooden floor though and she is rarely in there so that is one thing we are doing right at least!

However we haven't heard about no balls / fetch and she loves that so it is a real concern if we shouldn't do that.

The 5 minute thing isn’t wrong... if you’re doing it as most advocates intend - which is to limit anything where the puppy can’t or won’t set it’s own pace.

Ambling about off lead doesn’t count, on lead at your pace does, as do fast paced games a puppy would find too exciting to stop for a rest.

It’s not about anything awful happening after you run out of time, it’s just a useful rule of thumb to keep certain activities shorter until they’ve built up stamina and finished growing.

@Sheepareawesome* (totally agree with your username)

Link here re HD in dogs prevention and causes and why the 5 min rule is debunked

These are specialists in their field. Mike Farrell is a highly respected qualified vet. He has worked for Fitzpatrick to give some reference to non vetty people.

I would say the 5 mon rule it wrong. Exercise is good for puppies BUT obviously self regulated and specific eg walking and low impact running. Not jumping twisting chasing or running up stairs

Sorry re balls.

Balls are ok but it depends how you use them.

If you fling the ball at speed with a ball flinger the dog charges after the ball comes to an abrupt halt at the ball and twists to catch it - you will have a buggered dog over time (also dodgy teeth as most balls wear down a dogs teeth!)

If you throw the ball slowly, have the dog in a controlled wait and send to a dead still ball you will have less impact on the dog. They will regulate their speed to the ball, run straigh not twist and not have to put on the brakes when they reach the ball as they can calculate the speed needed. However relentless chasing to a still ball is not reall beneficial. A couple of throws of use it for a game after recall is fine but exercise only using a ball is not great for most dogs.

However using a ball to hide, so they can sniff it out, using a ball for the dog to catch if thrown directely to the dog at a short distance, slowly kicked on the floor and dog sent to it when it is still is obviously better.