7 month old BC and exercise

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dragonflys

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What would be the right amount of exercise for a border collie, age 7 months?

She is very lively and would run, walk, play all day if she could but that I know would not be good!

At the moment i just walk her (off lead where lack of roads permits) and play ball in the garden, but no jumping etc.

She is outside most of the day with me and my horses, but that doesnt mean a lot of running about.

Thanks for replies :)
 
I'd say short bursts a couple of times a day, exercise and brain exercise as well as physical training, bursts of heelwork, sits, downs, stays etc, hide and seek, finding toys, won't be long til she's 12 months and you can do more work.
You can also start the groundwork for agility, weaves, tunnels, directions, turns, that sort of thing.

I like the analogy, I would like to eat chips for every meal and I physically could, but it doesn't mean it is good for me!
 
No, chips not good! Nor for BC's either although she would say different.
Thanks for that, something to work with.

I have electric fence poles so could set some of those up in the garden, bit of interest for her?

Someone told me that agility makes BC's even more hyper than they can be already - is this so in your experience?

Thanks again : )
 
Someone I know does agility, and until her youngster BC was 12 months old they had to be very careful - no big apparatus like the catwalks or A frames, the lowest little jumps and extra wide weaves, to protect her growing joints.:)

Their club did a special puppy class, you could always find your local club and see if they have something similar?
 
I rang up the local agility place last week to see if someone wanted to handle my BC - was recommended against it as some collies can be 'ignited' by it - and in our situation it would make matters worse.

Also when he was a puppy was told they would not accept him for agility until he was 12 mths because of his joints.

Hope that helps?
 
Thanks for all replies.

Well I think i will make up my own little agility course but not make it too exciting....!
There is a local agility group but there is not mention of not doing too much at an early age, which i find a little worrying...
These things also remind me of toddler groups when my children were small and that fills me with fear and dread.

We have done a little sheep work, which she loves and so do i so will maybe try to get back into that again.

At the end of the day, she is just my little border collie, and i will never have sheep etc, but i just want her to be a happy dog without hyping her up too much.
So thanks all for ideas and views, all very useful :)
 
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