At what age...

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TayloredEq

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Hi everyone, just wondering at what age you think I can start to take Bear for walks? he is currently 13weeks old GSD.

He and Mojo have the run of the yard during the day and generally exercise themselves (8am - 6pm) they then sleep from approx 8pm - 7am.

There have been the odd days when I have thought it would be nice to go for a walk on the hill and take the other dogs too. But I have been told that big dogs should be limited in the amount of exercise they do when young.

So when can I start and how much can I do?
 
Free running, such as they are getting now, is more than enough. However if you want to train them to walk on the lead, short walks of ten minutes at this age is OK.

Some experts recommend only free-running until about ten months (ETA - this isn't really suitable for most people in terms of socialising the dog). Be careful not to do too much with them while they are under a year old.
 
Cool, but remember I am no expert with baby pups, we tend to get ours older, maybe someone else can offer better advice, but that's always what I've been taught.
If they are free-running it means they self regulate, if you know what I mean?


Good luck with puppy class!
 
I would get them out for short walks, to teach them some leash manners and get them accustomed to life on the lead and the outside world, the free running u are giving them is great for them, but the lead exercise is better for u, to teach them some basic training, b4 they become fully grown hudalms(sp) if u end up keeping the both of them, even more reason to get started early.
 
MurphysMinder here,using daughters login. As HH says really, just running loose is enough at 12 weeks. You could take them little walks of 10 minutes for lead training. When Evie was about 4 months I used to walk her to the post box just to get her used to traffic, only 200 yards or so.. You could perhaps go into the village to introduce them to such things. Evie started proper walks at about 6 months,but she is out for a maximum of one hour.
 
Back as myself now. Have read your post properly insted of skimming over daughers shoulder, when I say Evie is going proper walks now I mean mainly road work on lead. I won't be letting her go mad on cross country walks off lead until she is fully grown, i.e. about 12 months, and in her case until the little horror has learned to come back even if there are interesting smells about
frown.gif
 
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