Exercise for the older dog !

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Biglets Mummy

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Hi All,
Can I pick the forums brains again please?
I am the proud Mum of 2 German short haired pointers who are coming up for their 12th birthday.
They are both in good health and pretty fit although a little back end wobbly first thing in the morning.
Until about 6 months ago they were walked twice a day once along the lanes on a lead for about a mile and then ad lib play over with the horses in their 4 acre field.
I had noticed that they are slowing down on the walks and a few times the male will return to gate and sit waiting to go home. They both then sleep like the dead !
I am lucky enough to work from home and have recently moved so currently they are walked offlead in a large field once in the evening and have complete run of a secure 1 acre garden all day. They tend to have a play,do their business and then lie by my feet in the office all day popping out when they feel like it.I plat ball with them,sticks etc so they do have a run around.
I thought they were happy until a neighbor said that they should have a good couple of miles walk twice a day to keep them fit as they get older.
I feel awful and as if I have let them down but the last time I took them on a big long walk ( about 3 mths ago) they were shattered after an hour so I came home.The bitch kept lying down.
Should I force ( hate that word) them to walk more even though they clearly get exhausted and are stiff the next day or let them have these short bursts of exercise ended with a good run around the field at night for half an hour.They seem pretty happy with life and are a good weight.
Thanks in advance.
 
i would walk them for 20mins twice a day on the lead and increase it by 5 mins each day once a week if they are happy to do more, get them checked by a vet in case they need some arthritis management and stop throwing a ball/sticks as lots of twisting and turn and speed starts are not so good for the body.
 
At that age and if they are wobbly I would just let them potter at their own pace whilst 'moving forwards' around the fields TBH and like Twiggy said, no high-impact/explosive stuff.

They're your dogs, they're getting on, unless they are morbidly obese or a bag of bones, it's not really your neighbours concern.
 
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CaveCanem said:
At that age and if they are wobbly I would just let them potter at their own pace whilst 'moving forwards' around the fields TBH and like Twiggy said, no high-impact/explosive stuff.

They're your dogs, they're getting on, unless they are morbidly or a bag of bones, it's not really your neighbours concern.
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I thought that Cavecanem !! But people have to stick their nose in dont they ! LOL ! Good advice twiggy2.They are both on ( ad have been for 6 months ) glucosomine and a multi vit for joints etc but I will try and see how they go with more structured walking ! Thanks guys ! xxx
 
My oldest dog is 15.5 yrs old and has enjoyed going to hydrotherapy for the last few years, just once a month. Last Friday she seemed to collapse after her usual gentle treatment. Fortunately there was a vet close by and he checked her over. Sadly he discovered my lovely girl has a heart murmur on her left side, but thankfully she isn't at the stage yet when she needs medication to help her, but I know it's only a matter of time... the reason I'm telling you this OP is that prior to this incident, we had increased her exercise slightly, because with the cooler weather, she seemed so much fitter, and eager to join the pack on longer walks. In hindsight, we should have stuck to our normal routine of walking her separately on shorter walks. Her heart wouldn't have been strained. if only...
 
Superhot said:
My oldest dog is 15.5 yrs old and has enjoyed going to hydrotherapy for the last few years, just once a month. Last Friday she seemed to collapse after her usual gentle treatment. Fortunately there was a vet close by and he checked her over. Sadly he discovered my lovely girl has a heart murmur on her left side, but thankfully she isn't at the stage yet when she needs medication to help her, but I know it's only a matter of time... the reason I'm telling you this OP is that prior to this incident, we had increased her exercise slightly, because with the cooler weather, she seemed so much fitter, and eager to join the pack on longer walks. In hindsight, we should have stuck to our normal routine of walking her separately on shorter walks. Her heart wouldn't have been strained. if only...
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Oh Superhot ! I am so sorry to hear this ! How awful for you and I am sending heaps of love to your lovely girl. Thank you so much for sharing this with me as it is so good to get all perspectives. I looked at my 2 last night having a run in the field and thought I will let them do what they are capable of and watch for when its too much. I truly hope your girl is ok xxxxx Thanks again.
 
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