Christmascinnamoncookie
Fais pas chier!
Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care
41 m ·
''Exercising Puppies
There is an article doing the rounds 'busting the myth' of only exercising pups for 5minutes per month of life. I'd share it, but I got blocked for criticising aspects of the article!
There are two proven non-gentic risk factors for hip dysplasia that I have seen papers on. These are rearing on a slippery surface and stair climbing in young pups. Neither was mentioned in the article. A study on crating GSD pups from the 70s was mentioned, and I agree this was a poor study. We can't prevent joint disease by keeping pups in small cages, and if we could it would be to the detriment of their physical and mental health in other ways. The author says that baby wolves do huge migrations, but dogs aren't wolves. Wolves don't have the luxury of dying of old age. True enough... we can test our genetics to destruction by exercising our young dogs hard, and this is probably how the Victorian dog breeders avoided genetic disease. If mum and dad were brother and sister and they dog wasn't crippled by 2 years old from jumping 5 bar gates as a pup then the genetics were probably sound!
So why the '5 minute rule' ? It's simple. People like simple. Remember 'hands, face, space'? Simple. I think (hope) it has been a long time since vets and breeders blindly trotted out this rule, but it does get the idea across that puppy exercise needs some limits. Left to their own devices pups run, jump, climb, play, sleep. LOTS of sleep. The risk on long lead walks is that they get tired then trip and stumble and sprain ligaments. I've seen it even if I haven't published a paper on it. So lead walks are fine, and the odd longer one on weekends is also fine, but watch for your pup needing a rest. Free play is great! Your pup will develop balance and co-ordination and stress the joints in a way that promotes strong growth. But free play with a bigger or older dog risks injuries. I've seen too many growth plate fractures from adult- pup rough and tumble. It is great for dog social skills, but step in when it gets too rowdy.
Jumping? What about jumping? Again, in moderation it won't destroy a genetically healthy joint but going over and over and over full height agility equipment... repetitive movements can cause abnormal loading and damage. I'm not a fan of pups jumping in and out of trucks, chasing balls, or doing lots of stairs either. But if they pop a log in the woods or do parkour over the sofa back (mine!) then don't panic. Remember your pup needs 16-18 hours sleep and that too much running and chasing can stimulate them rather than wearing them out. Not all exercise has to be physical. Do some training! It is low physical impact but mentally exhausting.
The TL
R
There are no hard and fast guidelines for safe puppy exercise. Encourage your pup to have free play as well as lead walks always stopping for a rest if they are tired. Build up walks gradually and don't use long walks or ball chasing as an alternative to mentally stimulating your pup.''
Interesting, as at 10 months, I have only just allowed the pups upstairs under supervision. I don't really see the need for them to come up, but I allow it if I am there to slow down the descent!
41 m ·
''Exercising Puppies
There is an article doing the rounds 'busting the myth' of only exercising pups for 5minutes per month of life. I'd share it, but I got blocked for criticising aspects of the article!
There are two proven non-gentic risk factors for hip dysplasia that I have seen papers on. These are rearing on a slippery surface and stair climbing in young pups. Neither was mentioned in the article. A study on crating GSD pups from the 70s was mentioned, and I agree this was a poor study. We can't prevent joint disease by keeping pups in small cages, and if we could it would be to the detriment of their physical and mental health in other ways. The author says that baby wolves do huge migrations, but dogs aren't wolves. Wolves don't have the luxury of dying of old age. True enough... we can test our genetics to destruction by exercising our young dogs hard, and this is probably how the Victorian dog breeders avoided genetic disease. If mum and dad were brother and sister and they dog wasn't crippled by 2 years old from jumping 5 bar gates as a pup then the genetics were probably sound!
So why the '5 minute rule' ? It's simple. People like simple. Remember 'hands, face, space'? Simple. I think (hope) it has been a long time since vets and breeders blindly trotted out this rule, but it does get the idea across that puppy exercise needs some limits. Left to their own devices pups run, jump, climb, play, sleep. LOTS of sleep. The risk on long lead walks is that they get tired then trip and stumble and sprain ligaments. I've seen it even if I haven't published a paper on it. So lead walks are fine, and the odd longer one on weekends is also fine, but watch for your pup needing a rest. Free play is great! Your pup will develop balance and co-ordination and stress the joints in a way that promotes strong growth. But free play with a bigger or older dog risks injuries. I've seen too many growth plate fractures from adult- pup rough and tumble. It is great for dog social skills, but step in when it gets too rowdy.
Jumping? What about jumping? Again, in moderation it won't destroy a genetically healthy joint but going over and over and over full height agility equipment... repetitive movements can cause abnormal loading and damage. I'm not a fan of pups jumping in and out of trucks, chasing balls, or doing lots of stairs either. But if they pop a log in the woods or do parkour over the sofa back (mine!) then don't panic. Remember your pup needs 16-18 hours sleep and that too much running and chasing can stimulate them rather than wearing them out. Not all exercise has to be physical. Do some training! It is low physical impact but mentally exhausting.
The TL
RThere are no hard and fast guidelines for safe puppy exercise. Encourage your pup to have free play as well as lead walks always stopping for a rest if they are tired. Build up walks gradually and don't use long walks or ball chasing as an alternative to mentally stimulating your pup.''
Interesting, as at 10 months, I have only just allowed the pups upstairs under supervision. I don't really see the need for them to come up, but I allow it if I am there to slow down the descent!
