Comments on: Labrador Puppy Exercise: With Puppy Walking Chart By Age

By: Mohinihi

Mohinihi — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 15:48:45 +0000

Hello there. I have a question how many times in a day should I walk my puppy.

By: Anya

Anya — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 20:47:55 +0000

Hey there,

Great article. I have a 10 month old lab retriever. I find it very difficult to exercise him as he’s always on the hunt for faeces when I let him off the lead. On the lead he will listen to my command to leave it. Now I have to monitor him closely and feel he’s missing out on vital exercise because it. I have my own dog walking business and he comes on walks with me. I want to go jogging with him but I know he’s too young. so what age would you recommend i do little jog sessions with him?

By: Pippa

Pippa — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:48:33 +0000

In reply to Rachael Lang. As swimming is not weight-bearing, in theory it should not put a strain on the joints. :)

By: Pippa

Pippa — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:47:34 +0000

In reply to HB. The problem is, there is no real evidence to support the five minute rule, it's just a guideline. So no-one can tell you whether or when to abandon it :) Having said that, most people stop worrying about it once the dog passes his first birthday, and some well before that. The joints are at their most vulnerable while the dog is growing fast, and most experts recommend you avoid jarring actions (such as jumping) until after the first birthday. Again, these are precautions. There is no strong evidence to support them so no-one can give you a definite date or instruction. Sorry we can't be more specific, try not to overdo things while your pup is still growing, just in case.

By: HB

HB — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 08:53:05 +0000

can I ask – at what point does the caution/five-minute rule stop? is it ok to start increasing walks (gradually) at 6 months, when the chart above finishes? when is the potential risk to joints over?

By: Rachael Lang

Rachael Lang — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 15:25:47 +0000

Hi Pippa
I’m an avid reader of your books and articles which are really helpful. My lab is now 6 months. We live on the coast and he simply adores swimming! I have been wondering if I should restrict how much swimming he does? I’d not think swimming would strain any of his developing joints but I’m not sure. Have you any idea at all?

By: Candace Langford

Candace Langford — Sat, 14 May 2016 18:27:09 +0000

If you worry about hip dysplasia, read the new research on how much higher the risk is when you spay or neuter before 12-14 months. I believe it’s double. Gonadal hormones control the development of the Lab’s legs.

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 19:56:28 +0000

my ten week old lab sleeps outside in his kennell since the night i brought him home i locked himin at ten pm with a teddy bear and a blanket and a comfy warm bed for the first week and let him out at 5.30 am and took him for a small walk, he whinged for the fist ten minutes the first two nights and then nothing, after a week i left the kennell door open and now he is no bother he knows where to go to sleep and be warm. however until reading these letters i may have been overwalking him id been walking for around 30 mins every evening so maybe now i will cut that back to 15 mins. he is being very good to train so far just the basics to wait when crossing a road, stop when i stop, not bark at other dogs and sit and lie down. maybe next week i will start on the come command and stay. i hope this article may be helpful to some as the others were helpful to me

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 23:13:10 +0000

I have two sisters, they’ve always had the same food, amount of excercise (I kept to the five minute rule, no jumping which is really difficult with two puppies at once) rest etc. At 11 months Bonnie developed a limp on her front leg. I went to the vet she advised rest at Metacalm and to go back if no better. A week later she was in for X-Rays, then advised to go to a specialist who gave her a CT scan who then advised surgery at another specialist vet. She has elbow dysplasia.
My point is, during all this time of being recommended to see different specialist they gave her vitamins called Synoquin EFA a loading dose of 3 a day) and they have really helped her she hasn’t limped at all in the last week (she’s been taking them for one month) and I have considered her not having the op, but if it re-occurs my insurance won’t cover the treatment. So they will suck the irritating bone fragment out and we can start to build her excercise up again. I have put them both on the vitamins as I believe they made a massive difference.

By: phil

phil — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:59:36 +0000

all great tips, Molly is now 14 weeks, so worried about the distance we walk molly come to work with me so its 2 walks but at weekend its 3 times she is always full of it but she sleeps when we get home we do about a mile max each night, she is crated and can be herd snoring before I get in bed and sleeps till morning, she just needs out asp or there may be a little accident!! just so worried about the walking we do, get so much different advice about how long she goes