Walking distance for puppy
Discussion
We have a 4.5 month old Working Cocker Spaniel. According to most online searches we should only be walking her for about 20 minutes. The problem with this is that 20 minutes just gets her started, when we get back home she spends the next 30 minutes sprinting around the garden and house. Even after that she has so much energy.
A 20 minute walk doesn't seem long enough to burn her excess energy, we do mental training as well to try and help but she just wants to be out running in the fields.
I just don't want to injure her.
What have other done?
Thanks
A 20 minute walk doesn't seem long enough to burn her excess energy, we do mental training as well to try and help but she just wants to be out running in the fields.
I just don't want to injure her.
What have other done?
Thanks
Had similar trouble. Think it’s an issue for all high energy dogs.
Forced excercise is apparently different to them running around themselves.
We worked on 5 minutes a month ish until we got to 35 ish then stayed at tha until a year old.
Was a hard time for them but there is nothing worse than having an injury they may carry for life.
Forced excercise is apparently different to them running around themselves.
We worked on 5 minutes a month ish until we got to 35 ish then stayed at tha until a year old.
Was a hard time for them but there is nothing worse than having an injury they may carry for life.
The terrain matters
If it is running around a field then you can definitely do more than 20mins (but avoid throwing balls for them to run after)
If you are going on a bit of a rugged trek then caution is needed so as not to overdo it.
Unless his breed line has joint issues I would say you don't need to be quite so stringent as with other breeds just sensible.
There are canine rehab centres that have swim sessions which can be great exercise and safe on the joints if you wanted to try another way of exercise.
If it is running around a field then you can definitely do more than 20mins (but avoid throwing balls for them to run after)
If you are going on a bit of a rugged trek then caution is needed so as not to overdo it.
Unless his breed line has joint issues I would say you don't need to be quite so stringent as with other breeds just sensible.
There are canine rehab centres that have swim sessions which can be great exercise and safe on the joints if you wanted to try another way of exercise.
Edited by bexVN on Sunday 30th September 21:55
When mine was a pup we just let it run around in a field for a bit while attempting to train her. Think she got about 30/40 mins of that then a short walk to the pub. The walk to the pub is what I think they call forced exercise. I found it to be treacherous and difficult but I managed to do it OK. The dog was fine 
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff