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Zebedee · Moderator

Unfortunately Kim's photo of the lovely Dylan has pushed the topic window on the original thread too wide, so horizontal scrolling is necessary. Don't worry about it Kim, Nuke's promised new "auto-resize" coding will sort out the problem. Very Happy

A new (continuation) thread will make the reading easier.
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Hi All

I love Dylan. One of my favourite breeds, and isn't he a smasher. Very Happy

Thanks for the suggestions about limiting the exercise for the pup. I'm not about to pontificate here since I'm no sort of expert, but I think in part at least it's a bit of an urban myth.

I think it has come about from advice given to owners of large and heavy dogs (like the gorgeous Dylan and Duke) where it obviously makes sense to limit the leaping around until they are older, since their body weight could certainly put a strain on immature limbs. There is conflicting advice here though, and plenty of it if you browse the web. It is often suggested that playing with your puppy in the back garden, throwing a ball etc. is safer than taking them for a walk. I can't believe that, since a controlled walk is a steady plod which puts little strain on any limbs. Racing after a ball involves acceleration, twisting, leaping, skidding to a halt - all the things that would surely put a strain on their limbs, not helped at all by the great excitement it is bound to generate.

I did ask both breeder and vet when "PQ" was having her innoculations, and they both gave more or less the same advice.
1) Walk her on a lead so you can exercise control.
2) Build up the exercise gradually, starting with about half a mile (equivalent to about 10 minutes steady plod).
3) Don't encourage her to chase balls or leap over ditches etc. until she has almost stopped growing.
4) Two or three short walks are better than one long one, but if you can only go out once per day make sure she slows down after the initial enthusiasm and walks at an even and steady pace. (It's good for her training anyway.)
5) Watch her "body language". She will tell you when she's getting tired, so give her a rest or make her walk quietly to heel for a while

After reading your comments (and thanks again, they are appreciated) I rang the Bristol University School of Veterinary Science for the final verdict. They advised almost word for word as above, and said that a 5 month old Welsh Terrier should be quite capable of 4 or 5 miles - provided she was controlled and didn't do too much racing back and fore. This would not be so for larger breeds, and something like a St Bernard (Duke!) does need a lot more care, though it should stop short of pampering as they must have regular exercise to develop properly (their words). Slow and steady gentle exercise is best for large breeds, taking care not to let them jump around too much.

The thought that it may be a partial myth is only my opinion of course, but I think the scare stories have come from a mis-matching of the advice. The perfectly sensible suggestions relating to a Dylan or a Duke do not apply anything like so rigidly to a small breed like a Gracie. Question

Phew - what a sermon! Rolling Eyes

Worth passing on I thought for the benefit of others with young dogs. Don't take this as gospel however - I'm only passing on the advice I have been given, and hoping it is sound. Confused

(It did occur to me to wonder why children are treated so differently. "Get away from that Gameboy! Go outside and run around in the fresh air - it will do you good!") Hmmmmm Question

Regards

jobbie

Good advice regarding the dog walking. Sorry about Dylan's photo.

All the best,

Kim

annetony

Thanks for that, I have been walking Tzzie round the block most nights {about 5 minutes slow walk) she is 3 months old now, so I guess I must be doing it right.
Phew!! when I read the title Piddlequick 2 for a moment I thought you had got another pup Laughing

Anne

Pusser

I am just merely curious but if someone named you Piddlequick would you be overjoyed on your first day at school or would you be a tad nervous about it. Surely you could have gone for something like Tyson or Brittany and given her a leg up on the doggy esteem tree.

You just do not think do you at the phsycological damage this may cause doggy later in her life not to mention loss of bladder control.

Zebedee · Moderator

Pusser

Zebedee · Moderator

Pusser