Should Puppies Exercise? - Myths and Facts
"Puppies should not be exercised!" declares the dog instructor at the puppy class. But what does that really mean? What is exercise and what is a puppy! Let's dive into the topic of physical activation of a growing dog to clarify the matter.
Puppies and growth
A puppy becomes an adult through physical, emotional, and sexual maturity. Puppies physically mature in stages, with growth rate being rapid in the beginning and slowing down as the puppy gets older. The skeletal structure, ligaments, tendons, and muscles strengthen and develop slowly but surely, with different rates in different phases. This also applies to motor skills, coordination, balance, and proprioception (the sense of self-movement, force, and body position). If you want to read more about the different stages of puppy maturity, you can visit The different stages of puppy maturity - essential information for anyone with a puppy.
How size affects growth
The puppy's (breed's) final size as an adult determines the puppy's growth rate. Smaller breeds are considered fully grown around one year old, while larger breeds continue to grow until they are about two years old. Really large breeds may need an additional six months.
Exercise and physical training: what's the difference?
Exercise typically refers to physical activity of a degree (pace, length, speed, movements) required to keep the body healthy and well. Physical training, on the other hand, aims to challenge and build the body strong or increase fitness.
The risks of too much physical activity
Movement and physical activity are necessary for a puppy's physical development, but too much can overload and cause harm. Especially if it occurs during the growth spurt when the body should focus on growth rather than strength or stamina.
A young puppy should not be overloaded or trained physically (with the purpose of building strength/stamina) as it can lead to joint and bone problems, pain, and inflammation. However, daily and puppy-adapted physical activity (preferably on soft surfaces) is essential for the young puppy to develop and be healthy.
Let your puppy choose the pace and breaks
As a rule, walks should be short before the puppy is four months old. Gentle and developmental exercise is best for small puppies. Let your puppy move freely and variedly, on different surfaces and in light terrain, preferably on its own initiative.
Let your puppy explore the surroundings and her/his own body at her/his own pace. The ability for the puppy to regulate tempo and pause is crucial. You should avoid repetitive movements on harder or slippery surfaces and not let the puppy play or run freely for longer periods on too hard surfaces.
Repetitive movements such as a walk should be taken on softer surfaces and in sections, incorporate multiple breaks where your puppy can sit and rest, look around and recover.
Adapting activity to race
When planning the puppy's physical activity, you should also consider your breed's tolerance for physical load. A Border Collie puppy and a Bulldog puppy will be overloaded with different types and amounts of physical activity.
Overloading should be avoided in the young and growing puppy regardless of breed, but the amount and type that becomes overwhelming can vary for different breeds. A heavy and calmer breed may need to be encouraged to engage in varied movements while a bouncy and active breed may need to be restricted in their physical activities.
Build strong and stable muscles
It's good to let a puppy challenge themselves physically to a moderate extent. Balancing a little, climbing on safe surfaces, walking shorter trails in the underbrush, swimming or tumbling around with a playmate of the same age occasionally helps the puppy coordinate her/himself, which is injury-preventive and builds important muscles.
Supportive muscles near the joints provide stability and muscle mass enables the puppy to carry itself optimally. Studies have shown that dogs with less muscle mass are at a higher risk of hip dysplasia.
Benefits of country life for puppies
An interesting discovery was made during the study: puppies that grew up in the countryside, with a yard and the opportunity for free and unaffected movement on soft surfaces, were at lower risk for hip dysplasia.
The conclusion that can be drawn is that puppies need to move, build stability and develop their coordination, which improves their chances of a healthy and sustainable life.
Adapting activity to the puppy's needs
You shouldn't protect your puppy from physical activity, but rather adapt it and let you puppy regulate her/his own movements, choose surfaces and take breaks at her/his own wish. However, demanding that your puppy keep up during a walk when you have determined the pace and length can be harmful.
Listen to your puppy on walks
If the little one sits down and refuses to walk or is refusing path choices that lead to a longer walk, then your puppy is trying to tell you something. If your puppy runs away when it's time for a walk or dislikes putting on a collar/harness, this may also indicate that the walks are too challenging for your puppy.
Sometimes you need to shorten the distance, other times regular breaks are enough. Letting the puppy's physical activity be self-regulating is a good thing. So listen to your puppy.
Step-by-step puppy training guidelines for puppy exercise
Activities for young puppies
Sniff around and walk short distances with breaks. Moving freely on easy terrain, short trails, playing under supervision, splashing in the water's edge and wading around in it, climbing in moderately hilly terrain, playing a bit moderately with a low-held toy.
Activities for older puppies
Go for longer walks of a few kilometers, take breaks when the puppy asks for it. They can also challenge themselves physically by balancing on low obstacles, tumbling around in hilly terrain, and playing with peer dogs or calmer older dogs. Free, varied, and regular movement is good. Older puppies need to build muscles, and the joints need to move to develop optimally.
Activities for young dogs
Engage in more advanced balance training, more sustained walks on harder surfaces, more challenging climbing in hilly terrain, tracking in forests and fields, easy jogging in sections, activities at a higher pace, short swims, longer play sessions, go up and down stairs, and more rough and tumble games. These activities are suitable for the more stable young dog who still needs to do so in moderation. If you want to read more about the transition from puppy to young dog, check out From Puppy to Adolescent: Handling the Transition.
Activities for the adult dog
Full-on activity if they are healthy and fit. They can engage in freer play, swim longer distances, jump after and hang in a tug-of-war toy, run out in fast sprints and take tight turns, pull and carry, and so much more. Adult dogs also benefit from stamina, balance, and other physical training.
Gradual increase in activity
Transitions between different activity levels should occur gradually, just like when we train ourselves to become stronger and more enduring. Sudden changes can harm a puppy or young dog who has not yet built up enough strength and stability for the increased activity.
Likewise, long and more demanding walks on weekends and easier walks on weekdays are more harmful than a daily walk of about the same intensity. Otherwise, weekends become an overload that wears and damages more than builds and strengthens. No sudden changes simply.
Let one phase of physical activity flow into the other as your puppy grows. Listen to your dog, and consult your veterinarian or a dog physiotherapist if you feel unsure.
Optimal weight and joint pain
A study has shown that a puppy's weight affects the development of joint problems. Regardless of the amount of exercise, overweight puppies are at greater risk of joint problems than slender ones.
However, this does not mean that puppies should be kept too slim, optimal weight is the goal. You should be able to feel the ribs with a light pressure over the chest. Large breeds should be kept extra slim. Consult your veterinarian if you are unsure if your puppyäs weight is ideal.
Stairs and young puppies
A study shows that puppies younger than three months who went up and down stairs on a daily basis were slightly more at risk for hip dysplasia. With the results in mind, it is wise not to let your puppy go up and down too many stairs before three months of age.
Running up and down between the house's floors on its own is not recommended for the young puppy. The puppy can be carried down for part of the stairs and tripped down the last bit itself, which is safer than starting too high up and toddling down quickly.
You can also start letting the puppy climb a third of the stairs after three months of age for a couple of weeks, then half of the stairs on its own, and then the whole stairs. Go behind and give support if needed.
Going up and down the short stairs leading to the front door are no problem for a healthy puppy of any age.
Differences in exercise for small and large breeds
A puppy of a smaller breed can go on slightly longer walks earlier than a puppy of a larger breed. The smaller ones are also easier to carry for shorter distances, which can be more difficult with a larger puppy. Several but shorter rounds usually suit a large breed puppy better.
It is also important to be aware of any puppies' growth periods and behavioral problems that follow.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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