How to correctly exercise puppies is so very important. This time of year, puppies are springing up around us like the tulips! It makes us sad to see how so many people have no idea they are actually harming their puppies with exercise. We thought we would offer up a few tips in case you have a new puppy or know someone who does.
Puppies have boundless energy, making it natural for humans to try to tire them out. Most people assume a long walk, or even running with a puppy is perfect because it will wear them out. Sure, they will be tired out, but they may also be damaged for life. Dog’s joints have growth plates which depending on the breed, don’t fully close until at least nine months to a year of age. Too much exercise will damage the growth plates leading to bad joints and arthritis as they start to age.
How To Properly Exercise A Puppy
Once your puppy is approaching a year of age, check with your veterinarian to see if they are ready to start walking, running, and jumping, but prior to that time, there are countless activities to wear out your puppy. Remember, they not only need physical exercise, but mental exercise too.
Play With Other Siblings
If you have other dogs at your house, let them play gently with the puppy. Most dogs instinctively know what a young pup is capable of. It is a great way for the new pup to become better acquainted with her siblings.
Enroll In A Class
Puppy brains are like a sponge. They love to learn and all the learning wears them out mentally. Bailie went to obedience school when she was about four months old. I started school at nine weeks old in a Puppy Einstein course. School is fun, and teaches puppies about new places, socialization, and training.
Take The Puppy Shopping
Many stores allow dogs. Here in our area Home Depot, Lowes, and Hobby Lobby, are just a few. The experience of all the new sights and smells, combined with people will tucker out a little one after just a short visit. To add to the adventure, they can walk around on leash in the store since you are not walking all that far.
Train At Stores For Pets
Kids love to go to toy stores, and puppies love to go to pet stores. The experience will not only be tiring, you can teach her to look and not touch. Bailie wanted to be a shoplifter, but she learned stealing toys at PetCo is not allowed. It is a fun place to go for people and pets.
Start Training Dog Sports
I started learning tracking at nine weeks old. It’s a great way for a puppy to be outside and learn to follow a scent. Since puppies are just learning, one has to start small with tracks that are short, thirty yards or less. Even when the puppy gets good at tracking a full length beginner track is only about five hundred yards. I trained first thing in the morning and received part of my breakfast at the end article as motivation. Not all sports are for young puppies. Consult your veterinarian, or dog school before starting a sport with a young pup.
Work On Muscle Strength
Puppies need to work on building up their muscles and learning about their bodies. One way is to use balancing toys like this K9 Fitbone which works a pups core. If your pup can do sit and down, have them do some dog burpees, by doing sit, down, sit, down. Put a puppy on wobbly or moving items so they learn to not be fearful of the movement.
I hope these tips give you some help in how to correctly exercise puppies. Please don’t walk them for miles, or even worse take them on a run. There are so many wonderful ways to wear out a puppy that are beneficial for them. If you have a puppy, enjoy! Before you know it, you will have a dog!
All that training looks fun and it’s very wise to take it easy to start!
We don’t want puppies to suffer later because they did too much as young ones.
Great tips, Madison!! I wish I’d had this knowledge when Callie and Shadow were puppies. But at least I’ll know better if/when I get a little brother or sister for Ducky. (I think she likes having us all to herself right now.)
My mom found out about it with Katie who was her first puppy. The vet told her not to run or walk real far with her the first year.
thanks for a great post… to find the right way is an important thing… we will get what we raise ,O)
This is very true. I bet your parents are super wild and you never let us know that since you boys are so crazy wild.
Great advice for little Puffin, thank you! I am not a morning dog, and she likes to get in my face first thing. I have to grumble. I do like her and I do play with her. She knows the layout of my house, and it is big. She loves to run and explore. We have to watch her closely, but I kinda think she is fun. XOXO, Sparkle
I’m sure you will become bff’s. Learning to live with another being takes some adjustments. We are all morning folks here which is a good thing. I’m the only one who sometimes likes to sleep in, but I’ll spring to life if we are going out for a walk or run.
Great post and we love your puppy pictures!
Gotta have puppy pics in a puppy post, right 🙂
Doing it right is essential for the health and well being of our babies.
Have a woof woof day. My best to your smart mom. ♥
That is correct. Puppy time will be the foundation for the little one’s life.
Great suggestions, i will keep them in mind any time i see someone with a puppy.
It’s important as many people have not idea about what puppies should or should not do.
This is great advice! Tiring out a puppy can be about so much more than just physical exercise, and I think a lot of people don’t know that.
As pet bloggers and serious pet people we learn so much. I’m always amazed at how much so many dog owners don’t know.
Great post Madison! My mom said she is going to take my brother to the pet store!! He has a lot of energy. I play with him a lot but we need different things to do. Mom also is going to look into that balance exercise. They are doing some training too. My little brother is not like me or Dash. He is testing mom a lot. She was glad to read this post to get new ideas!! Thanks!!! your friend Lilly.
You can also play hide games with him. Like we do our nose work, your mom can hide treats around for him and let him find them. We get more tired out from mental than from physical exercise. Every pup is different, so you have to learn what works best for each of us. He can also work on manners at the pet store like sitting to be petted, etc.
WONDERFUL ADVICE! THANKS
Anytime 🙂
We were very careful with Bentley as a pup because he was so low to the ground and so long! Of course, you know how that goes!!
No jumping or stairs, all that stuff. With Bailie as my influencer, I broke those rules a lot which made Mom nuts, but I listen more to my sister than to my mom.
Great information!