Safe ways to exercise puppies and young dogs

If you have one or more puppies you would have noticed several times during the day that they go "crazy", whirl, run non-stop or jump left and right. Puppies generally have more energy than adult dogs and thus need more relaxation.

Puppies are small, hairy balls that need exercise to stay healthy, but too much exercise is not good for them. It is crucial to know that excessive, prolonged activity can be extremely damaging to the bones and joints of our puppies. Every puppy is different, and the more time you spend with your puppy, the more you will learn how much exercise it takes to keep him happy and healthy!

What to avoid

Excessive running is not recommended for dogs younger than 14 months old, especially in large breeds, until bones and joints are fully developed. At the same time, we must completely avoid high jumps as well as going up and down the stairs.

Talk to your veterinarian or breeder about how much daily activity is appropriate for your puppy, and remember that exercise is a great way to train and socialize your young dog.

Ways to exercise your dog safely

We prefer exercises of short duration and light to moderate intensity.

Walking

Walking with our dogs short to medium distances, e.g. a couple of kilometers, on soft surfaces such as grass or sand.

Swimming

Most dogs love water and swimming is great for dogs with joint problems as it provides low-intensity exercise. A life jacket can help your dog stay in the water longer for optimal training. This exercise, puts minimum pressure on our dog's joints and bones while trains most muscles.

Fetch

Fetch does not have to be boring! Making him run uphill to get a ball or throwing a ball in the water can train our dog a lot. Swap balls, frisbees or other valuable toys to creatively exercise your dog. Along with the recall exercises, you can work on tying your relationship as well, train the COME and LEAVE IT commands.

Obedience

Obedience training may not seem like an exercise at first glance, but practicing recall, retrieving, and strengthening basic commands offers mental stimulation as well as exercise. You can also teach your dog funny new tricks that will come in handy in the future.

Keep training sessions short.

When practicing a basic command, keep the sessions short, about 5 minutes each, and try to have an average of a total of 15-20 minutes a day.

Puppies have a short attention span, so end your session with a positive note, so they are excited about the next session!

It is important to be consistent while training, especially with your tone of your commands. Use the same word and / or signal by hand when teaching your puppy basic signs such as sit, stay and come.

Practice in different environments

Going to a puppy in a new environment, such as a park or on the beach, and asking for a behavior is very different from training at home. This is due to the variety of new images and smells you will encounter outside the home.

Try to practice in different environments to make your dog confident, regardless of his condition. Keep in mind that puppies should not go to areas where there are many dogs until they have completed the vaccination cycle!

Finally, be patient!

Puppies grow and learn, as do young children. They will make mistakes and may not always understand what you are asking. All puppies learn at different speeds, so stay tuned and do not get disappointed.

Maintaining a consistent feeding routine, toilet breaks, naps and play time will make your puppy feel safe - and a safe puppy is ready and able to learn!