Walking?

Is it wrong that I walk Zeke for roughly 30 - 45 mins after work?, he never really runs he generally just walks by my side or sniffs a lot so its not really heavy exercise. Hes 18 weeks today. I do not want to be giving him too much exercise. I feel like if I don't give him a decent walk he is still full of energy when we get home!

Thank you

It is a bit far for his age tbh, I am guilty of it too as I over exercised Logan as a pup at times.

It would be better to maybe to two short walks or maybe a bit of running free time, either off lead or on a training lead. That will he won't be under any stress.

Again, I have done it myself too. Best if possible to think about cutting back

Far too much on lead walking for his age, I'm afraid. He should only be getting about 20 minutes or so on lead, with some off lead play/running around with rest periods whenever he feels he needs it, 2 or 3 times a day.

Forced (on lead) walking before the growth plates have stopped growing and before the ligaments have set will damage him.

As already said it is a little too much all at once.. 2 x 20mins walks per day would be better

Used to feel exactly the same. At that age I was giving Bacchus 30 to 45 mins exercise 3 times a day just to tire him,but as we live virtually across the road from the common, there was very little on-lead walking, he was free to run or rest as he pleased.

All depends how far you go in that 40 minutes - when my youngest one was a puppy I would be out with him for about 45 minutes - yet if I was to walk it, I would have been home within 20 minutes as he would stop, sniff and watch what was going on - so we didn't actually do that much walking. Then at weekends we would be out for about 2 hours, but again only about 20-25 minutes walking - the rest was socialisation.

rescuestaffords wrote:All depends how far you go in that 40 minutes - when my youngest one was a puppy I would be out with him for about 45 minutes - yet if I was to walk it, I would have been home within 20 minutes as he would stop, sniff and watch what was going on - so we didn't actually do that much walking. Then at weekends we would be out for about 2 hours, but again only about 20-25 minutes walking - the rest was socialisation.

Very true. Should have clarified that.

Caryll wrote:Far too much on lead walking for his age, I'm afraid. He should only be getting about 20 minutes or so on lead, with some off lead play/running around with rest periods whenever he feels he needs it, 2 or 3 times a day.

Forced (on lead) walking before the growth plates have stopped growing and before the ligaments have set will damage him.

Agree with this and the 5 minute per month of age to let their neuromuscular systems devolp.

Agree with what's been said, follow the guidelines Loki's never really tired out with the exercise he gets, but it's better than him developing any problems later in life. You can let him have a run about off the lead though, because then he can stop and rest whenever he wants to.

Gwen is the same age! (well one week younger she is 17 weeks) We have been walking her for 20 minutes 2 or 3 times a day! I have though walked her for 45 minutes before but have stopped doing that and divided into 2 shorter walks!

Well whenever we do go a walk he is always off lead as i trust him to come back and always stays close to us or our other dog. Obviously we put him on the lead when there are other dogs on the lead or if we are near the road

Robyn2202 wrote:Well whenever we do go a walk he is always off lead as i trust him to come back and always stays close to us or our other dog. Obviously we put him on the lead when there are other dogs on the lead or if we are near the road

Great that you can trust him like that. Bacchus was the same at that age but since he has become more confident he explores more ( in safe areas of course ) and goes completely deaf when he wants to say hello to other people or dogs.
Do you reckon your other dog helps in that respect?