|
Post by daisysmum on Jan 18, 2012 14:55:37 GMT 1
An owner of two whippets (one 3yrs, one a young pup) told me recently that whippet puppies shouldn't be allowed to run free / off-lead until they reach 1 year of age (to prevent joint damage I think). My whippet is 2 yrs and has run off-lead from a few months old....
I am curious what the general advice is on this subject.
|
|
|
Post by whippetywoo on Jan 18, 2012 19:46:32 GMT 1
I think 'over exercising' is not recommended for young puppies in general (not just whippets). However, it is hard to stop a young energetic puppy from tearing around. When my whippet was very young, I just tried to limit the amount of tearing about by having short bursts of exercise, several times a day rather then let her run around until she was exhausted. Rightly or wrongly I did not have her on a lead very much at all. I wanted to get a good solid recall above everything else and that was not possible on a lead. She's still nuts now at 14 months, never on a lead, and does what she was born to do !! ;D
|
|
jane
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by jane on Jan 23, 2012 16:08:10 GMT 1
Blimey, I hope that first advice given to daisysmum isn't right!
Our new 3 month old puppy tears about with our grown up boys in the garden, but like whippetywoo it's just for short bursts. Our 4 year old we had as a puppy - he was allowed off lead long before he was 1 year old and he's in fine shape, with good joints.
The walking rule that Scruples' Jane Wood told me was 5 minutes for every month of age - but that's on lead and it's to protect a puppy from being dragged on a long walk that exhausts it. When we picked Lara up from Jane's, Lara was bounding about the field and Jane said that anything under her own steam was fine, within reason. Obviously being allowed to have loads of rest and sleep is also part of it.
Hope that helps
|
|
|
Post by maddie on Jan 25, 2012 17:54:08 GMT 1
I know they are a lot bigger, but deerhound puppies can run around freely (obviously somewhere safe!!!) but should not be road walked ie. on a lead until they are twelve months. This is apparently to let their bones form properly. I would think it is the same for most puppies.
|
|