riding my bicicle

[riele14]

Hello everybody,

Forgive me if my english isn't so good. (i'm from the Netherlands).

My Rott is 7 months old and my question is:

Can I let him walk next to me when I'm riding my bike, or is it still to early for that?????

Please help me out!!

[damp]

It’s TOO early!!!

Check this site out...when and how to condition for bicycling:

http://siriusdog.com/ad.htm/sirius

[rottnvegas]

Riele, your dogs bones are still very soft and developing. If you run them too long now you risk dysplasia of the hips and elbows. Wait till at least a year and a half before you do any heavy road work. Good luck

[riele14]

Hello Damp and Rottnvegas,

I thank you for your replies. Here in Holland is a very great differcity of meanings about this subject. Some people say you can run at the age of 6 months and others talk about to wait until the dog is one year old. So I hope you'll understand that I'm confused and didn't know what to do.
My conclusion is that I'll wait for him to be 1,5 years old and than start conditioning. Better wait than to start to early and risk HD. But what sort of training/ excercise can I do now at this age to keep him in a good condition???? Take him for walks and let him play in the woods???

Daniëlle

[rottnvegas]

riele, some great fun you can have with your young pup is swimming. If you are near some clean ponds or lakes, it is very good for muscle development to get your dog swimming early. Also anything light such as walks in the wood are fine. You just don't want them going crazy...keep us updated.

[riele14]

Hello rottnvegas,

Thank you for your reply. Swimming is a great idea. Leo just loves te be around water, but until now he only runs into the water. The water comes feet-high and he runs back to me. He hasn't actualy swum yet. Maybe when I throw a ball in the water, he will swim to get it.

[TrishB]

I'm sure you'll also find that a 7 month old puppy keeps himself pretty fit. I'm sure that he plays and keeps himself very busy on his own! Walks, playing fetch, swimming, all of these are more than enough for a happy, healthy puppy.

As you've decided already - wait until he's a year and a half before asking more of him. Just take this time to enjoy him as the puppy he is!

[riele14]

[ TrishB [/i]
I'm sure you'll also find that a 7 month old puppy keeps himself pretty fit. I'm sure that he plays and keeps himself very busy on his own! Walks, playing fetch, swimming, all of these are more than enough for a happy, healthy puppy.

As you've decided already - wait until he's a year and a half before asking more of him. Just take this time to enjoy him as the puppy he is! [/quote]

You're right. And I do.
So does my other dog Oscar (he is a Jack Russell). They are the best of friends and have lots of fun chasing each other in our garden

[tomsdog]

I had a male rottie that , when he was about 6 mos. old, could not stay afloat. He would dog paddle like crazy in my friends pool, but would slowly start sinking. I would have to hold him. He had no fear of the water and would keep jumping into the pool. He didn't seem concerned when he would start sinking.

[riele14]

Thanks,

I'll keep that in mind. I'll let him swim somewhere where I can help him when he is in some kind of trouble.