Exercise...what is enough?

[Karsuepas]

Hi All,

I can really use some advice with knowing when it is time to stop exercising. I take my rottie every day to the dog park. When I get her leash to put it on her she gets very excited and starts panting because she is running around so much. She is still a puppy (10 months). We then walk 5 blocks to the dog park. I take a ball with me so that she can fetch. She loves to play ball. However, I become very concerned because she is panting and I do not know how to tell if she is very overheated. She will continue to play until her paws are raw if I do not stop her. I love to see her out there playing but I am very concerned. I take water with me and she will sometime drink but most of the time all she wants to do is play. There are times when I think she has had enough and we get ready to walk home ( 5 blocks) and she looks totally worn out but when we get home she still wants to play ball. The weather is not really hot here yet. What will I do when the temps reach 80's?

[SABELLESMOM]

Doesn't sound to me like 10 blocks of walking and ball tossing in between (how long 30min?) should hurt a 10 month old Rottie pup. Do you work with her as well? I mean training sessions like obedience or something.
Unless there is a physical problem like hips, or heart, etc. It doesn't sound like this is too much. You may wish to cut it down some when it's very hot, though. My pup drank more water during summer exercise than any other time.
I used to (still) cut the running around time (ball toss) a bit, and I went during the cooler early morning or later evening hours. I also split the sessions walking and ball tossing) in to 2. My husband would take her for at least 2 walks of 3-5 blocks each. The training sessions were occasionally combined with a walk in the park when it was too hot.
For instance, early in the morning you could drive to the park and toss a ball for the usual 1/2-1 hour. Then, later in the evening, or after a summer shower, take a 10 block walk. If you're still concerned, break the regimen into 3-4 parts.
It's nice to have them home, enjoying the A/C nice and tired, after a long cool drink, isn't it? If you want to add some fun get a kiddie pool. They love to lay in it on hot days out of the sun.

[Rott-Wiley]

Heat is a real problem here in Florida so I am very concerned when I take my dog out to play catch. She loves to chase after a tennis ball and immediately bring it back for me to throw again. She will literaly get overheated if I would allow it. We always stay out of direct sunlight -- not hard because it is extremely wooded where I live. Every time she brings the ball back to me, I run my hand down her back and actually feel how warm her coat and back are getting. As soon as she starts to get too warm we come back inside to the air conditioning. Also we don't go out to play or for walks during the hotter part of the day.

[chuss]

my 10 month pup is the same. Hyper active and will slow down after about 1 hour of vigorous exercise, but will always want more 5 seconds later!!!
It's quite hotter here than what you guys experience and she copes fine. I hose her down with cool water before we go out to play, whilst we are playing and after. This includes heaps of water before and after activity.

I've now started taking her for a 20 minute walk in the morning and a good 1 hour at night and she's fine and not over-exerted or anything like that.

[legalbeagle]

A healthy Rottie will pant just thinking about exercise and playing. :)

Mine can't see me touch the collars and leads because they get so worked up, they dance and leap like gazelles in the house, driving me mad.

At this time of year in the US and the Northeast [and other places as well, but maybe not FL], it's relatively cool still. Temps in the 40's at night and highs in the 50's to the low 60's [farenheit]. Rotties definitely should enjoy spring, because summer here in the Northeast is sweltering. Many days over 100F and not counting the humidity. Mosquitos big enough to drain a small dog.

Seriously, running and playing and panting is part of owning a Rottweiler or other large Molosser breed dog. They all pant, even during the coldest weather. Mine were panting and hot during the huge snows here, with the wind blowing at near gale force and literally freezing my lips and nose solid. I thought they'd freeze but no way. I had to drag them inside.

During summer, just carry lots of water and follow suggestions posted previously. Don't do direct sunlight in the summer or when temps outside hit 78F or so; stick to the shade and exercise during the early AM or later evenings, right before the mosquitos come out. Remember to use a repellant on the dog if you're out in the dead of summer, and keep the dog on something to prevent heartworm, which is very common in PA and most of the states.

Have fun and relax!

Cathi M.

[SABELLESMOM]

[quote]

[SABELLESMOM]

Sorry, hit the wrong button(s)!:D

I like legalbeagle's description of "dancing and leaping like gazelles!" I had to laugh just thinking.

Mine does a sort of "Tigger bounce" and it's pretty funny! Must be close to the same thing. LOL:D :D

[rottie_rotten]

Hello first I want to thank you all for the great info that is given here, I have never found advice as great as everyone here. My question is I have a 15 mo male rottie, I am talking hyper I mean he could not be tired out! So I took him to his vets to be checked out (all was well) So out walking we have started we walk on a lovely trail that is mostly shaded and we also go in the morning when it is not that hot. I also carry water for him and I stop with him often for a break and alittle water (granted I carry his so I cant carry mine so I go without till we get back) we started walking about a mile (also no I am overweight and trying to lose it so the walk is not fast) and over time we have advanced to about 3.5 miles. I now have a different dog when we come home he is calm and listens. I thought I was doing right thing, then I was reading other threads and I saw that some one had wrote that when you get back from your walk they should not be over tired. Well my babe is tired. Now when I mean tired he comes home and sleeps and the rest of the day and night lays around but if I said lets go he would be ready or if someone comes in he is up and ready to play. Do you think because he is sleeping and resting all the time that I am doing to much with the walk? Walking has been a life saver for us because it has calmed him down so much and ALL THE PROBLEMS are not much of a problem anymore! Sorry for this being so long.
Shelley

[Carina43]

Shelley, my last Rottie was like that - always on the go! I even had his thyroid checked, because I wasn't sure it was normal for him to be that hyper...
He got 2-4 miles of walking a day, and most weekends we would go hiking for hours with friends. After the hikes, all the dogs would pass out in the back of a truck and just SLEEP in a big doggie pile, it was great. :)
I don't see anything wrong with wearing them out...remember mental activity uses up energy too, teach him all sorts of trickks & stuff. Bosco knew just about every silly trick in the book!
The good news is, he should calm down some time between 3-4 years old and become a sensible and mature dog. Then when he's older, you'll miss all that silly energy...

[rottie_rotten]

Carina, I am not sure about that, lol with him it is not much about the energy but the mouthing and the not listening! When I am home with him he has always been a wonderful furkid but when the kids and husband walk in the door it turns into a three ring circus I mean CRAZY with the mouthing my daughter mostly my husband he looks at like he has 3 heads :( He drove everyone crazy, but now he has been wonderful with everyone. I finally have peace in my house:D I just wanted to make sure that I was doing it right. We are walking everyday and on weekends the whole family goes so the bond is spreading. Thank you for your help.

Shelley
P.S we have had every test I thought there was something wrong! (wired wrong)

[Carina43]

Well if he's being uncontrollable and mouthy, all the more reason to teach him tricks or commands! That way you can tell him to do something that replaces the mouthy, hyper behaviour.

I feel your pain, though. Bosco was 115lbs of wild, happy, hyper Rottweiler - he was the sweetest, kindest dog, but oh lord was he excitable! He was kind of like a Border Collie in a Rottweiler suit. :) My mom has working BCs (for sheep) and we used to kid about that.