Pup, how much leash walking should I do?

[Soulworx]

hi...
Im sorry to ask this question again, but i cant find the answer searching the forms for some reason...
Its on the old topic of how much to walk your pup and when these distances can increase. I know ive read this already about fifty times but ive got a mind like a sieve and i cant remember

Bailey is nearly 15 weeks at the minute, and we walk him very little, all the exercise he gets is playing with us in the back garden which he loves. Any walks are very short and bailey is still full of energy when we come back home so i know im not over doing it, well with his musculature anyway, his hips could be a different matter which is why i'm asking this question.
My brother (Vet) says that over exercising when he's a pup can seriously increase his chances of hip dysplasia which i knew already from reading these pages... so how much do u think we should walk him and when can these distances be increased?

Thanks

[Judi W]

"Over" whether it applies to food, or exercise implies beyond common sense............. There are too many variables for there to be any rules. It depends upon the surface you are walking on, the temperatures, if you are going on a brisk, no stopping walk or a stroll to smell the roses.

With my pups, I make sure I walk every single day for the leash training and to experience the sights and sounds of the world. Nothing is worse than taking a 4 month old pup out that fights the lead. I am not trying to condition a young pup like I would an 18 month or 2 year old, I am walking for the education of it. Visiting the neighbors, being beside a busy street, saying hello to the world.

If you walk for exercise yourself, probably best not to take a pup on those walks.

Personally, I don't believe walking a dog causes HD.

[Bastianboy]

I was told 1/2 mile for every 6 months of age. I don't know the accuracy, but that was the advice given me. I did that when Bastian was small (he would get tired after much more), but once he could handle it, we bumped it up. I wasn't going to carry my pup on any of the walk...surely couldn't do that for the rest of his life

[SonnyRott]

Originally Posted by Soulworx
Bailey is nearly 15 weeks at the minute, and we walk him very little, all the exercise he gets is playing with us in the back garden which he loves. Any walks are very short and bailey is still full of energy when we come back home so i know im not over doing it, well with his musculature anyway, his hips could be a different matter which is why i'm asking this question.

Sounds like you are using common sense and he is doing fine. I would say that 2-3 mile walks at this age would be out of the question, but certainly a 1/2 mile walk every day would be fine. Just increase slowly as he ages and gets stronger.

My dog has HD and walks are recommended.

[SonnyRott]

Also, start training. You can never start too early. The mental stimulation will also help to tucker him out!

[Paul (Dozer)]

My pup is 11 months old, I try to take him 5 Km or so a day, but sometimes do as much as 8 Km (3 to 5 miles). It's usually a mix between leash walking on the streets, free walking through trails and running free in a feild or park. I try to take him in the morning or evening when it's not too hot, and I always bring some cool water for him.

He loves it, and I's say it's about 50/50 between him being tired or still wanting to play when he gets home. He seems to enjoy it, and he only seems to get tired in the heat (which is why I avoid midday walks now)

Is this too much for him at almost a year? ½ mile per 6 months seems a little short for him. If I took him out for a mere mile, he'd be ticked off when we got home!