How much Exercise for an 8 month old?

[scorpio]

My boy is 8 months and 60- 65lbs. He's my first rottie and dog!!
How much exercise should he be getting? I take him on two 15-20 minute walks a day. He doesn't really get to run too much. We don't have a fenced in yard not good i know. He does run around the house playing fetch, etc.

[brunie's mom]

It does not sound like alot of exercise to me.
Would it be possible to find a fenced off area where you could safely throw a ball or just let him rip around in? A tennis court or baseball diamond, school yard not being used...would be a good place.

Being as he is still young you cannot take him on long hikes at this time...but free play..running around loose is great to get the energy out.

If you cannot find a place to safely let him run...then take him for more walks...and try to do some training while walking.
Get him to use his brains learning new things...this often takes more energy then any hike.

Gina

[jazzie23]

You might want to search google for off leash dog areas or dog parks and the area you live in. A lot of times local park districts have those or forest preserves and so on. Fees may apply, my dog park fee is $45/year which I think is very reasonable and worth the money. Google will do the trick . I take 30-45 min walks with my 4.5 month old pup and that still doesn't do much she's still hyper. It's when we go to a dog park and she runs wild with other pups that gets her energy off, the running lasts about 20 minutes and she's literally done for the day .

[jmlexi]

My rottie is four months old and loves going on hikes, sometimes long ones. Brunies mom says even an 8 month old is too young for such a long hike? we don't go everyday though...

[brunie's mom]

Not a good idea for such a young dog. Their bones are still growing, and long hikes may effect their growth plates, and ligaments,etc.

It would like taking a child toddler out for a 2 mile hike .....not a good idea.
Pups should be able to run around a fenced in yard to their hearts content...they can stop and crash when they are tired. Many pups and young dogs do not realize that they have been walking too far or too long...and just want to keep up with their owner's.

A pup under a year should not be walking more then 30-40 minutes at a time...depending on the temps., the condition of the pup, and the time of year. A pup under 6 months not more then 20-30 minutes. It also depends on the pace...if you stop frequently and rest,etc...then longer is fine.

Once their growth plates have closed and most of the growth is done....around 18 months...then you have to gradually work them up to longer hikes,jogging, biking,etc.

Gina

It also depends on what they are walking on...asphalt, cement, dirt,grass,etc.

[Patricia Dianne]

My pup has just turned 9 months old, we start our day at 5:30 a.m. with an hour walk as he is going to be alone for a portion of the day (I work and my son is in college). When my son gets home he takes him to the park and plays ball and a walk, he also usually gives him a short walk just before I get home. I then take him out for his evening walk (1 hour) then it's beddie time. We have a ravine and walking trail behind our house as well as socceer fields etc. that we take him too for a good run. Bottom line Ruckus has a minimum of 3 hours walking as well as play and sometimes free run time a day. We have never had a problem with him as far as extra energy in the house etc. Your pup will let you know when he's tired .... have fun

[scorpio]

wow, 3 hours a day?? i am the only one who walks him so it's a little difficult to do even 2-3 hours. my husband's idea of walking the dog is down the street and back
also there's not many places we can take long walk in my neighborhood, it's the same old boring route. he seems to be ok, doesn't get into too much mischief. but maybe 40 mins a day may not cut it?? i take him to the park once or twice a week and we do play fetch and hide and seek in the house.
i'm big on the mental stimulation bic i do feel he may get bored easily.

[brunie's mom]

Don't worry about it.
Try to get him out and about for socialization. Can you drive someone to take him out to a different area for a walk??

We live on a 50 acre farm and I don't think my dogs get 3 hours of walking/running per day. :eek

We walk 2kms every day on leash on our dirt road and then have at least 2-3 short runs off leash through the fields every day. Also try to do about 15-20 minutes of training everyday and maybe throw the ball or play tug for 20 minutes or so.

I do not have high energy, hyper dogs though (thank goodness ).

Mental activity also helps to keep them stimulated. Learning a new trick or activity is good. I have been doing some tracking and teaching my pup to cart also. He's not great at either activity but has fun.

Don't worry about the minutes on the clock...just get some energy out and enjoy the time you spend with your dog.

Gina

[Patricia Dianne]

Mental activity while their walking ... would that work? Watching the clock - don't have a watch. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that a big dog like our Rottweilers should have plenty of exercise and stimulation. While we are walking he is in a ravine, running at the park, learning to retrieve a ball, playing with other dogs, visiting neighbors, licking kids while they grin and squirm (the kids literally run out to greet us, they're so used to seeing him out with myself and my son), watching neighborhood events (garbage trucks, geese, squirrels, socceer games etc.). He is learning to heel, sit at crosswalks, jog without pulling at his leash, drink a slushie without spilling a drop - a whole wealth of opportunities - opportunities he would miss in the house or in the backyard. Our pup enjoys his outside time with his visits and adventures (and believe me we have had some interesting ones). Not a critique if people don't exercise their dogs that way, thought I was just sharing how we spent our time with our guy ... Enjoy ALL the time we spend with our guy ... you bet!! Bottom Line (like Gina said - enjoy the time you spend with your dog whatever way you decide to do it).

[windsonguk]

It may be an idea to increase your time period of walks by say 10mins each week, but with a very young pup I wouldnt do more than 2 walks of 40 mins per walk until he is over the twelve mth stage. Bones are still developing and prone to damage. Althought it is hard to get the happy medium, a dogs development is individual, some can sustain more than others, any signs of stiffness in the legs and youve over done it! A 5min gallop in a field (or such) helps develop their chest, but I wouldnt over do it.