Just going on from what SusieQ has asked in her topic, just wondered if anyone else has had the same as me and my friends with the showing world.

My breed are slow to mature and its been told to me many times over by breeders not to over do the exercise and to only lead walk when they get to around 6 months and then for a short time.
Well i have now been told by different people at ringcraft that he lacks muscle, now how on earth do you get a 6 month old to have good muscle when you're not supposed to be doing much at all with them?

I have now started up a 2 x 10 mins walk doing up and down hills with my boy each day, which i'm hoping will build good muscle slowly.
Just can't understand how some people have it all or am i missing something here?

I know other people in different breeds told many contradictions in relation to their pups and what to do and not to do..

With my Newfy's i swim them from 12 weeks old , building time up gradually as they get older, swimming is great as there is no major pressure on the joints as they are fully supported by the water.
You could try this.

Peanuts

Funnily enough I was having this conversation yesterday with a friend.

She lets her pups run helter-skelter when and for as long as they like and poo-poos the idea of over exercise causing legginess.
These are not large breeds however but the same theme of 'dont over exercise your young ones' seems to run through every breed.
I dont usually give my young ones much but I'm breaking that habit with one youngster - so time will tell.

The lady I was speaking to has just bred her 7th champion so there are pros and cons - a personal decision needs to be made either from experience or advice from the breeder of your dog.

Ive always done, how old in week to how much they can walk aday,

12 week old puppy, 12 mins walking

30 weeks old puppy 30 mins walking

Peanuts i have done some swimming with him in a pool, which he did enjoy by the end of it, reasonably priced as well, problem is its a bit of a drive away and there is nothing very local to me unless we count the sea(very cold and waves) or the river(dirty mud banks) for me to get into to coax him in and swimming.

I personally can't afford for a dog of mine to have issues with its joints, which tends to show up later on in their lives, the pain that some go through, not risking it to get in the ring sooner and the possibilities of wins earlier. I have taken a lot more time with my youngster than i did with my older boy as he is heavier built and thicker stronger bone and didn't want to ruin that either.

dollster

Presumably you mean on lead.

Most of my walking is off lead where they cover 50 times more ground and at a much greater speed so how can you you compare?

Breed specificity comes into play too I feel - as when I walk with my friends Rotts they amble and sniff, Boxers career headlong at breakneck speed and Cavaliers just want to bowl each other over :-)

>> Breed specificity comes into play too I feel - as when I walk with my friends Rotts they amble and sniff

don't I just know it.  A 20 minute power walk with my staff turns into a 1hr amble with the pup. :)

lead walking is what i was refering too,

I compare it too walking a toddler, when people have a puppy you often see them dragging it along, and then say it wont walk, It wont walk cause its knackered !!! 

Excercise on a lead i controlled, off lead is a differnt story, i think puppies judge that themselves

> I compare it too walking a toddler, when people have a puppy you often see them dragging it along, and then say it wont walk, It wont walk cause its knackered !!! 
>

Ain't that the truth!

The most relevant advice is going to be from other respected people in your own breed, general advice not matter how well meant from people with no specific knowledge of your breed could cause a problem.
Personally I normally reccommend swimming for a young dog, as the dog gets to exercise the muscles without putting stress on young forming bones. When doing hill work remember it is 'trot' up the hill & 'Walk' down. this helps to prevent weakened pasterns as the full weight of the dog is not forced on to them.

I was given opinion of my dog at local show from someone in my breed, that he needs to carry more weight.....he is a athletic breed, and he is 10months old. I am happy just the way he is to be honest....he doesn't sit still for 5 minutes for starters!! LOL

suejaw

Ever since we started most of our critiques have said 'needs to firm up', I've been advised of exercises that will help this i.e running on pebbles,  alternating paces (10 paces at walking, 10 at a jog, 10 walking, 10 jog), swimming, hill walking etc.  I've done them all and it's certainly working, but I've also been told that dogs of the same breed mature at different rates and it just happen that my Fozz is maturing slower than some of the others in his class

Meaning no disrespect to the person you spoke to, but you really need to speak with several known, well respected breeders also the breeder of your own dog As has been said , dogs mature at different rates within a breed. What time is the last feed you give your dog? the later the better, as it will not run off the food so quickly if it sleeps on it. Don't forget you need a bit of weight to be able to turn it into muscle.
Also be aware that it can happen that you have a very promising looking puppy, and another unsporting exhibitor might try to put you off from showing it as it is competition for their dog. If you are going to shows and getting placed on a fairly regular basis, then there cannot be too much wrong can there? Do not be swayed by one opinion, can you discuss this with your dogs breeder as they should know their lines better than anyone elso

Sorry Marion not sure if you were replying to me, :)  i have spoke to my breeder, her lines tend to be late developers ;).....The person in my breed that i saw at the show, told me i didn't ask for her advice, i am not concerned about his weight to be honest, he does look a little immature but he is still a pup :)

I was told once by a very good breeder in our breed that a puppy should look like a puppy dont worry about muscle tone until they mature into the junior calss then they are meant to look more athletic, so really 12 months onwards.

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I have taken a lot of advice from breeders and other exhibitors in my breed alike.
The one thing is that they all start singing from the same song sheet but then they go off on their own little tune.. Just been weighing up what i want to do and i think is best with what information i have been given.

The other side is that in shows they always choose the most mature as a general rule, yet the breed standard says slow to mature, which again is another contradiction i have never understood.

The one thing i have now is a pup who is very different to what my older boy was like at the same age in size and weight, so that is why i'm probably being a bit more over cautious on things.