can anyone tell me how much exercise a 14 week dobe can take. Can they go out for a short walk on lead or is it just a case of going to park and letting them run off energy. Our pup is just about ready to go out and he is bouncing around like a lunatic - doesn't seem to run it off in garden. Would like to take him out but worried about his bones in future years - don't want any problems like with our other dog . The books dont seem to say how much exercise but just say don't over do it. But how do you know if you are overdoing it.

Does any one know how much exercise he can have without doing himself any damage and costing me a fortune in vet bills in 10 years time.

Hi Karen,

Formal walks where you take him out and don't give a choice about the distance are apparently what do the damage. Short walks - 10 minutes or so are fine.

Do you have somewhere other than your garden where you can take him (by car as I imagine he is a little heavy to carry now) where he can run round like a lunatic and expend some of his energy.

Have you found training classes - if so you may be able to find someone there with a similar aged pup that you can walk with

Christine

This can be a real problem - it's such a tough call - they seem to be crying out for exercise, but you know in the long run it's bad for them!! I'd recommend plenty of short, lead-walks, mainly for training/socialisation purposes. (Take him/her around town so that his/her mind gets the stimulation to get tired out.) Dobes aren't my breed, which is renowned for activity/stamina etc. We recommend they only get to tire themselves out free-running when they reach their birthday! Until then, the exercise is gradually built up - we daren't build up too much muscle until the skeleton is fully grown, or else the power of the muscles will bend the bones - BAD NEWS! But it's worth it in the long run.

Hi,
I dont own dobes either, but puppys are usually NOT the best judge of how much exercise they need. I would definately not let a large breed pup (or any breed pup for that matter) charge about to their hearts content. They can and will over knacker themselves, which, whilst great for getting them to go to sleep, is really bad for their bone growth.

How much are you training your pup. Brain exercise is as important, if not more so, for a puppy, and will actually knacker them out just like physical exercise.
It is never too young to start training, just keep it fun and fair. Always end on a good note, rather than getting frustrated and giving up. Clicker training is brilliant, especially for pups. It took me only 5 minutes to get my 7 week old pup to learn to sit, and come, instead of mugging me for food, then ignoring me when i want him.
Pups, in fact all animals, even us, learn far more easily and more quickly and more effectively when they are young!

Emma

Emma, I let my pups and youngsters gallop about as much as they want and if I have two youngsters of the same age I let them do it together though I worry a bit about injury. I don't let them play outdoors with adult dogs and they get no lead walking at all except for training, socialisation and occasionally if they are beginning to have a problem with feet, pasterns etc. I find they play madly for a bit but do know when they've had enough and touch wood haven't had a problem yet.

took harry for walk yesterday - well half walk and half jog - you were correct did not tire him out at all - just me coughing and spluttering through the exercise.

Will continue to walk on lead - for about 10 mins at time - but will do more mental work with him as he does seem to love this and is very intelligent (but i would say that).

Just as a matter of interest is it encouraging that a 14 week old dobe will do sit and down with both voice and arm signals only? We are now practicing watch as describe to us in dog traing book bought and he seems really keen to please when doing this also.

He might bite alot but hes very bright!

Thanks for all you comments.

Hi Karen

Well done with the sit and down - now slowly progress to the stays so that he stays in position till you tell him he can move using a "release" word or phrase such as okay, go play etc. and not move on "good boy" !

"Watch" is useful as if he really gets the hang of it you can use it when you have him on the lead amongst many other things.

I think you said you were starting training classes in a few weeks - can you go along without Harry and watch?

Christine