I am a new owner, with an eight weeks old black Labrador bitch. The (highly reputable) breeder stressed that she should not be exercised any more than her curiosity takes her until nine months old, when bones will have started hardening, because excess exercise will increase the risk of hip trouble. Is this generally accepted... and how do I know whatis 'excess' : I don;t want her to become overweight... and I rather like of long walks in the country...

Finn Marriage

(RSMARRIAGE@AOL.COM or thereeldeal@easynet.co.uk

Dear Finn,
Your breeder is absolutely right! Well done on finding a good one! If a dog like this is given loads of gallopping exercise it can lead to bad joints and other troubles in the future. Wait till her skeleton is fully grown before trying to build up muscle. Equally, don't let her get fat! At the moment she should be VERY slightly roly-poly - this will disappear as she grows, and is a useful "safety-net" if she picks up a mild tummy upset. Monitor her weight (best done by feeling her ribs - if they're buried in fat, she needs to lose some, but this is done with a pup by keeping their weight steady until they grow into it)

If you let her play in the house and garden, and when she's completed her course of injections, take her out for training/socialation walks, this will be fine. Lots of short walks is better than one or two long ones at this stage.

In the meantime, carry her around town so that she gets to see crowds, cars, lorries etc from the safety of your arms, where she won't get diseases and won't be scared.

Don't worry, the long walks will come when she's grown up - you should have a good 14 or so years with her, so don't rush it!

Good luck.

I'm the same I love a good long walk, but I found Taiko's antics wear me out indoors nevermind outdoors. The time flies by and it's worth waiting until you can go off for walks.There was a post on here recently from someone who had over walked a young pup,and the pup began refusing to walk at all.They get tired so easily.I have a friend who thought nothing of putting her pup in a pram and going off walking/socialising, but I couldn't imagine Taiko staying in a pram he'd jump straight out! I stick to a short wander in the field behind the house and just stand patiently while Taiko sniffs anything and everything. I've put on a stone since Taiko arrived.....I've another 6 months to wait before we can start building up the walks,hence I'm on the pc munching wine gums :D

I have not got a pup but does this apply to all breeds

Alison
MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Hi Alison,Merry Christmas, and let's hope it's a good one!!
I've found these rules apply to any breed that's likely to grow to be above 20 kilos. So anything medium-sized and upwards.

ROFLOL :D :D
Imagine folks faces when they looked in the pram expecting a baby :D :D :D
Dot

When we moved to NM, the rules didn't allow us to have dogs in billeting. Since we were scheduled to stay there for only 3 nights until we moved into our new place, I went ahead and smuggled Pepper in/out of the room by wrapping her like an infant to carry in my arms. The kennels were full, so she didn't have anywhere else to stay.
She was the same size as a baby and didn't mind it at all. A couple of times I had to pretend that she was ill and couldn't be seen by curious adults :D :D :D No one was ever the wiser ;) :)

Dear Lord,we are all mad :D People without animals are on an entirely different plant!...or planet, even :D oops!