I have been growing and exercising my GSD puppy very carefully - she is now 6 months old. She has had daily free running on a flat field and gentle walks short distances. I have now upped the distance to about , I suppose half to three quarters of a mile ( not too good on distances ) still on flat ground...the dog doesn't get tired. We also do some ball throwing and some free running with another dog of mine. She also gets walked seperately from my other two dogs on the whole.

I'm wondering about taking her on a longer walk now away from the recreation fields and up onto the open countryside, ( hilly )....

what do you think?

Think you have a feel for your dogs needs and don't think hill walking will cause a problem just continue to take it steady, on the lead and increase slowly. Up hill walking is very good for the dog and you. JH

A GSD is a large dog and can obviously go on longer walks than a toy breed and at six months I would be starting to SLOWLY increase the distance. For my part, I wouldn’t entertain hills for a while yet but of course that depends on what you call a hill! A gentle sloping main road is one thing whereas the north face of the Eiger is a totally different proposition! I live in the middle of the Chiltern Hills and a stroll on gentle sloping ground is what I would now be doing with my Labradors. My main aim at this stage is to gradually increase the distance which the severity of the conditions starting to increase in about another 3 months. I know of people who have Labradors out picking up at 8 months but to me that’s far to early, certainly on a large shoot. The old saying, "Make haste slowly" is a good maxim.

John

I think you are going to bring down the wrath of the "toy" people now John!!!!!!:D

The story of my life Sam! :rolleyes:

Regards, John

Why can they go further than a toy dog? Sorry John, I don't agree with that statement.

Joan
take the rough with the smooth

Just going on the length of leg Joan. There's so much difference between for example, a Yorky and a Great Dane. The Yorky would have to take at least twenty steps for each one of the Dane!

John :)

ok, they have to take more steps - but they will take them and they will walk as far. 2 Griffs that I bred go out each day walking for miles with the German Shepherd without problem and I know lots of other toy dogs who walk great distances with their owners. They are quite capable of matching the distance of any other dog.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Not arguing about adults Joan but we are talking puppies and I stand by my original statment. I would not walk a small breed puppy as far as a large breed puppy! I would not consider it fair on the puppy.

John