I bought January's issue of 'your dog' yesterday and sat down to a good read last night.  In it is an article about to much, to soon with regards to over exercising young puppies - I agreed with the first part of the article where it concentrated on giant breeds and those prone to HD but then it started on toy breeds and every other for that matter, but in a way that I thought was way over the top..For instance the writer say's that a puppy should not wear a collar and lead until at least 4 months old as its only purpose is to enforce control - but of course it is (I say) I want to take my puppy out as soon as poss to get her used to not only me being in control but many environmental experiences as possible.  The writer say's this can be done in the garden, so I say then it can be done outside!!  He say's his pup's are in a kennel and run to play in, until 4 months and then he lets them join a group run for 10 minutes play a day once they reach four months (but he will take them out if they run to quickly)  He also say's that because many owners work that pup's have a lot of built up energy and we feel that we should take them on a long walk - I say even if we didn't work - according to you we cant exercise them anyway so of course they will have a lot of energy!!!  He then mentioned sight hounds - DO NOT LET THEM RUN!  My hound is four months and she runs on walks, she cant run as fast as her adult form (of course) because her body wont let her - If these pups are so fragile why are they not like human babies, slowly developing until they are old enough to walk and crawl?  If I didn't take my girl out on her walks she would injure herself at home, we interact with her all the time and she has many toy's that she plays with but she has moments of affie madness where she jumps off the walls and that is with exercise, I wouldn't like to see her if she had never had exercise until now!  I wouldn't have a house left!!  It also recommends not letting pup tackle a single step and that owners should carry.  My pup is putting on a kilo a week!  She is 14 kilos and I am 8 stone!!!  Sure I dont let her up and down the stairs but she tackles two steps in the garden - She's a dog for goodness sake!  Sure I agree that diet and exercise should be restricted in giant breeds and those prone to development problems - but isn't some of it getting a little over the top???
Sarah

If I left one of my breeds for 4 months before they went out and about I wd. have a very shy, nervous dog.  Sorry but there's no way in some breeds that you cd. just do this for their socialisation.  Some may disagree but from what I've seen my dogs will still be going out as soon as they are able.

My feelings exactly..My breed should be difficult to train and readily run off (so they say) - I have put a lot of time and effort into her, we go to obedience classes and group walks and we have just come back from a walk where we let her off and she played with other dogs (she is 16 weeks)  Admittedly I take liver with me and a clicker so we can practice our recalls but touch wood she is a very good girl for her age and I wouldn't risk waiting until 4-6 months before I socialised, played and let off in a field!
Sarah :)

I'm not quite sure where some of these people are coming from! I can't help thinking that some articles are written by people with very little practical experience.

Socialisation is the number one priority at that age. Although I restrict exercise to 5 minutes per month of age this does not have to be too restrictive. At 12 weeks old there is nothing wrong with a 7 minute stroll to a roadside seat outside the local shops. A ten minute rest there watching the traffic and being greeted by all and sundry followed by a 7 minute stroll back home. By 4 months old my Anna had seen most usual livestock, seen the roundabouts at a fair, watched terrier racing and been to a small exemption show (just to watch) and all without going over her exercise time. It just takes a little organising.

Regards, John

Surely if puppies weren't meant to socialise and run about they wouldn't have legs!! I have to say that watching a puppy or young dog let off steam in a field (or even in the house) is one of the joys of dog owning :) It sounds as if the writer of the article hasn't done any research into the need for puppy socialisation.  I know proper socialisation and exercise of a young pup requires some effort but surely thats the whole point of having a dog?  of course we could just leave them in a kennel and run for 4 or 5 months....

Chester was in a kennel for the first 31/2 months of his life.  He came out a timid, nervous dog who ran away from everyone and every thing and who has taken 6 years to come to life

If I'd brought the other two of mine up like tha thave had no house left !!!!  Not to mention that Ash would be too scared to do anything.

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Sarah,

I agree.  Some of the articles in the dog magazine make my blood boil thinking people may actually pay attention to them.

Not to let a puppy out for walks or socialization is crazy.  More than that, in many breeds and for nervous pups it is a recipe for disaster.

Stacey

Stacey that is exactly what I thought about the magazine, I must admit I have only bought it a few times but when I read that I thought 'how many people will now keep their dogs in for the first 4-6 months of their life!!'
Sarah

I really think the experienced people should point out the error of these foolish people's ways before the novice owners ruin their puppies. Magazines have a duty to print correct info. Sensible exercise and socialising are as essential to a puppy's development as food .

Regards, John

Totally agree John and everyone :)

I suspect the article is written by one Roberta Baxter who is a vet so she does tend to focus very much on the vet side of things rather than the common sense side of things :D

Pups having collars on as late as 16 weeks will be much more upset by them than if they start to experience them earlier. And so on.....

I do think the mag is normally good for novice owners as it does have some good tips in generally. Readers have to pick and choose a bit but it's not too bad.

A lady i know did disagree with the advice of one Mr Brace who was writing about Rotties in the mag - and wrote to disagree, and it was published :) So - maybe write or email them.....? :)

Lindsay

Mmmm, must admit I am tempted to write (probably wont get round to it though!) - thing is I'm no expert so who am I to disagree with someone who say's he is?!  We do all appear to agree with each other on this one though, and I feel rightly so!  Just checked and the writer is Jeremy Hunt who has bred, shown and worked dogs all his life and now works labradors and is a regular contributer to magazines.  There is also a mention of a Lynda Heron who say's her pup's can go on walks of 200 - 300 yards once they are 4 months...I think I feel sorry for their pup's, they are probably missing out!
sarah

I bought that the other day too and i was astounded by the 200-300 yrds rule, the amount of energy my dog has a day would still be used whether inside or out. She developed a fear of men which we are working well on but heaven forbid if she hadn't been socialized at the beggining she may well have had a fear of everything!