Hi

The books all state, "You can't tire an adult dalmatian." It seems they are able to keep up with the most keen walker / jogger / cyclist ... but what about a puppy ?

How much exercise do pups need ?

Could it be broken down please

8 - 16 weeks

5 - 6 months

6 - 12 months

12 months +   (I assume  a pup this age is now classed as an adult)

We have a garden, so it'll be able to play there as well as walks with the family

Many thanks !

8 - 16 weeks, it would only have been let out from its injections on the latter part of this, so 10 minutes socialisation on the lead once or twice a day will be enough.

5- 6 months - About 20 minutes once a day, or two sessions of around 15 minutes.

6-12 months - About half an hour or so would be sufficient.

You cannot write a rule book on this, several things need to be taken into account.  Have you a garden that the puppy would be getting exercise in, if so reduce the above. 

You can do lots of little training sessions at home and outside during this time.  Mental tiredness is far more benificial then physical.

The important thing is not to let him have much free running during the growing period, especially with other dogs, as they do tend to go a bit mad

If he/she is a pup that is happy to trot along with you off the lead in the woods, then fine.  Running around in a field off the lead is not.

As an adult, yes they will keep up with as much as you can give them, but I find routine works best, so an hours run every morning sun or rain keeps mine happy for the day.

Hope this gives you a guideline.

Sandra

Tricky one! You can't really go far wrong with the '5-minute' rule. That means give the animal 5 minutes walk for each month of its age; ie, at three months (12 weeks, which is about the earliest they can be taken outside on the ground after their jabs) they get walks of 3x5 minutes = 15 minutes. At four months they get 4x5 minutes = 20 minute walks. And so it builds up gradually.

As you say, a fully fit adult dalmatian is well-nigh untireable, as long as they're not taken too fast. Although they have a good turn of speed their speciality is distance trotting, so they shouldn't be made to run for miles - a trot is the pace they use.

Remember that the pup won't be able to go on the ground (off your premises) for several weeks - but he'll badly need to be taken out and about for socialising. Start building up your muscles now, because carrying a wriggly 10-week old puppy (weighing 20+ lb!) isn't easy!

Hope this helps.
:)

Thanks Jeangenie, I assume you meant .. "Start building up your wife's muscles"

and daughter's muscles   LOL

That 5 minute rule seems fine for me .. with A level maths, I can just about understand it

Tchoh! Men! :rolleyes:
;) :D