Sparky and Busby are now just over 1 and 2 years old, so are really enjoying their walks. We tried to follow the 5 minutes for every month rule when they were younger, but I was wondering is there a point when exercise has to be reduced again when they get older?

I think you have to play it by ear.  My oldest at 13 1/2 still goes out for 2 to 4 mile wals.  Often if the day before has been a logn walk then I only do a short one next day.  I tend to ask her if she is coming for all the small erand walks, and sometimes she doesn't bother.  By that time you should be able to read and know yoru dog very well.

... if your following the 5 minute rule then your dogs must be FAT!

5 minute rule is absolutely bull crap , my puppys get walks and run around dog parks for 2 hours every day. Only way to keep them fit , putting on so much weight at once and not working it off is much more stressing on joints.

1-2 years old is nothing , this should be when they recieve the most exercise and mental stimulaton. They are still puppys so get there butts working!

dog parks????

Bullcrap????

butt???

take it your not british then ?????

Why so offensive in your reply MannyG

(quote)... if your following the 5 minute rule then your dogs must be FAT!

5 minute rule is absolutely bull crap , my puppys get walks and run around dog parks for 2 hours every day. Only way to keep them fit , putting on so much weight at once and not working it off is much more stressing on joints.

1-2 years old is nothing , this should be when they recieve the most exercise and mental stimulaton. They are still puppys so get there butts working!(unquote)

If you want to damage the growth plates in your dogs go ahead & exercise young/growing puppies for 2 hours at a time. Manny

As dogs get older you can play it by ear as breeds differ in the amount of exercise they want or need & by checking the fittest of your dogs(musculature etc)you can get some idea of how fit they are. My dogs don't get walks as such(dangerous tarffic etc)but they have unlimited free running on my own land & non of my dogs are either fat or overweight & all are well muscled

Not so, Manny. It's very important with young animals (including children!) that they don't develop too much muscle before their skeleton is fully formed, otherwise the power of the muscles can actually cause bone malformation. That's why children aren't allowed to do body-building, run marathons etc, and there are junior versions of adult sports with shorter length matches and modified rules. The 5-minute rule is very sensible in breeds which have a tendency to skeletal problems. They don't get fat on this regime because you don't overfeed them ... ;)

Exercise for elderly dogs (which is what the OP wanted to know) needs to be taken more at the dog's pace, but there's no need to cut it drastically. If the dog has arthritis then exercise is usually the best treatment to keep the dog supple - plenty of shorter walks rather than a couple of long ones. My old girl who's nearly 13 still does about 4 miles a day.
:)

If you re read the post Manny it says they followed the 5 min rule when they were younger ;) and no it is not C*** it is sensible advice for novice dog owners who aren't sure how to judge whether their dogs are having too much exercise, it also protects the larger breed that are prone to joint problems.Experienced dog owners who are aware of all the health implications may choose to be more lax in the use of this sensible guideline :D

Why would that be that would mean about 1 to 2 hours lead walking plus free running?  I find that is enough to keep a dog fit, though many like and get more :D  My adults will take as much as I care to give them but will be happy with an hour.

>... if your following the 5 minute rule then your dogs must be FAT!

>5 minute rule is absolutely bull crap , my puppys get walks and run around dog parks for 2 hours every day. Only >way to keep them fit , putting on so much weight at once and not working it off is much more stressing on joints.

Okay I know I'm late here -sorry! Just HAD to ask what kind of weird Goldens you have in Canada Manny?? Or what on earth you feed them on? I have had Goldens for 24 years, have ALWAYS followed the rules on very little exercise until older, and believe me, I have NEVER had a Golden start putting on weight until the age of 3. If anything it is always a struggle (especially if showing), by 18 months-2 years they always tend to be too skinny. Then at about the age of 3 wham, suddenly they seem able to finally fill out when they are fully mature. I've had 9 Goldens in total so I've seen it a few times. :) My current youngest is 22 months now and he is eating twice as much as some of my other larger dogs yet he's definitely on the lean side. He doesn't get 2 hours of exercise a day!

Also I have to ask, how do you know your dogs' hip scores in UK values if you are in Canada? I did a quick Google and found very little but it didn't seem to me the exact same scoring system is used, and isn't it a bit weird if all your Goldens have ended up with the exact SAME score -what's the odds on that? Is this just your estimate when comparing the Canadian system to the UK one? BTW the litter brother of my youngst has a score of 5/5 (owned by breeder) and when I bought my pup there were very strict instructions on exercise, pretty much along the same lines that everyone else here has said. So yes, it does make you wonder what scores you COULD have had...... There was a court case here in the UK a few years ago, regarding a Labrador puppy. Its owners had walked it a mile a day from a young age and it developed terrible hip dysplasia.

Marianne

Dogs only get fat if, like humans, their calorie intake is higher than needed for the amount of work they do - less excercise means you have to be prepared to reduce the food intake.....

>Exercise for elderly dogs

1-2 years old is not close to eldery , running in parks isn't forced excercise. Unless your dog is real dominant and wants to chase and catch every dog around then he'll get tired. Mine usually sniff around when they are, they don't run they just walk around.

BTW these walks are twice a day around 2 blocks. 5 minute rule may be fine for WALKS but running off leash is much better exercise and lets the dog go at its own pace. It's only very harsh if your dogs jumping around or walking on hard grounds. Grass is fine.

Lol moonmaiden you just contradicted yourself. You let your dogs free run in your yard all day, i let my dogs run 2 hours at dog parks. Lol! Who's putting more stress on joints in this case? I ACTUALLY limit it to 2 hours. According to your rules your supposed to 'limit'.

Sensible dog owners aren't so 'Lax' that they take a 6 month dog for a walk ONCE for ... 30 minutes a day? That's why owners get destructive hyper puppys , they don't get a chance to release any energy!

STAREYES , they DO have dog parks in the UK if im correct? If you've never brung your dog to one then your missing out , great socialization for puppys.

Manny, we all know that 1 - 2 years of age isn't elderly - it isn't even prime for most breeds! Sparkybusby actually asked:

>I was wondering is there a point when exercise has to be reduced again when they get older?

Along the lines of the 5-minute rule for youngsters. So no, there isn't a rule like that for old dogs, such as "when they reach ten years of age, cut down the exercise pro rata" ...

No, I don't know of any dogs parks in the UK - it seems to be a North American phenomenon.
:)

I assumed 'they get older' as she ment her dogs were getting older. Meaning from puppy at 3 months to now 1-2 years. :D

No, I think she means when dogs actually get old.
:)

why would she ask the question if her dog is 9-10 years from being old? i've heard of booking appointments a week ahead of time but never 10 years.

http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/leisure/parks+and+open+spaces/dogs.asp

Seems like some sort of dog parks in my eyes, no?

Because she has an inquiring mind and wants to learn? ;) It's never too early to learn - after all, a sensible person learns as much as they can before they even get a pet in the first place!

>We tried to follow the 5 minutes for every month rule when they were YOUNGER

She ment that she followed the 5 minute rule when they were YOUNGER , meaning probably 3-6 months. Now that they are OLDER 1-2 years she wants to know if the walking has to be reduced again. Ah?

I would read it that the 5-minute rule was followed till they were about a year (sensible), and was asking a general question if there was an upper age limit at which time the exercise should be limited again, from the free amount they're allowed at maturity.

PS: Sparkybusby said WHEN they get older, not NOW they are older! ;)

No, that's not a 'dog park' - that's a general park where dogs are allowed. You'll also get people riding bikes, playing football (soccer to you!) etc - it's not a specific 'dog park'. There are many parks where dogs must be on leads, and others where they are totally forbidden.
:)

Yes , a dog park here is basically a park that allows dogs to run free in designated areas. Not a giant fenced in area "just' for dogs :p

Ah, the 'common language divide' again! :p To us, a 'dog park' would be specifically for dog walkers, just as we have children's playgrounds. :)

Manny in th4e UK dogs are allowed in most public spaces with restrictions only applying to childrens play areas and flower gardens, and some beaches in the summer months.  Apart from that we are used to being able to take our dogs anywhere we are allowed access.

We are not restricted to special 'Dog Parks'

I have two Country Parks within half hours walk, a recreation ground/football field across the road, a fenced football/Cricket field by the Sports complex/Swimmming Baths.  Also Three Rugby fild/Recreation ground, the disued Railway line which is a Cycleway/Footpath, and dogs are allowe3d off lead in all of these areas.

It of course behoves dog owners to be sensitive to other users of these amenities, making sure they do not hamper cyclists, accost joggeers and walker, families having picnics etc.

Sadly more restrictions are creeping in (such as beach bans) because of irresponsible owners.

>Sensible dog owners aren't so 'Lax' that they take a 6 month dog for a walk ONCE for ... 30 minutes a day? That's why owners get destructive hyper puppys , they don't get a chance to release any energy!

You seem to be misunderstanding the rule, Manny. :) At six months, a 30 minute walk is fine (say 10 minutes lead walk to the park/field, 10 minutes free play/training then 10 minutes lead walk home). But you can do that more than once a day! As long as the pup has plenty of rest between walks, pottering round the house and garden, say, then you can do a shorter walk at lunchtime, perhaps, and then the half-hour again in the evening. Hope this makes it clearer. Just not LONGER than 30 minutes at a time.
:)

Manny, here I'm quoting from the website that you marked:-

"Dogs are welcome visitors to Ealing's parks and open spaces. In the majority of our parks you can exercise your dog without restrictions.  

However, in some areas - animal centres at Brent Lodge and Walpole Park and ornamental gardens- we do ask you to keep your dog on a lead. We also ask you not to bring dogs into the fenced children's play areas."

This is not the same as the dog parks in the US.

As others have said, it is sensible to adhere to the 5 mins per month per WALK for young dogs - it ensures that young joints are not over-exercised.

And I too, think it is a sensible question to ask in advance - this is obviously someone who wants to get everything right!

Seems you're just a tad - shall we say - prickly ;) - today??? :D

Margot

Manny

My dogs have free running yes, but they when young have enforced rest periods, very importeant for my BC's as they will run forever even when very young. There is a lot of difference in free running at home, when the dogs can rest or play as & when they feel tired & walking them for two hours in a park

Not everyone wants to walk their puppies to exhaustion & most breeds do not stop growing & their growth plates close upto 18 months, perhaps you should read all of this which gives the average age growth plates close & also examples of much later times

I think the people who don't think Hip Xrays are needed for Agility dogs ought to read this

I know I cannot believe that the serious agility people can't be bothered to hip score or(this is me the cynic)is it because they don't want to know!

The reason that jumping isn't supposed to be trained until the dogs are 12 months is so that they could be X rayed & to allow the dogs to finish growing. I do know some people train before this tho' & would like the start age for competitions to be lowered :rolleyes:

MannyG,
Understand the US/Canadian divide a little more now.

I do know what a park is in the UK been to plenty... thank you.

Really cannot understand the unreasonable attitude you have .Why couldnt you just answers the posters question without being offensive argumentative and sarcastic.

"STAREYES , they DO have dog parks in the UK if im correct? If you've never brung your dog to one then your missing out , great socialization for puppys. "
(sorry can't do quotes)
Manny why would i want to go to a dog park when in the uk i can take my dog for hours of off lead running in the open contryside?!
My goldie was kept to the 5 minute rule and if anything she was too thin. Only now she is 2 is she the perfect weight. (A vet told me this - perfect muscle tone too.) I think more mental exercise is needed for puppies and older dogs and less emphasis on running. My collie will run all day if neccessary, (and will still want to play when we get home.) but an hours clicker training is exausting for her and she will sleep happily afterwards.
I too read the question as when they get older, not now that they are older.

>10 minutes free play/training

..10 minutes at the park , lol.

in 10 minutes my dogs are still meeting all the other dogs , they haven't even gotten time to run around. Which is WHY this rule is 'retarded'.

I'd rather go to the dog park with 20-30 other dogs then my own dogs running the country side by themselves. Dog parks are awsome for the socialization.

...and how are your dogs' hips, Manny?   This is only whilst they are growing up, for heavens sake!

Just as you wouldn't keep a toddler up and running all day and all night, we are talking about juvenile dogs here.

Margot

My 3 teen-adult goldens hips are fine! all are scored 19 , 10 left 9 right or vice versa. Max is on the same routine they've all been through but he's rowdier. They all get run at dog park in the morning for 30 minutes to an hour before work and 2 hours after. I don't do much walking but sometimes around the block if i've got nothing else to do. Max is usually the first to give out and he'll just flop down and chew some grass!

Bella's 12 so she has a bit of arthritis but her hips are fine!

Breed average, then (the median score is 13). I wonder what they might have been like with a different regime in puppyhood?

Do you mean that the dogs run around by themselves in the dgo park.  If i didn't walk briskly keeping mine guessing and watching for me then they woudl go self employed and go walk about god knows where (independent hunting breed).  I get an awful lot of road walking with mine, more than the free running.

>in 10 minutes my dogs are still meeting all the other dogs

There generally aren't that many dogs in the parks because we have so many other places to exercise them! Much more fun than being limited to the park! Oh, and you can relax - they don't 'run the countryside by themselves'. We're out there enjoying it as well!
:)

breed average is 19 , bella is 12 yearsold. HD is more genetic then physical unless your doing 2k runs.

Oh dear! What a can of worms I've opened. Luckily I'm in a good mood after another lovely walk with the lads this afternoon, so I can't bring myself to rise to the bait and entertain the board with cutting replies, I'm afraid ;).

However...feeling a slight sense of injustice here, so need to have my say.

MannyG - I wasn't suggesting for a minute that Sparky and Busby are elderly now, and find it hard to believe that you read my post as if I did.  As I think Jeangenie said, had a moment to spare and was just curious. I went for a walk with my sister and her 8 year old working lab yesterday, and being a complete novice owner before Sparky, was surprised to see how much her lab struggled to keep up with my boys. It might seem a bit soon to plan ahead, but I'd hate to get to a point where the damage had already been done because I'd been scared to ask the question just in case I got a snotty reply :). Time has gone so quickly since I became a dog owner.

As for the 5 minute rule - perhaps I didn't make myself clear - yes of course I meant when they were young pups. I'm not suggesting they only get an hour a day now. I dread to think what they would be like if they did, or how big my bum would be ;). Not going to bother you going into detail as to how often or how long I walk them for, as I'm sure I can't possibly live up to your standards (it must be hard keeping that level of perfection up all the time - oops - there I go slipping into sarcasm, when I said I wouldn't - sorry everybody :-D ), but suffice to say they are both very healthy, happy, and stimulated - and not fat. But, for the record, I do believe the time I spend with my boys on and off lead walking, free playing, training, and at agility is of better quality than an hour before work, two hours after, and a run round the block "if I've nothing else to do". I've been lucky enough to have been given advice from some very well informed, and well intentioned, people on this board, and have taken it on board.

It's a hazard of the teaching profession I'm afraid - we just feel we need to know :). I did 2 years of research before taking the plunge, going part time, and getting a dog in the first place, so I'm certainly not going to mess it up and put their health at risk for want of the odd piece of information and advice from some of the people on here who have helped me so much in the past.

As others before me, I will certainly think twice before bothering the forum again. Typing this reply was 20 minutes of wasted time. And I can't believe I DID rise to the bait didn't I? (Very therapeutic though :-D :-D)

Well it has got me thinking for a start, as this year I have come to realise with a jolt that I will start to have to consider reducing or being more careful with the oldest dogs excersie, so far when one goes out tehy all do, and apart from when they were pups they go for as long and as far as I fancy.

I am also aware that with age it is use it or loose it regarding a dogs muscles.  She has had a fair bit of muscle wastage around the rear, but what she has is knotty hard muscle, and I don't want to loose her mobility by cutting her down too much.

So in active healthy dogs what have others done with their dogs as they have gone into their teens???

I always reckon that at that age they should be able to judge for themselves - but of course some won't! Our old mongrel (lab sired, dam resembled a fox) was fixated on retrieving and would have killed himself trying to keep going - in fact he nearly drowned retrieving from the sea. If something was thrown he had to fetch it. But for ordinary walks he took it steady and was fine. My more recent oldies have slowed down as they age, but only the 15-year old needed separate walks from the others because she couldn't keep up and got distressed. My nearly-blind nearly-13 year old potters along with others on their long walks - we just have to watch that she stays with us and doesn't head off in the wrong direction.

That is how I ahve been playing it, only leaving her behindif we are going for a long road walk with my dobe owning friend if dhe went on one the previous day.

PS Sorry if my title was a little confusing!

Yes, average (from 0 - 106) is 19. As I said, the median (most common) score is 13.

Depends on the breed and dog I think.  My almost 12 year old still goes water training with the young SWD's!!  She still jumps out of the boat, retrieves the boat with a person in it, dives under water etc. etc.  Then she does the land test.  Her mum gave it up the year before but her eyesight was starting to go and she went slightly deaf.

I think Lydia will be continuing swimming for at least another year if she stays as fit as she is now. 

Just to clarify - when i go walking in the countryside it is very rare not to see any other dogs at all. However i think having 20-30 dogs running free together sounds like my worst nightmare, i spend most of my time teaching the dogs not to run off and play with other  dogs s they may not be friendly. THat many dogs is asking for an argument!!

Exactly - on our walks in the countryside we meet up with several other dogs - maybe a dozen or so. There's no problem with socialisation.
:)

I would be the same in not wanting to over-exercise my dog. Being a breed that is prone to HD, the 5 min rule is a must and I will not go over for the sake of tiring her out. It noramlly takes about 30 mins to do a 20 min walk as she wants to sniff everthing, but she is on a lead and does not over do it. She can go a little barmy in the garden, but then she has a rest between sessions.

There is no way I would want to shorten her life expentancy by overdoing it in the first year. When she stops growing I will get her hip scored, but more of a precuation than anything as we are not going to breed from her or show her.

Yeah , IMHO to many people worry about HD just from reading online. You get more of a scare just reading about it ,but most aspects are usually genetic. Most have never expierenced owning a dog with HD , they live happy lives by just doing things such as swim therapy and jogging. HD doesn't mean your dog is going to die , it just means that they need more attention and care and if you aren't ready to give this then i would cut the choice of owning larger breeds.

Plus , giving you have insurance, surgery is always an option whether it be a hip replacement or young TPLO

HD is polygenetic, meaning it's environmental as well as genetic. 

Pain can range from mild, chronic to debilitating depending on severity.  

Surgery isn't always an option; depends on the circumstances and whether the dog fits the candidate profile.

In some HD cases, dogs can live relatively pain free lives until secondary complications arise such as arthritis, bony spurs, etc

If there is a chance of minimizing HD by carefully controlling environmental factors as a puppy, then I would definitely take that option as opposed to putting my dog through surgery at a later date. 

BTW, hip replacement/TPLO is very invasive surgery and is subject to a number of possible complications.

I do actually have an HD dog, she was rescued at 13 months old and already had HD. She's 9 now and stable although, we do have the occassional flare-up.

>If there is a chance of minimizing HD by carefully controlling environmental factors as a puppy, then I would definitely take that option as opposed to putting my dog through surgery at a later date. 

Absolutely! Hip replacement is major surgery - if the necessity can be avoided it would be foolish not to do.