Hi

I'm looking into fostering and wondering what the exercise requirements would be for a 7 year old lab - obviously dont know what lines - a chocolate lab - ex breeding lady...

any input gratefully accepted

thanks

Maxine

It depends how fit she is really :)

Is she an ex reputable breeding or puppy farm girl ? All depends on how she is healthwise as well as some Labs even at that age can start to suffer from athritis so the type of excercise is then important :)

If she is a well, fit and good weighted girl she could have anything from one to two hours mixed with of and on lead excercise.

If she is over weight or not 100% healthwise then about half to one hour with perhaps 50% off and on lead.

Most labs if ok are quite lively and able to tolerate reasonable excercise. Min my old at that age used to beat two border collies both younger in fetching a ball

I would wait to see how she is when you get her and take it easy over the frst few days and assess how she is then adjust the amount once you know how much she can tollerate :)

Lucy
xx

Thank you - ex puppy farm - I dont know how her general health is but I know she has skin sores - so that could be an indication of not much movement.  I'm hoping to find out more this afternoon - obviously I want to help and it could be that where I live might be too scary for her and they wont let her come to me.

I suppose I need to think that if I have her to foster and she ends up being with me for a while she would get fitter - I think I could manage up to two hours.  I am often out with my other two for 1-1 1/2 hours over the day.  So the Puli could do more - the Cav couldnt but that wouldnt matter he could stay at home if he needed to.

thanks again

Maxine

I would think an ex-puppy farm dog would need gently building up with her exercise, much like a pup to build tone - puppy farms aren't renowned for the fab care of their dogs sadly, and she may not have had much (if any) exercise outside of her kennel/pen.

Like Nikita, I would assess her once she visits you (or you visit her).    If she has had little or no exercise, then she will be like me - totally unfit and flabby:rolleyes: !   Gently build her up - like a puppy - and by the end of two or three weeks she should be able to cope with exactly the same exercise as your Puli (and just wait until she gets to Mersea and can ploge in the water!!)

Margot

Thank you all - and yes Margot wont she just love Mersea.

Thats if they let me foster her - they havent decided yet....just wanted to make sure that I would be able to cope.

Maxine