I have just started to go on walks with my 12 week old Labrador. I've heard that as a puppy, the walk shouldn't be too long. How long should it be? And also, when is the right time to start teeching my dog 'HEEL' and stuff. Shall I let her get used to the actual walk firdt?

Thanx

I would suggest that as you get her used to walking on the lead try to work it so that she is always beside you, not behind or in front.

I see so many puppies wayout in front of their owners (and it is okay they say, s/he is just a puppy) that the bad habits are forged very early. One of the most un-natural things to teach a dog is to walk beside you - depending on their status they would also see themselves as in front or behind so I would start as you mean to go on :)

Christine

Labs and Retrievers are very prone to hip problems if over exercised at a young age. 1/2 an hour three times a day is a reasonable amount of exercise to give. Try not to encourage too strenous exercise up to about age two. What I mean is that you should not allow your pup to chase around the park, jumping for a ball or a thrown toy for more than 1/2 an hour at a time. We would all like our pups to have hours of play in the park with other dogs, but with Labs and retrievers that's not advisable. It's never too early to begin obedience training your pup. Remember your pup is constantly learning behaviour anyway, best for it to learn CORRECT behaviour right from the start. No point teaching your dog that it's ok to pull and then having to correct that behaviour later.

half and hour three times aday by a twelve week old pup ???? NEVER !!!

A small walk five to ten minutes a few times a day to start with and not all road work either on a slip rope lead and let him sit and say hello to people the more he is handled and meets people the better and no loose running yet and no jumping off furniture.stairs etc...
If you want to talk labs feel free to email me privatly

I agree Mattie. 10 minytes is the absolute maximum mine get at that age.

John

I'd love to do 10 minutes! Fancy lead training mine John? You must have heard her.

Hi all I agree, when mine were pups I think the most they got was a slow walk of about five mins down the road but they were allowed to play in the garden 3/4 times a day until I saw they were becoming tired & that was it.
Christine2

Obviously I didn't dot enough i's or cross enough t's. I'm assuming that most people would realise that weeks old pups of any breed would only need short amounts of exercise. As they get older this would naturally increase but with labs needs to be very carefully monitored until adulthood. If you have stairs, keep your lab off them, and try not to let them swing from the chandeliers..

This is true Depudidawg but its not a question of dotting the i's and crossing the t's. The question was specifically 12 weeks ans at that half an hour 3 times a day is far too much.

John

I have a 6 month German Shepherd- which let me add are also prone to hip problems and I would never exercise her as much as you are saying:o She goes half way down the street and back a few times a day- I can't say how long it takes us because she's too busy sniffing around and meeting and greeting everyone she meets with a sloppy kiss:) The odd occasion we may drive to the park and let her run for a while but this is only because she is that bit older now at 6 months- if I expected her to walk to the park then run it would be too much! She also doesn't go out on a Tues morning because we attend ringcraft on a Monday and I think that makes up for her Tuesdays with the amount she does there.

Stacey x x x

She doesn't swing from any chandeliers or go up the stairs AT ALL either

I was referring to the "as a puppy" bit of the original enquiry. To me, a dog is still a puppy until it reaches maturity, which is roughly 2 years old. I think an 18 month old lab (or German Shepherd for that matter) could handle more than a ten minute walk three times a day, either that or buy it some rock climbing equipment because it'll be climbing the walls by then anyway..

Please read the original post again the question referred to a twelve week old puppy !!!
Don’t forget a lot of people read this board and any advice we give should be as precise as possible or could be mis interpreted I am in rescue and see the results of bad exercise when young.
A Labrador grows very fast and because of this people assume he matures fast ,not true I treat mine as puppies till they are at least 18 months old, and the ten minute walks get increased all the time from being 14 weeks, onward common sense should tell anyone that.