Hi,

I have read a lot of information about German Shepherds, but cannot find a clear answer for my question concerning the amount of exercise it is safe to give my GSD puppy. The puppy we have now is 4 1/2 months old and is absolutely brilliant!! I am just concerned that he may develop bad hips if exercised too much. At present, he gets about a 20min walk a day, general playing of toys with us and light sessions of obedience training (he is full of energy and jumps and runs around a lot - like any normal puppy).

Please can advice be given as to what the average GSD should get in exercise at the following ages: -

1) 4 1/2 months,
2) 6 months,
3) 9 - 10 months and
4) 1 yr +.

I would really be very grateful for any info given as we want Louis to be with us as a healthy dog for years, and would hate to do any damage to his soft bones!

Many thanks,

Matthew.

When callum was a puppy, i used to take him out for gentle walks, and moderate exercise, no jumping at all until he had been x-rayed, so that was lifting him in and out of the car, no going up stairs, and no playing rough with other dogs, there isnt really a fixed amount of exercise that you can give, it is just a matter of using your common sense to say enough is enough, some people dont let there dogs off at all as puppys, but i dont agree with this, so long as they dont go mad and there arent any large dogs jumping all over them they should be fine, it sounds fine what you are doing at the moment, if you feel he needs more then give it to him, but steadily, i know i havent mapped it out in the stages that you wanted but it also depends on the dog,if he has had enough he will let you know, good luck and enjoy him while he is still a puppy.
Diane

Hi
You sound very sensible !! :) makes a change :)
as already posted theres no fixed excercise time , just be careful.A 20 minute walk a day at present is about right...just increase gradually as the pup grows, don't over do it when puppy has a growing spurt these are the vunerable times.
Whatever you do don't throw things up in the air to catch or jump up for until around a year old.Please get your pup hip scored at 12 months or a little after..if everything is ok..still take it steady until about 20 months of age and then excercise can generally be whatever you feel comfortable with...you probably won't be able to keep up.
Tracey :)