I have a 4 month old staffie, and before he could go walkies I use to carry him, which eventually done my back in as he started getting bigger and getting heavier.......and believe it or not am only 23yo and have a bad back, god I think not what I'll be like at 43, anyway getting back, I now have been walking him for a week or so on the lead, he's really great and listens and checks for me and sits at road curbs after just three days of training him to do so with food and praise rewards, anyway I am finding that he can only walk half way around St James's Park Lake across from Buckingham Palace, so you know where I mean....anyway......half way around he sit refuses to move and crys for me to pick him up, is he just being stubborn and lazy or is it exspecting too much for him to walk a mile and half from home, that's from and too the park I am guessing.......The main things I have noticed with him, him being a Staffie is he likes going out not far from home to say hello to people genrally as he's a very friendly dog, a people's dog......however he seems to be content spending more time at home, although the cold and the wet I am told is not staffies favourite or liked weather to be in.......has anyone else got experience of dogs or puppies that would rather be indoors as appose to being outside as I would have thought most dogs want to be outside running around.

Any advice would be grateful of

Daniel [$ Charlie =])

Daniel, thats far to much exercise :-)
He isn't being stubborn or lazy, he is just trying to tell you that he can't do it. Do you have access to a back garden/yard ? At this age he really doesn't need very much *exercise*. Infact that amount is more suited to a adult dog. He does need to get out to meet people, but a hike round St.James for his little legs is asking a lot of him. Parks are good places to meet people and other dogs, but I really think that it is to far to expect him to walk all the way there and back :-) If you take him to the park, then you are going to need to carry him some of the way and when you get to the park, just find a bench...don't expect him to walk round the park as well. You need to cut back or you will damage his bones. His bones are very soft at the moment and you need to be very careful or they will not grow properly.
He can take very short walks, but I mean very short :D

Leigh

Hope this doesn't sound brusque, I don't mean it too :-)

Maybe you was taking what I was writing to seriously, he's always getting carried around and if I don't have enough energy or my backs causing me grief, I'll sit and give him 4 or 5 mins stop and rest, I don't exspect him to walk long long distances and if he's really unable to manage any more or finding it hard I'll give him three choices walk some more for a treat biscuit or stop for a breather and/or get rewarded for doing as I ask, ie sit before his picked up or before crossing, so he does get away with loads, but just wondered what average or exspected length or distance for a puppy is....perhaps a mile and half is not accurate, my flat to buckingham palace is 6-8 minutes walk all flat ground level mind you, and around the medium circumfrance lake, takes 20 minutes to stroll around, of which he can do a slow leassurely pace, I don't exspect him to race around in 5 mins flat and we stop to say hello to people wanting to give him attention at least up to 40-45 times, as he draws attention as is very cute staffie the ladys love him, which ain't no good because they ignore me and give him all the attention and I don't swing that way anyway so I'm yet to find out what he does as regards to guys, I'm just kidding, I'd rather have Charlie above any man or women, he doesn't answer back and knows when to sit, laydown or fetch when required like no other boyfriend :) lol anyway....we stop and rest on benches with cuddles only to keep on round until he wants picking up, although he can't be that tired out or had enough because he soon chases squirrela if he sees them which is a normal thing because the parks got loads of nesting and places for them avalible, on average we see 9-12 squirrel on one rough patchy area of a fare size or go give a goose some attitude, and then come running when he's been hissed at, which he deserved anyway, only to winge for more lifting up.....only to be refused after watching his energy and eye come alive to other animals or thing coming his way or within eyes view.....he's a good boy really, although he seems to like indoor much more to outdoor, he good on the lead and listens well and seems to recogise I am controling him or giving orders or instruction for his safety as he know he must sit at a road as the cars are not safe, he's a clever dog, very intelligent he's a quick learner and has surprised me at what he picks up and how fast, he walks to heel and only pulls if he's seen food on the floor, which is a big problem as always trying to make him drop chiken bones from KFC final customers....as for that he is really great with children although it does worry me sometime that he may nip at a child in play sometime, although never happened to achild, he did catch a women on the market the other day, she was cool about it and I bought her some tissue to apologise and to show an act of responsibility, and only to be thanked by her husband the following day and asked to get my puppy to regularly bite her for his enjoyment, as he explained her nag was as bad as any bite and more irritating than any other bitch, which made me laugh, charlie wonder what about and the market sellers tell him off and part laugh at his wife....anyway enough of me going on, god turning into my mother at 23yo....scary thought...Charlie is a staffie and I have read so much about the terrier type dog needing lots of exercise, but he seem to be like owner likes just resting and not waisting to much energy chasing after stuff in order to get some praise, he seems a little less than wanting to run around outside on the grass, and I just wondered if that was normal, he loved playing at the pet shop the other day with their dog Tess, and I have read about dogs smiling, but really witnessed it then, his smile was from side of his face to the other....wore him out mind allowing me to get the finances sorted in peace and an extra hour and a halfs lost kip gained back again......anyway sorry if I went on....just in one of them yapping going off and onto the subject and basically losing readers at least way back 12 lines ago........am having a mad moment whilst charlie's asleep in his crate to exspress my more creative side or atticulate centre whilst finding out need what be for Charlie's Care and my help in giving him a easier and more content loved home and way of being....I'm doing my best anyway, although I seem to think that last weeks thankyou for being given the privelage to sleep on the bed, only to wee all over my brand new duvet and just newly washed sheets and duvet,pillow cover only too exspect a positive tone of voice understand....let it be said he was given no telling of but put on the newspaper and given a treat for completeing his doodle in the appropraite place and my having to sleep with my 6 year old tea bag thickness and sized duvet and waffer thin backup pillow, whilst he slept on a brand new bought fleece blanket.....little pain!!!!!! Still he has learnt how to open and close the doors now, of which he didn't show me as he's very craft and pretty clever....I don't care what they say he defintely knows when he been doing something wrong , because he has a guilty look or hover around the item of use or abuse, only to look at me for a reaction, of which I give none and just hand him a toy to abuse instead........although he is learning very quickly not to argue or move from being told to stay put when getting out of hand, and if he doesn't gets put in isolation for 5-10 minutes in kitchen which he dislikes very much anyway went totally off exercise but such as life and online chat......take care Danny

Daniel keep up the postings, you make me smile. You really love your Charlie :)

As for excersose, let him tell you when he is tired, if you suspect you might have done too much, then next day do less, if you find he is running around the house obviously lacking it, then do a little more. I would say 10 minutes in each direction and a little play while you sit down will be enough for now!

Hi danny, it is perfectly clear that you love your dog to bits and are keen to do the very best for him. My 4 month old puppies dont get "exersised" at all!! They play, race around the house and garden, and then collapse in a heap to go to sleep. They get "lead trained", which consists of 5 minutes a day and do not get "exersised" til they are much much older. The furthest they go on a lead is the 400 yards or so to our post box at the bottom of the driveway til at least 6 months of age and then not "proper walks" ie more than 20 minutes until they are about 10-12 months. Most of their exersise is playing with me or each other and when they start to flag or lie down they stop, and so do I.

If you have no garden, could you not get a bus to the park, give him a 10 minute run and home on the bus again? I'm not sure if dogs are allowed on buses, but it may be worth a thought. Please dont give this puppy 20 minutes daily on hard surfaces for at least 2 or 3 months. I know you want to get out and about with your dog, but for his future health you must be patient, you could store up all sorts of joint/bone development problems for him - its a bit like taking a toddler on a five mile walk-and it sounds like he has been very well socialised already so that shouldn't be a future problem. You are obviously a devoted owner but you will have to wait til he is at least 12 months old before you can take him out for an hour's walk IMO :-)
One thing you could do with him his to take him to puppy training classes, there is almost certainly one near you. If you do to www.apdt.co.uk you will find training classes all over the country to go to, including many in London. You can socalise him further, show him off to the world and maybe make new friends for yourself -everyone love a puppy dont they. Please get this idea of "exersise" out of your mind for the time being- he doesn't need more than a few minutes road work each day plus being taken out for his toilet.

Thanks at least some one's smiling.....

I woke this morning and feel really unwell and really very depressed.....and I'm seriously thinking about asking a friend to look after Charlie for a week or so in order I can admit myself to Psy hospital.....

I know the board is for dog chat, but all my avenues of friends are not that many and none of my friends really understand or have the time to, come help me cope and I'm getting really tired of asking for help and trying get through to people I can't cope alone at the moment in the new flat, because social services have basically chucked me in here with as little help with stuff, as to as always save money......

I have over 8 weeks gradually become worse and last week I slept from 10pm in evening to 4-5pm the next afternoon only getting up to walk and feed Charlie nearly all last week, although I let him sleep on the bed instead of in the kitchen in his crate when I'm like this.....

sorry to bring everyone down.....but know when I'm not eating, shaving or getting up and feeling destructive towards myself and my life and living it's time to go to hospital.....

Charlie is the "Only" thing I have and this morning he made it that much easier when he cuddles me in bed and he is all I have......in the world and in my life....I probably sound really "Sad" as in "Naff Sad"....but postings here keeps me going sometimes as people's comments and general attitudes are really nice and caring about me, my welfare and Charlie's......and being gay in London is abit of a rat race and making and meeting friends is hard, as the gay scene isn't one which helps or develops induviduals, and instead chews you up and spits you out and is all about clubs, drugs and looking body beautiful, and people on the site here, I talk with are always a breath of fresh air and really good people.....anyway will post again when I can and thanks.......hopefully next time on will be better.... :(

D&C

Oh Danny, I've read all of your postings and you ARE NOT SAD!!!!! I can't stress that enough. Email me privately if you would like to chat - I'm not sure if my email will come up if you click on my name so I'll leave it at the end of the posting.

Congratulations on realising that you are going downhill, as I'm sure you're aware it is very difficult to appreciate how bad you are - it usually takes other people to tell you. In my case it's my husband. I hope you find the help that you need with the drs and good luck with Charlie - he sounds very sweet.

(((((BIG HUGS))))) and lots of love,

Fiona

fiona.bray@surfanytime.co.uk

Sorry to hear that your not feeling great Danny :-( I echo what Fiona has said and hope that you can get the help that you need.
We have got used to you and Charlie being around now, so hurry up and get better.

Leigh :-)

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are
Jane

And Danny, one very special qualiity you have is your honesty, and openness. Remember you are not just part of one particular "scene", you are also a Person!!!!! :)

Lindsay :)

Thanks guys, will write when I am able to and let you know how we are.

Support and kindness is much appreciated!

D&C

Hi Littleskin, So sorry you're on a downer at the moment and really hope you feel better soon. My only experience of depression was post natal, but it was not nice. Be kind to yourself, there are lots of people rooting for you here, and we all want to hear more about your's and Charlie's adventures together. Get well soon, and know that there ARE loving caring people out there.
((((((BIG HUGS FROM ME TOO)))))) and lots of sloppy kisses from the dogs.