Hi all,

I have a 4 1/2 Month old Boxer dog called paddy, he currently weighs 16kg and on a recent visit to the vet i was told that he can now be taken on long walks twice a day and that i cant do him any damage as long as we stop excersise when he's tired, however, having read quite a few articles on various websites many people seem to think that over exercising him could damage his joints etc. I was just wondering if anybody knew which was the true statement...having mentioned to the vet what i had said he told me that Boxers dont regularly get problems witht their joints due to over exercise at a young age....does anybody know whether this is true? can i now take him out walking with me? or should i wait until he's a bit older? thanks for any help anyone can give me.....

Craig.

Hi Craig,
It's best to err on the side of caution, and exercise him according to the 'five-minute rule'. That is, his walks last 5 minutes for every month of his age. So at 4 1/2 months his walks would last 5 minutes x 4 1/2 = between 20 and 25 minutes. Your vet is quite correct that he shouldn't get tired on his walks, so you have to make sure you are home before then. Also the surface he walks on has a bearing on possible damage. At this age it is best to use his walks as training and socialisation opportunities rather than physical exercise.
:)

i too have a 5mnth old boxer puppy but she is very lean and only weighs about 8kg, i think most people now advise to allow off the lead excercise in your garden for example as much as you like as puppies will self regulate them selves but enforced walking is not advised until puppy is over 6mnths old and even then it should be limited, although saying that i have 2 rotties and i walked them loads as pups(off the lead) and they have had no joint problems at all but they were caged at home so when they were walked they had enforced rest at home. I currently walk my puppy for 1/2hr off lead ona morning and an hour at night off lead during the day she is in a pen 6ft by 6 ft and has access to my yard to play. There is no strict rules but i wouldn't advise huge walks at that age and best to do flat work only no stairs or hills until 1yr old.

Hi Craig
I tell all my new puppy owners to limit exercise until a year old. As small puppies just a short lead walk few times a week to get them used to traffic socialise etc and other than that play on your garden although after an hour or so I do fetch them in for a good rest my puppies will not self regulate and will play for hours if left. Other than that ours may do a ringcraft class once a week. I start to build the exercise slowly from around 6 months. I find this works really well for us and we very rarely get Boxers going through the leggy skinny stage. When they enter the ring at 6 months they usually look spot on. I saw a poor puppy of around 12 weeks being dragged around our local park the other day when I commented the poor thing looked shattered the lady said he will do we've been out 2 hours, after a few minutes chatting she told me she'd bought him from a local breeder (no health tests) who gave her no advice on exercise and just said he'll take as much as you give him. Lets hope now the lady is more educated the poor thing will get to enjoy his babyhood.

thank for all you help,

nothing too strenuous then!

I'm beggining to think that the breeder i got him from is like the one you had mentioned, as she doesnt seem to be forthcoming with advice!

never mind theres always this forum,

thanks,

Craig

Craig where did you get your boxer from (Area),  sorry being a little nosey.

hiya i got my boxer from Northern Ireland last year, why do you ask?