I know there is a rule about 5 min for each month, for large breed pups

Is there one for giant breeds?
I am soon to get my leonberger! :)

Hi Guest

Congrats on the puppy I bet you cant wait. I went by the same rule (5 mins for each month) for my newfie and they are classed as giant breed. If your breeders anything like mine you will get a huge list of does and don'ts which will cover everything including exercise.

The 5 minute rule holds pretty good for all dogs. If you think about it a large breed does not make anything like as many paces in a given distance but carries quite a bit more weight on it's joints.

Leonbergers actually have quite good hips for a heavy breed with a BMS of 12. I was present at the breed's open show many years ago when it was judged by Dr Malcolm Willis. His comments I remember were that the movements were not good and that his recommendation was to import some new stock to try to improve matters. I don't know whether that happened.

It was on that day that a breeder lined up five generations for me to video. The youngest 12 weeks and the oldest 12 years!

Best wishes, John

Also really important not to let the pup  up and down stairs. I have leos they are lovely ,lots and lots of hard work though!

guest
i have a leo too,there is a few of us on CD.become a registered user and we can help along the way as your baby grows.
make the most of your little one because they don't stay little for long.lol
as for walking they should be restricted untill the age of 1 because of the hips etc.this is what i have done with my lad just to be on the safe side.
i don't know if its just mine,but you can tell when hes had enough,he just starts plodding behind instead of by my side.
word of advice teach the pup to walk to heel from the start as it is not funny if you have a leo that pulls on the lead when they get to 4/5 months plus.
my lad was as big as a boxer in height and weight at this age so you can imagine the strength they have even though they are still baby.
the one thing to be ready for is the question you will get asked all the time"what breed is that?" but you get used to it after a while.

will you be joining the leo club of gb?

:D

i heard you got asked the question on holiday.
what did people think maddie was? and are you ready for the show???????????????? might go to watch now we know were it is,i like it on the outside better than the in.

most people thought she was a GSD x,or maybe even an afghan? :D

yeah thats what people thought tob was a long haired gsd untill he got to big to be one.