I have a 14 Month GSP bitch, and have a concern regarding the amount of exercise i should give her. She gets a good walk(60-90 mins) every day in open countryside, and another 20 min walk/run every other day. She is not overweight, but lean and well muscled, but now she is reaching full maturity i wonder if i should increase the exercise at all.
many thanks

Hi there, have you asked your bitch's breeder for advice at all? She or he may be able to help. Failing that, become a member of one of the GSP Clubs , they may be able to offer help

:)

You are reaching a time of life now where she can go for as long as you! Yes the time is adequate but again, if you feel like walking further so can she. A working gundog would be expected to be out all day most days, and most of the time hunting up at the run, so you can see that the sky's the limit. So saying, possibly the bulk of dogs get no more than around an hour or so a day.

It is the dogs who normally only get half an hour or so a day and then at holiday time the owners expect the dog to do a full days hike over the mountains that would, as with humans, suffer for it. As with humans, any change in lifestyle like that deserves a little acclimatisation.

Regards, John

My ex rescued/rehomed a GSP a few weeks ago. When he spoke to someone 'in the breed' and mentioned that he walks the dogs (he has an English Springer and a Large Munsterlander, too) for about 2 hours at a time they were horrified They said that he was walking them for far too long As he has had working dogs for about 20 years it threw him, and me ;)

HPR's, along with Spaniels, and some other gundogs, have to be able to work all day. If they can't work then they are no use as a working dog. I don't mean running all day without stopping, they have to rest along with their owners :D from time to time.

If you feel your dog will take more excercise than build it up gradually. After all, you couldn't run a marathon tomorrow, could you, if you haven't trained for it :)

Hi! I have a three year gsp girl. I also was wondering whether I give her too much exercise! I take her out 8am-to 9.30am every morning across fields & woods always letting her romp with all her doggy friends.She  comes home has her breakfast then sleeps until noon--has a pigs ear & general play & then we go on another walk for         maybe 1hr to 1 1/2hrs. She will then sleep all evening & night & moves only to eat a small tea (& the same  goes for me too!!) I wonder whether we're overdoing it but I suppose we will grow old together & gradually shorten our exercise accordingly! I've just had a nudge to let me know it's time to go out again!