Guidelines for Exercises in Puppies?

[K9Rehab]

Is there any new evidence for the best guidelines for exercise in puppies, especially larger breed? I always still consider growth plate closure before initiating higher impact activities like running with owners etc....I find that many of my clients knew not to overdue it with their young puppies but from about 6 months on will often starting running, hiking and letting them run and play with older dogs. Would love to have some research backing up my advice to them. Thanks!

[lehughes]

Hey Joanna,

So unfortunately, there is very little that has actually been studied. We have more on humans.
I have an article I wrote on this subject about 8 years ago:
https://www.fourleg.com/media/Sport-Tra ... Growth.pdf

And an article on what folks should do with their puppies to help with body awareness:
https://www.fourleg.com/media/Building% ... reness.pdf

And some blog posts:
https://www.fourleg.com/Blog/209/How-SH ... k-diving?
https://www.fourleg.com/Blog/210/Group- ... ck-Diving
(I know the last two are dock diving... but I think the thought processing that would go into creating an answer would be similar).

Sorry... I don't know of A study at all regarding dogs that would help with this.

Cheers,

Laurie

[lehughes]

Also, Chris Zink has come up with a 'protocol' of sorts that looks at this. You can read more here:

https://www.avidog.com/how-much-exercis ... pies-need/

Cheers,

Laurie

[K9Rehab]

This is great, thank you Laurie!