Over exercising a ECS?

Is this exercise too much for 13 weeks?

  • Yes

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No

    Votes: 1 100.0%

  • Total voters
    1

lyndor

New Member
Having a three month old pup is bundles of fun - Hamish has been an absolute delight, and now we're fully vaccinated we are out socialising!

If I can figure out how to put a video (any clues?) on this forum, I'll upload some of his first trip to the dog park and the river.

What I'm asking though, is I've been warned by a springer spaniel breeder not to "over exercise" Hamish as it'll ruin his appearance. Hamish is intended for the show ring, but he is primarily our pet and fur baby. I don't want to "ruin" him by any apparent over exercising, nor do I want him to miss out on dog life.

At the mo, he's having 15-20 minute slow walks (sniffing and chasing every leaf) around the block, and time at the dog park - off leash - for 20 minutes. This exercise happens twice a day, then he is crated and chews and rough ups our other dog.

Hamish's current day looks like this

6.30am - up to toilet and have breakfast
7.00am - play!
8.00am - walk around the block
8.20am - nap
10.30am - awake and playing!
11.30am - lunch
12.00pm - nap
3.00pm - play again!
5.00pm - nap
6.00pm - dinner
6.30pm - walk around the block
6.50pm - home and having a lazy play
8.00pm - asleep on mum's lap or in crate
9.30pm - outside to the loo and back to the crate

I don't think we're over doing it?

He gets soggy eyes when he's tired so it's easy to see when he's done enough
 
I'm not sure about the effects of exercise on his coat. If you have a facebook, youtube, dailymotion or vimeo account, just paste the link in your message and your video should pop up. You can also click the Media icon when posting your message and paste the link there--it looks like film strips.
 
Uhm, that pretty much sounds like Fiona's schedule when she was that age. I don't think the amount of playing is a problem but the type....don't encourage jumping or running for long periods of time. Being in motion isn't necessarily a problem---the intensity and duration of that motion might be an issue---at least that was my interpretation. Don't walk them for a long time although walks are necessary to get the puppy in a routine and teach good leash manners. I really tried to discourage jumping...even on and off the couch...for the first year. The puppy won't exercise beyond its limits on its own and I don't think that a walk around the block would hurt provided it isn't constant motion.
 
Depends on the size of the block! To walk around my "block" is a few miles, so I don't think I'll be walking my puppy around it. I don't walk around it myself. :D
 
Depends on the size of the block! To walk around my "block" is a few miles, so I don't think I'll be walking my puppy around it. I don't walk around it myself. :D
You have a point, lol! I know that Fi's breeder never starts jump training for agility with her dogs until they are past the age of 2.
 
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"forced" exercise in a puppy is potentially damaging to their joints. So you do not want to do any forced repetitive motions - no jogging, biking, rollerblading etc until age 2. any jumping should be minimal - well below the elbow and used sparingly. .... ie, you could teach them to 'jump' a 2 in tall stick but you would not start flyball or agility training until age 2ish.

that being said, puppies, like small children, need exercise. else, they make much mischief! lots of free running chasing you or playing with similarly sized/aged/tempered dogs. leisurely walking in the neighborhood should be fine provided weather isnt extreme.

Also, Try to have as many POSITIVE interactions with as many different things/people/places/textures as you positively can. Now is the time to get him walking on wet grass, pebbles, grating, tarps, being around kids and different types of people including canes/walkers/wheelchairs if you can at all manage it.

and please, for those of us who are puppy-less, please try to figure out how to post pics!!! ;)
 
"forced" exercise in a puppy is potentially damaging to their joints. So you do not want to do any forced repetitive motions - no jogging, biking, rollerblading etc until age 2. any jumping should be minimal - well below the elbow and used sparingly. .... ie, you could teach them to 'jump' a 2 in tall stick but you would not start flyball or agility training until age 2ish.

that being said, puppies, like small children, need exercise. else, they make much mischief! lots of free running chasing you or playing with similarly sized/aged/tempered dogs. leisurely walking in the neighborhood should be fine provided weather isnt extreme.

Also, Try to have as many POSITIVE interactions with as many different things/people/places/textures as you positively can. Now is the time to get him walking on wet grass, pebbles, grating, tarps, being around kids and different types of people including canes/walkers/wheelchairs if you can at all manage it.

and please, for those of us who are puppy-less, please try to figure out how to post pics!!! ;)
I didn’t know that but it makes sense. Thanks.
 
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