|
|
Location: cornwall uk
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,132
|
08-11-2010, 11:01 AM
Makes sense to me if you have a dog of a breed which might have that tendency.
rune
|
|
Location: West Sussex
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,749
|
08-11-2010, 11:09 AM
Originally Posted by Delos 
Totally 10 or 15 minutes walking on a path with Puppy isn't going to cause joint or growth problems. Puppy's are hardy little things. There is too much paranoia and cotton wool mentality. I have known vets to advise not walking dogs off lead until they are 18 months old!
You'll probably cause more problems not walking your dog to the park (Socialization issues) than not doing it. People need to use a little common sense.
No one is suggesting to stick rigidly to the 5 minute rule. I have used it for my dogs, but only loosely as a guideline. I'd never heard of the 5 minute rule when I got my current Labrador, which was 7 1/2 years ago. It just made sense to me at the time (and on the advice of his very experienced breeder) to build up the length of walks very slowly and to avoid forced exercise. When getting a breed which is prone to genetic joint problems, again, this was simply common sense; only at the time, 'common sense' didn't have a label like the '5 minute rule'. The 5 minute rule is simply putting a name on common sense, as lets face it a big majority of puppy buyers are totally ignorant about genetic health issues in dogs.
I also think the notion that a puppy should never be walked on a hard surface such as pavement is just silly. There is obviously a world of difference in taking a young puppy for long marches on lead on pavements, then there is a slow plod at the puppies' own pace to get from A to B. The latter should be no more 'damaging' to a puppy than walking on a soft surface. In fact, if done correctly and slowly, a bit of walking on hard surfaces is excellent for building muscle mass which is needed to protect joints. It is also unavoidable unless you take the puppy out in the car every time you leave the house, which I can imagine would be impractical for most people.
|
|
|
|
Location: Bad Fallingbostel, Germany
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,180
|
08-11-2010, 12:11 PM
Originally Posted by mishflynn
Id carry or try to get a lift or a taxi that accepts dogs, Failing that id walk SLOWLEY, pooching about, not walking fast.
(if you teach them early then they should get used it it)
I suppose if i was in your situation this would limit me to a breed i could carry for some of the way,& one not prone to joint & growth issues.
Having had a dog with HD its just not worth the risk or heartache
Road walking to me
is a lead walk as if you are "going somewhere" so walking at a pace that is constant. spo youve got the "pounding " on the joints.
A little lead walking on grass is not the same thing, esp if you allow for sniffs & pooching & exploring etc
To get used to cars then build up slowley, id not want a dog to get used to cars as a by product of a walk, i would do this separate
Sometimes people cant help their situations, we all should do whats best for the pups!
|
|
|
Location: Stockton on Tees
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,005
|
08-11-2010, 04:02 PM
Originally Posted by Borderdawn
I cant see as 15 mins would harm a puppy, really I cant. They never walk anywhere "properly" at 4mths, its never going to be "pounding the joints" as far as I can see. You can do much more damage with having a puppy running loose at that age in my experience.
I think you need to apply a little common sense. Taking a puppy a short walk is fine to see the traffic etc.. but you wouldnt walk a long distance to get there, likewise Id never run a pup loose for long period either.
|
|
|
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 212
|
08-11-2010, 05:54 PM
Originally Posted by astle9
God my dogs are screwed in the future as all 3 must have guaranteed hip dysplasia, all 3 of mine have had free walking and running since i had them, the vet did their 6 monthly check last month and commented on how fit and healthy they are compared to a lot of dogs he see nowadays, hip and joint mobility was excellent on all 3 and he stated all 3 were exceptionally fit.
All the walks contain a fair element of road walking until we get to the woods where they run freely.
When i was in the vets i did see some really grossly fat overweight dogs who hopefully were not walked a lot as pups so as they do not get any injuries in the far future.
You know i may just get lucky as i have never had a dog with hip dysplasia in all the years i have had dogs, my old boy lived until 17, his back legs did go just before he was PTS so maybe his first owners who abused him before we took him from the rescue centre walked him too much as a puppy.
I must have a word with my grandparents (graveside) and tell them that the dogs they lovingly reared from pups free running who all lived long and productive lives were put at risk by them.
I feel awful now putting my dogs in danger in the future and all i can hope is that luck is on my side.
|
|
|
|
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 212
|
08-11-2010, 05:57 PM
Originally Posted by labradork
I definitely agree about the cotton wool mentality. As you say, common sense is what is needed.
No one is suggesting to stick rigidly to the 5 minute rule. I have used it for my dogs, but only loosely as a guideline. I'd never heard of the 5 minute rule when I got my current Labrador, which was 7 1/2 years ago. It just made sense to me at the time (and on the advice of his very experienced breeder) to build up the length of walks very slowly and to avoid forced exercise. When getting a breed which is prone to genetic joint problems, again, this was simply common sense; only at the time, 'common sense' didn't have a label like the '5 minute rule'. The 5 minute rule is simply putting a name on common sense, as lets face it a big majority of puppy buyers are totally ignorant about genetic health issues in dogs.
I also think the notion that a puppy should never be walked on a hard surface such as pavement is just silly. There is obviously a world of difference in taking a young puppy for long marches on lead on pavements, then there is a slow plod at the puppies' own pace to get from A to B. The latter should be no more 'damaging' to a puppy than walking on a soft surface. In fact, if done correctly and slowly, a bit of walking on hard surfaces is excellent for building muscle mass which is needed to protect joints. It is also unavoidable unless you take the puppy out in the car every time you leave the house, which I can imagine would be impractical for most people.
|
|
|
|
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 212
|
08-11-2010, 07:41 PM
Originally Posted by Milk maid
Did you try the wooden spoon yet?
.........................sorry got confused then ha ha and the post went wrong pc probs
not the wooden spoon just the constant treats and praise.......
|
|
|
Location: Cornwall, UK
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 316
|
08-11-2010, 07:42 PM
Originally Posted by Milk maid
Did you try the wooden spoon yet?
|
|