Running/ walking my new puppy

[Stacy Deitrich]

Hello again everyone!  I'm a runner and hope to have Rosie one day as my running companion.  Until then... is it safe to walk or run her at all right now?  She is 12 weeks tomorrow.  I've been walking her once around the block every day, which is a 1/4 mile, to leash train her.  She does REALLY well with that and seems that she could go even further.  But, I don't know what is appropriate for her age.  Thanks for the help!

~ Stacy

[Lindsey]

Our girl loves to go for walks, and has since we first brought her home (at 12 weeks old). We started out with a walk around the block and then a few walks around the block. Now (at 20 weeks old) she begs to walk and will walk farther if we would let her, as soon as we get back from a walk...she wants to play fetch and is obviously not even the least bit tired. So I think it depends on your dog, if they want to walk a little bit more- I honestly don't think it would hurt them.

[Lori]

Definitely don't run her at 12 weeks - check with your vet for when you should start that - I think it's about 1 year - a year and a half because their bones are still soft and growing.

[Dara and Hendrix]

As regards running, i would definitely recommend that you wait until your doodle is at least one year old, and after the vet has checked her hips and joints to make sure that they have matured enough to stand the stress. With Hendrix, I waited for the vet to say it was okay at his one year check up, and I started slowly with quarter mile runs, and worked my way up to two mile runs. I still defer to Hendrix though. When he has had enough he stops running and then it is time to go home.

[Leslie & Axl Sacks]

Our breeder told us not to walk a puppy too far or even let them climb big flights of stairs til they were at least 4 months.  I'd hold off even longer for fear of that hip dysplasia that goldens are screened for.  Needless to say we finally let our 18 week old try the basement steps a few weeks ago & he was petrified. 

[Harper]

I have also been told to wait a year and a half before running with our dog because her joints/bones aren't ready yet.  I know many people run with their dogs earlier than that, but you never know how it may affect the pups until they are older.  I like to run too, and I can't wait until we can run with Harper.  

[Lisa Ortmann]

I have also heard not to run with them until they are older.  Especially with the larger breed dogs that have to worry about hip dyplasia.  I know that is a bummer for your lifestyle! 

[Adina P]

Yes like others have said it is ideal to wait till your pup is 18 MONTHS before starting a running program.  It's not that they shouldn't run at all, but no sustained running exercise where you're jogging for a length of time.  Obviously running after balls and the running puppies do on their own as they play alone and with other dogs is fine.  But definitely not any mile +  of continual running.