How Much Exercise?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My DH and I have different views on how much exercise is too much for Murphy and so I told him I was going to consult with the "Doodle Experts".  Recently we've been putting Murph on the treadmill for an hour at a 3.0 speed with an incline of between 4 and 10.  In addition, we take the boys for good walks every day that isn't raining and send them to Daycare where they run full out most of the day twice a week.  I think this is too much treadmill for Murph, especially since he's losing weight.  He's down to 50 lbs and I can feel his ribs.  I can't seen to get him to eat enough calories to compensate for what he's burning.  I'm back to full home cooking for his night meal and I've increased the carb ratio.  DH thinks that he needs this much exercise to burn off energy.  I told him I thought this was more exercise than other Doodles were getting, but he disagrees with that.  What are your thoughts?

[Carol and Banjo]

Jane, Is Murph's weight loss due to the increased activity or something else?   It seems he definitely needs the extra calories if it's due to the extra activity.   I walk Banjo twice daily and usually half and hour or a bit more each time.  In addition to those walks he gets to run around (crazy) in the back yard.   Also on one of those walks he's off leash a good part of the time running up and down the bankings along our trail so he really is getting LOTS of exercise.   I'd say triple what I'm walking.   I think DH is right....I don't think he's getting too much.   But he needs the additional calories to keep his weight on.   I'll be interested to hear what others think too.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think it's a combination of a reduced appetite (medication) and all this exercise.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do think that's too much time on the treadmill at this point, since he's on the meds and has a decreased appetite. Even when JD was young and healthy, he didn't get as much exercise as Murph is getting; he got about an hour to an hour and a half a day of leash walking at a good speed, and about 30 minutes a day of running after the ball, weather permitting. These days, of course, it's cut way back, due to his disc problem. But JD also never had the kind of energy Murphy does.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Maybe more ball chasing and less treadmill is an answer for Murph.

[Donna K & Quincy]

It does sound like an awful lot of exercise, maybe try cutting the treadmill back to 30 mins and see how it goes. He may not need as much exercise as he did before.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't know the optimal amount of exercise but this is much more than my doodles get.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I can only tell you what I do with my two dogs. They get a long walk (2-3) miles usually before noon. We are back in the woods walking at a leisurely pace. There are small hills here and there. When we get home, they take between a 2-3 hour nap. Sometime, close to dinner or just after we go on a much shorter walk and then they are good for the night. They do wrestle and chase throughout the day. One hour on the treadmill with that much incline seems like a lot to me, especially if he is losing weight. The thing that would concern me is Murphy can't really tell you when he is done and I know I have good days and bad days when it comes to exercising. I am wondering if the medicine has helped to curb his need to burn off all the excess energy he used to have.  What is his demeanor, etc. before he gets on the treadmill? I would never second guess you, however, because you know Murphy better than anyone.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

He used to willingly go on the treadmill and never tried to get off.  Since we've made it more challenging....incline and speed, he's reluctant to get on.  He does it, but you can tell he doesn't want to.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, I respect you so much as a dog owner and dog trainer, but if Murphy is reluctant to get on the treadmill and you could find another way to get him enough exercise, I would switch to something different. Personally, I think walking on a treadmill is just about the most boring thing in the world to do and even I would prefer to chase tennis balls. LOL

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I think the treadmill is a bit much, if you dog is high energy that is OK but if there are signs of weight loss and he is not eating to compinsate for the extra activity and losing weight then I would cut down the treadmill work out to a half hour or 20 min. depending on the speed and incline.  If it is a leasure walk the 1/2 hour if it is speed or running or incline then 20 min. tops.  You can look up on line the amount of time to exercise your dog by age... just google it.  OR just call your vet they will know for sure.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

This is way more exercise than my two get!  The incline on the treadmill seems high to me. I would think though that if he didn't like it you wouldn't be able to get him on it ... does he resist when you put him up there?

[Sheila & Finnley]

Holy Doodle ! I think I need to get on Murphy's diet and treadmill program. I'd love to hear the words "you need to get some additional calories !" :)