Trouble Jumping Up

[Stephanie Neufeld]

Hi,

I have a 3.5 month old labradoodle.  She has learnt how to jump up on the couch, go up/down stairs no problem.  However, towards the end of the day she sometimes has trouble jumping up and will sit and whine to come up.  I'm not sure if she is just tired by the end of the day (or just lazy and wants to be picked up, haha) or if she is actually in pain?  Of course my immediate worry is of hip dysplasia, but that shouldn't show signs until much later (and hopefully never!).  I'm just wondering if anyone else's doodle puppy has trouble jumping up occasionally?

[Nelson, Jeanne and Annie Oakley]

Hi Stephanie...Annie, our labradoodle who may well be a goldendoodle (that's another story!) does much the same thing.  If no one is around she can jump up just fine however if we are sitting on the couch she will act pathetic, whine, put her front paws up and act like she can't get up there on her own.  If we ignore her she eventually jumps up or goes to her favorite hiding spot.   They sure are characters aren't they!

[Stephanie Neufeld]

OK, glad to know someone else's doodle does this too! haha.  I was just concerned something might be wrong with her hips, but I'm hoping it's just her being lazy and wanting to be picked up! :P

[Katherine]

The Kennel Club (the original one in England) advises against pups going up and down stairs or too much jumping until the pups are 6 months - 1 year. The bones are very soft as they grow, especially big breeds, and can easily be injured. On same note their advice is walks should be 5 mins for every month of their lives, i.e. 4 months = 4x5 min = 20 min.

[sarah c gammel]

In response to this post let me just reiterate the reply about jumping up as i know all to well the devastating injury this can cause. I have a 4 month old labradoodle ,Lotus who three weeks ago injured herself while jumping up for a toy. She came down on her right leg breaking a bone near her growth plate.Needless to say I am heartbroken and devastatd as I waited years for the right time and pup to adopt. I have spent the last two and 1/2 weeks back and forth to the vet/specialists in hopes there will be no permanent damage. so,please please no jumping

[Nelson, Jeanne and Annie Oakley]

Sarah,  I hope everything turns out ok for Lotus.  I had a scare yesterday with Annie our 7 1/2 month old goldendoodle...I've been throwing the ball for her in our meadow and she races after it pell mell, sometimes overrunning it and trying to turn herself around midrun which results in her tumbling over and over herself.  Yesterday I was bouncing the ball on our driveway to get her attention when she started jumping up trying to catch it.  She'd never done that before.  At first I thought it was cute and praised her when she caught the ball mid-jump.  However when she started getting tired she would leap high (her feet were several inches off the ground) lose her balance and come down hard on her side onto the pavement.  I decided right then and there we wouldn't be doing that again... This morning she brought the ball to me and wanted me to bounce it.  I tried throwing it and she would run after it then just stand there and look at me.  She kept bringing it back to the pavement I guess in an attempt to get me to bounce it for her to catch.