Have just worked out that Benson is just about 8 months, and in terms of exercise and the 5 min guidelines, well, that went out the window a long time ago! Say that however, he has always known his limits, and we have been guided by them, in the sense of what he is comfortable jumping (walls etc...) and the fact he is never walked on concrete or tarmac, so off lead walks in fields and parks. I have just totted it all up and he he actually out for an average of 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours a day? Split between 3 walks, first walk is between 6.30 - 7.30 am then 30 mins - 1 hour lunchtime, later walk around tea-time, and a pee break about 10pm. I was wondering..is this a bit much? I was pretty confident when he was a younger puppy and very careful, however as he is entering his teenage months I am not entirely sure how much exercise is OK. He seems to be thriving on it, looks fit and very muscular, no limping and never seems too tired when he comes home. We also have short training sessions in the morning walks, integrated into his morning sessions, he wanders around the farm as well when we are around at home. I have noticed I am getting much fitter too! ;D ;D I do wonder, if this is a similar activity level for everyone else and their teenage pups?
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. Molly, who is just 9 months, has a similar amount of exercise. There is as an article somewhere on the main site casting doubt on the scientific validity of the 5 minute rule. However I know that some people follow it strictly and believe limited exercise is beneficial. Personally I feel that if the exercise isn't forced the amount we're doing is fine for their physical and mental health.
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. I think I exercised Poppy around that much as well. The main thing is not to do too much on-lead walking on hard surfaces, and not too much jumping.
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. Mine have all had about that, but no jumping in and out of cars, and they are virtually never on leads anyway. They are all fine, no joint issues at all.
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. Charlie is 15 months now, and gets up to 1.5 hours a day walking on pavement (in 3 separate walks) and 30 min walking on grass, all on lead unfortunately (but not for much longer ). Plus 3 hydro sessions a week. I've grilled the vets, surgeons, and physios involved in his care (ongoing since he was 8 months). Not one of them recognised the 5 min rule as advice to follow (that doesn't mean the main message of "moderation" is wrong though). Also, not one of them objected to walking on hard surfaces - they thought it didn't matter, although warned against very soft surfaces such as deep soft sand - jumping on hard surfaces is a different matter. So pretty much forever, we will stick to: no jumping in and out of cars, no jumping on and off high walls. Also, no explosive exercise from cold (eg not straight out of the car to chase a squirrel) and, at least for now, nothing that makes him slam on the brakes from a full out run (eg no squirrel chases where the squirrel disappears up a tree). And no frisbees or anything he snatches from the air to land on his back legs. We will also keep his exercise pretty constant - avoiding the "weekend cowboy" stuff.
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. Yep, Penny probably gets about the same but over two walks instead of three, and has done since she was about six months old. She's got high energy levels and anything less would have her bouncing off the walls. The 5 minute thing is obviously just a guideline, and you need to find a happy medium between not over exercising, and what Benson needs. If what you're doing at the moment works, and he seems to be coping fine I wouldn't worry overly much. Edited to add: I've also never had anyone say anything against walking on hard surfaces. Penny's physiotherapist actually told us we should be doing more lead walking than we do!
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. Just to add we are all talking about strapping great teenagers here, not tiny pups.
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=6449.msg85766#msg85766 date=1402074741] Just to add we are all talking about strapping great teenagers here, not tiny pups. [/quote] Oh yes, he is certainly a strapping teenager! ;D I have found he is now larger than a lot of older labs we meet, still a baby to me though..
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. I can't stick to the 5 minute rule with Albert either even though he is only 4 months! He sometimes gets an hour, but mostly about 45mins almost all of it off lead, either in local woods or the beach. He loves playing 'fetch' on the beach and having a paddle but although we are out for a long time it is all at his pace. He'd go bonkers if he only had 20 mins a day! He plays a lot in the garden too. No jumping or stairs though. Just a thought, how on earth do you get an 8 month lab in the car? I can just about still pick Albert up, but not going to be for much longer as he weighs 34lbs now. Do people use a ramp? Jan
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. [quote author=teapot57 link=topic=6449.msg85837#msg85837 date=1402087780] Just a thought, how on earth do you get an 8 month lab in the car? [/quote] I pick Charlie up, and always will. He doesn't think much of it. "Aw...muuum! I can get in on my own!" But tough luck!
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. For exercise for our 8 month old Disel, we do about 15 mins on concrete leashed and about 45 mins off leash daily. He then chases our older dog incessantly if they are let out together. We only very recently added the "concrete" leash walk just to give him a better opportunity to practice on leash, no other reason really. He is awesomely happy and in fact might need slightly more exercise to calm him down a bit sometimes it seems. I do watch him for any signs of tiredness or straining and nooo jumping for the poor pup. I gave up a long time ago lifting him in and out of the car and relegated that responsibility to stronger members of the family. Disel is very comfy with being transported to and from the car the little prince He never even tries own his own. I guess in many ways we are lucky that he is not that eager to do it on his own for now. I cant really give any advice on the matter, but I am sure that observing like you do and being aware makes all the difference.
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. I did my back in early on with Tatze, picking her up and whisking her out when toilet training (lift and twist, bad combination! : ) So I got a ramp for the car until she was old enough to jump in for herself. I can't lift her, no strength in my arms! It's a great ramp, light and easy to operate one handed. It came in very useful after her spay as well. I'll use it for the new pupster too. I'm looking after my friend's dog, Zaba, just now. On our last walk he refused to jump in the car. I certainly can't lift him (30 kilos!) so we had a stand off! I tried to lure him with treats but no go, he wanted to carry on playing. So I simply waited (Tatze laid down in the car, bless her. Eventually he got bored and jumped in - little monster!! This is the ramp - http://tinyurl.com/os5rjhq And here is Tatze on the box when it arrived ;D
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. That's a brilliant photo! I guess I'm lucky that I can still lift Penny if I need to as she's still under 20kgs, not that I get the chance though because as soon as the boot door is cracked open she's trying to get in! She jumped and head butted the door once as it wasn't fully open when she was trying to get in. She waits to be told to get out though which is good. We only have a ford focus so it's not too high for her, but recently we had her in my mums car (land rover freelander) and I thought she would struggle getting up that high - no problems there either!
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. I'd love a ramp. I tried when Charlie was injured, but had trouble teaching it - in that Charlie thought the objective was to see how far along the ramp he could jump : and he wasn't allowed to jump, so I didn't persevere. He is 28kgs, but I don't have trouble lifting him. He so wants to jump into the car on his own though. The Volvo I usually use is not high, but I still don't let him jump as he used to have a habit (if I didn't stop him) of leaping into the landrover from 6ft away from the back. So no jumping into cars is now a line in the sand. OH has used a treat lure to get Charlie out of the car for months as Charlie doesn't like being lifted out. So he flatly refuses to come out now until he sees a treat. Which has its disadvantages, but at least no chance of him jumping out on his own.
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. Lilly jumps in and out (yes I know, bad hips, bad to do) No trouble on the out, but insists on a treat for jumping in - has me well trained. I can lift her in when needed, but I always try and park nose down if I can to make the jump in easier. And spent ages trying to find a new car that had a low enough boot, and narrow enough lip, that was within my budget (as a second car). Its not perfect, still a bit high, but best option could find (that I would drive : )
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. That ramp looks really good mags and you can do it one handed ? I have a ramp which I borrowed off my mums cousin when my old lab found it difficult to get in the car. Not until he was 15 I might add. Its really heavy though and hard work to put up and I was wondering if you can get lighter ones. Obviously you can. Another purchase. Despite the fact my two hate going in the car, Im still trying to desensitise them to it :, they jump in no problem and obviously fly out. ;D. I do think, having had a vey big lab who I'd never have been able to pick up, a ramp and getting them used to it before its needed is a good idea and not something that would necessarily be thought of. I didn't think of it until, as I said, Murphy was fifteen. Although he never had a problem jumping in the car coming home from the vet. :
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. I do like the idea of a ramp, looks very portable as well, and not necessarily to use all the time, however I imagine if a dog is used to it ie: when a pup, then in situations when they become necessary (injury for example) then I imagine they would be confident in using a ramp
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. [quote author=Jen link=topic=6449.msg85970#msg85970 date=1402146643] That ramp looks really good mags and you can do it one handed ? [/quote] Yes - one handed no probs
Re: Exercise for an 8 month old labrador.. [quote author=teapot57 link=topic=6449.msg85837#msg85837 date=1402087780] Just a thought, how on earth do you get an 8 month lab in the car? I can just about still pick Albert up, but not going to be for much longer as he weighs 34lbs now. Do people use a ramp? Jan [/quote] I
