Lexi will be 4 month old on Wednesday of this week. I have been walking her twice a day totaling around 5 miles, each walk is around 50 minutes. I have been told this is too much while her joints are growing really fast and have been advised I should only be walking for around 20 minutes at a time.
I really prefer "free" play for puppies, rather than "forced" exercise...what I mean by that is that puppies can choose how long to run and play, stopping when they choose, running full out for as long as they choose. It's not so much the length of the walk, but that they can stop and start at their leisure. When they are leashed, they just keep going and it's repetitive. There's a school of thought that this can be damaging to growing joints and bones. If you are walking at her pace, letting her stop and sniff, meander around, rather than walking at a steady clip, I'd be less concerned...if you can keep it sort of "puppy directed" rather than human directed that is far preferable.
Personally, I'm in the middle. I wouldn't run a pup on a treadmill or do jog with a puppy, but some of the newer recommendations that puppies can only walk 20 minutes seem a little ludicrous.
70% of the walks are on Grass/soil and 30% gravel. 90% of it is off leash. What you have said makes sense. I have decided to reduce it to 25-30 minutes of walking.
Looks like farm country to me - Is that wheat in that field ? By chance -- Would happen to be farmers over there ? :grin2: Nice area to walk , and nice Dober you have
No We are not farmers, just happen to be lucky enough to have nice areas to walk around where I live. Lexi gets the chance to experience plenty of livestock, Dogs and people by using these walks and the farmer loves to see the doberman as she is the only one in the area.
Love her - what a cutie! I especially like the one with the ponies!
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