Walking A Puppy

[ACD4EVA]

We have got our 10 week old puppy walking on a lead; not perfectly but we are getting there.

My question is how much can we walk him?

Is to much walking at this age going to cause him problems later on?

Does it differ depending on the breed?

[Marley'z Mum]

are u walking him in your property? coz at 10 weeks he wouldn't have had all vaccinations, therefore wouldn't be walking him anywhere

[OSoSwift]

Walking on lead at your puppy's age is purely for training and getting him used to walking on a lead.

Over exercise can cause problems with joints.

It is basically like asking a 3 year old to walk 5 kms for example if you take him for large walks. They get enough exercise running around and playing so getting out and walking on a lead are not needed for physical exercise . Once he has had all of his vaccinations getting him out and about is important for socialisation and training.

A say 12 to 14 week old puppy would only need to walk passed 2 houses max in the beginning as it is a training exercise and one that is worked up to. Ie two steps of nice walking and no pulling is perfectly fine for a beginning. You then work it up a few more steps then more and so on. You should not ask your dog to go for long walks/runs until they are around 12 months old. I am assuming from your name you have an Aust Cattle dog????

Training and training tricks for 10 or so minutes will wear him out more than a 15 minute walk.

[ACD4EVA]

are u walking him in your property? coz at 10 weeks he wouldn't have had all vaccinations, therefore wouldn't be walking him anywhere

We have been just playing with him in the backyard and a short walk up the street and back..... our street is not very long. And their isn't any other dogs.

[Aussienot]

So no other dog has ever walked on your street? It's not just active exposure, germs and viruses can live in the environment too. It's generally safest to keep your dog on your own property until 7 days after the second vaccination - unless he's on a surface that can be disinfected, such as in a puppy class. (Hint, hint)

[poodlefan]

General rule of thumb: 5 minutes per month of the dog's age up to about 6 months old. With a giant breed, I'd be cautious until 12 months.

I don't exercise any of mine onlead until after 6 months of age. They get trained to walk on lead but no pavement pounding.

[ACD4EVA]

Thanks for your responses! I will just walk him on the property. Its good to ask when your all new to this.

I have been looking at puppy classes.

[mackenzie11]

good luck with walking your puppy, i tried everything with mine and she does not enjoy walking at all,

i have a 21 week old cavalier x poodle, and she goes for a walk to pick my daughter up from school once a week, she refuses to go any more than that,

tried to get her to walk 2 days in a row and she would not be in it, left a few days between and still no, she gets all excited to go, but when she realises that she actually has to walk, then she does not want to go.

getting the impression that she is not going to be a dog that loves to go for a walk, she does get outside and runs amock with an older dog, so maybe this will be enough for her,

[GoldenGirl85]

good luck with walking your puppy, i tried everything with mine and she does not enjoy walking at all,

i have a 21 week old cavalier x poodle, and she goes for a walk to pick my daughter up from school once a week, she refuses to go any more than that,

tried to get her to walk 2 days in a row and she would not be in it, left a few days between and still no, she gets all excited to go, but when she realises that she actually has to walk, then she does not want to go.

getting the impression that she is not going to be a dog that loves to go for a walk, she does get outside and runs amock with an older dog, so maybe this will be enough for her,

Take some REALLY yummy treats with you, like chopped up cabanossi, that should get her interested in walking, also dont push it, when she is walking nicely really praise her and give her treats, but only take her for a short walk, you want to leave her hanging and wondering when she will get her treats, she will soon associate the lead and collar with getting her treats, then you can slowly phase them out when she realises how much fun it is to walk

And dont forget she is still a baby! these things take time :D

[mackenzie11]

good luck with walking your puppy, i tried everything with mine and she does not enjoy walking at all,

i have a 21 week old cavalier x poodle, and she goes for a walk to pick my daughter up from school once a week, she refuses to go any more than that,

tried to get her to walk 2 days in a row and she would not be in it, left a few days between and still no, she gets all excited to go, but when she realises that she actually has to walk, then she does not want to go.

getting the impression that she is not going to be a dog that loves to go for a walk, she does get outside and runs amock with an older dog, so maybe this will be enough for her,

Take some REALLY yummy treats with you, like chopped up cabanossi, that should get her interested in walking, also dont push it, when she is walking nicely really praise her and give her treats, but only take her for a short walk, you want to leave her hanging and wondering when she will get her treats, she will soon associate the lead and collar with getting her treats, then you can slowly phase them out when she realises how much fun it is to walk

And dont forget she is still a baby! these things take time :D

i have tried all that, she acts as though "i did this yesterday and i dont want to do it again" she won't walk any more than once a week,

this is what i have tried -

loads of treats

walking her with our other dog

driving to a quiet location

more treats

having my daughter walk in front and call her

short walks

none of it works, it is just like been there done that, but she is so excited when you say "walkies" jumping all around but when you get out the door, "no fear no walkies" not if she has done it in the past 7 days

but i will keep trying

[GoldenGirl85]

good luck with walking your puppy, i tried everything with mine and she does not enjoy walking at all,

i have a 21 week old cavalier x poodle, and she goes for a walk to pick my daughter up from school once a week, she refuses to go any more than that,

tried to get her to walk 2 days in a row and she would not be in it, left a few days between and still no, she gets all excited to go, but when she realises that she actually has to walk, then she does not want to go.

getting the impression that she is not going to be a dog that loves to go for a walk, she does get outside and runs amock with an older dog, so maybe this will be enough for her,

Take some REALLY yummy treats with you, like chopped up cabanossi, that should get her interested in walking, also dont push it, when she is walking nicely really praise her and give her treats, but only take her for a short walk, you want to leave her hanging and wondering when she will get her treats, she will soon associate the lead and collar with getting her treats, then you can slowly phase them out when she realises how much fun it is to walk

And dont forget she is still a baby! these things take time :D

i have tried all that, she acts as though "i did this yesterday and i dont want to do it again" she won't walk any more than once a week,

this is what i have tried -

loads of treats

walking her with our other dog

driving to a quiet location

more treats

having my daughter walk in front and call her

short walks

none of it works, it is just like been there done that, but she is so excited when you say "walkies" jumping all around but when you get out the door, "no fear no walkies" not if she has done it in the past 7 days

but i will keep trying

Dogs dont understand a week the way we do, they dont even understand yesterday the way we do, they can make associations between objects and feelings etc, but there is no way she would be thinking "I did this yesterday and I dont want to do it again" and there is no way she knows that its been a week so it must be time for another walk

What sort of treats do you take? I make up a mix of chopped up cheese, cabanossi, devon and chicken roll for training

What exactly does she do when she refuses to walk? when I say take her on a short walk I mean it, you can literally take her out to the front door on a lead and then take her back in. There has to be a reason why she wont walk on the other days, it could even just be your attitude she is sensing, it could be anything, but its not because she knows its Tuesday and we always walk on Tuesdays

[sheena]

Maybe somehow you are inadvertingly rewarding her for the wrong behavour & she really thinks you don't want her to go walkies. Do you give her the treats when she is walking nicely...at what point in the process do you treat her. eg. don't treat her for standing still. Do I make sense :D Have you tried any clicker work with her, especially "free shaping" which is when you click & treat them for them taking the inituative & offering a behavour.

Edited November 13, 2010 by sheena

[WreckitWhippet]

I've been walking my babies down to my corner and back now for a couple of weeks. They are now 11 weeks old.

My preference is to socialise the pups and to get them out and about. They have benefited greatly from the evenings walks, they have watched cars go by, have met some strangers and have watched the kids ride their bikes and play in the street.

I'd rather happy, confident little puppies. We vaccinate at 8 weeks and get the babies out 7-10 days after that.

[mackenzie11]

i know dogs don't know one day from the next, but it is just the way it sounds with her, it is like " i have done that once this week, don't push it"

i use her dog biscuits, cause anthing else gives her the runs, i don't reward her for standing still, i wait till she gets going and has gone a few steps b4 giving her a treat

when walking i talk to her, encourage her, when she stops i turn my back on her ignoring her and this gets her going, once she is going i give her a treat, and she will be fine,

BUT

try it agian the next day and NO WAY, wont budge, not with treats or anything,

when she refuses to walk, she sits solid and will not budge - it is like she is stuck to the ground, i don't want to drag her on the leash as it is cruel and will hurt her neck, or she will try to jump up my leg for me to pick her up and carry her - which i only do when she decides to stop solid in the middle of the road when a car is coming,

we don't go far, it is only about 1-2 houses up, i don't think i have an attitude when i walk her, i talk in a happy voice to encourage her and talk to her about all the sounding area - neighbours must think im nuts, - when she does well i praise her and treat her and when she fails to walk i try to encourage her in a happy voice, i have NEVER roused on her for not walking, NEVER harmed her for not walking, i just stand with her for a bit talking to her to get her moving,

i will keep trying and see how we go,

Edited November 13, 2010 by mackenzie11

[WreckitWhippet]

I teach my babies to walk buy poppy a soft collar and a thin light lead on. I stand facing them, take a step backwards and encourage the pup to come towards me. I might spend a day or so going backwards, but when they are happy to walk towards me, while I walk backwards, I then turn around and keep walking.

It's not failed yet with any puppy and they all trot off down the street with their tails wagging.

I leave the treats at home and take a squeaky toy or a quick scratch under the chin and a quick tug on the lead is enough to get them moving again if they do stop.

I've got three that I'm training at the moment and they are all leading beautifully now, after a couple of weeks.

[poodlefan]

What's her general demeanor during all of this Mackenzie - is she scared?

This could be timidity rearing its head.

[GoldenGirl85]

i know dogs don't know one day from the next, but it is just the way it sounds with her, it is like " i have done that once this week, don't push it"

i use her dog biscuits, cause anthing else gives her the runs, i don't reward her for standing still, i wait till she gets going and has gone a few steps b4 giving her a treat

when walking i talk to her, encourage her, when she stops i turn my back on her ignoring her and this gets her going, once she is going i give her a treat, and she will be fine,

BUT

try it agian the next day and NO WAY, wont budge, not with treats or anything,

when she refuses to walk, she sits solid and will not budge - it is like she is stuck to the ground, i don't want to drag her on the leash as it is cruel and will hurt her neck, or she will try to jump up my leg for me to pick her up and carry her - which i only do when she decides to stop solid in the middle of the road when a car is coming,

we don't go far, it is only about 1-2 houses up, i don't think i have an attitude when i walk her, i talk in a happy voice to encourage her and talk to her about all the sounding area - neighbours must think im nuts, - when she does well i praise her and treat her and when she fails to walk i try to encourage her in a happy voice, i have NEVER roused on her for not walking, NEVER harmed her for not walking, i just stand with her for a bit talking to her to get her moving,

i will keep trying and see how we go,

I wouldnt be terribly keen to work for a bit of boring old kibble, you need something to get her interested in doing what you want her to do, have you tried giving her chicken? if that doesnt affect her chop up some chicken necks, there surely has to be something other than kibble that she can eat, how would you feel if you got rewarded with corn flakes all the time...boring huh?

When I mentioned your attitude I meant it could be something sub conscious you might be putting on a happy act for her, but if you are really thinking "come on you little pain just walk for me" she will sense that, I didnt suggest that you might rouse on her or anything, its good that you dont, but please dont suggest that I did

have you noticed what makes her switch off? you said she gets all excited when you say "walkies" when does she become unwilling? is it when you put on her collar and lead? once you are past the safety of your front yard?

PM has a very valid point

[sheena]

I wouldn't work either for boring old kibble. The treat has to be something really yummy & not something she would get in her normal food. What treats have you tried that give her the runs? Dried liver will give her the runs, but there are lots of other things out there if you don't want to make your own....like dried lamb puffs (made from lamb lungs) they work magic.

[GoldenGirl85]

I wouldn't work either for boring old kibble. The treat has to be something really yummy & not something she would get in her normal food. What treats have you tried that give her the runs? Dried liver will give her the runs, but there are lots of other things out there if you don't want to make your own....like dried lamb puffs (made from lamb lungs) they work magic.

thats right

Mackenzie11 look at it this way, you're a mum, if you were trying to get your daughter to do something she wasnt sure about, and you said "if you do it Ill let you have broccoli for dinner!" I bet you wont get much response, but if it was "if you do Ill let you have McDonalds for dinner!" she will be a lot more interested, dogs dont think the same way we do, with your daughter you can reward her hours later for something she did earlier that day, for dogs, you need to give them their Maccas instantly, they take every moment as it comes

[mackenzie11]

When I mentioned your attitude I meant it could be something sub conscious you might be putting on a happy act for her, but if you are really thinking "come on you little pain just walk for me" she will sense that, I didnt suggest that you might rouse on her or anything, its good that you dont, but please dont suggest that I did

have you noticed what makes her switch off? you said she gets all excited when you say "walkies" when does she become unwilling? is it when you put on her collar and lead? once you are past the safety of your front yard?

PM has a very valid point

I know you did not suggest that i roused on her, i never said you did, i am sorry if i made you feel this way, i was just pointing out what i don't do as i have seen loads of people walking their dogs over the yrs doing this to their dogs and it is not right. i did not mean to imply you thought that about me. have not notice anything that makes her switch off, sometimes she gets scared (tail between her legs) but i don't see or hear anything to know what has scared her - has happened once or twice and she has been walked a fair bit since she was 14 weeks old, other times she just sits solid and does not move, she loves her biscuits as treats - she loves her food, once she starts walking i give her a treat, then sometimes she stops and wont move and i hold the treat out for her in front to get her to walk and she will stretch herself out to get it but wont actually walk to it,

tried - pigs ears, tempters, trainers, chick necks, all give her the runs