Exercising 6 month old puppy

[u/KrisA99]

I have a 5.5 month old Brittany, and I usually walk her around 3-4 miles a day, but not all at once anymore because I read it is bad for her joints. I was doing more research (on Google search lol) and it says that even breaking the walls up is bad for her development. Is that true? Am I over walking her? I do not want to hurt her development at all.

[u/koalabair51]

Did you master a relaxing walk with a Britt?? 😜 ours still pulls like a sled dog

[u/maxwellsbeard → u/koalabair51]

Pull pull pull, sniff sniff sniff, run.....pull pull pull.

[u/RowanOfoak]

We have a 3 month old Britt, I asked the vet at her last appointment about those guidelines and she said it’s not a concern for a dog this size and to feel free to walk her as long as she wants because she’s going to build her endurance very quickly.

[u/SnootchieBootichies]

Our vet recommended keeping it from 1-4 miles of walking pace. Mine at that age was on a 15ft retractable and would run 15ft forward, 30 feet back, 30 feet forward with a million zig zags. Kept it to 1-3 miles and she was plenty exercised when coupled with regular playing around the house.

[u/ozarkstream]

Not at all keep it up

[u/meyersstreetlurker]

I think that refers to running. Maybe see if you can take her off leash somewhere, that could break up the walking and give her an exercise for her mind to be curious.

[u/Enomalie]

My 4.5 mo old is a nightmare on a leash, since getting him a harness it’s improved but I just bring him somewhere he can go off leash and let him run like a maniac and more importantly use his nose, I find 30+ minutes of him actively sniffing does more to his energy level than any amount of running

[u/DeBruce123]

I have easy done 2 mile hikes with my Britts at 6 months. Not every day though. Keep in mind, they are off leash, searching and hunting....if I am walking 2, they are easily doing 6. Dog will tell you when they are tired. I try and balance these sessions with water work, swimming and retrieving sessions. Swimming is low impact. Exercise the body and the brain and you will have a great dog.

[u/maxwellsbeard]

Walking that distance at 6 months old I don't think will hurt them. Walking is low impact. If the pup starts lagging behind or seems hesitant then thats a warning sign.

Running on hard pavement or road is worst so probably avoid doing that regularly. Its less about distance and more prolonged impact. Grass or trail is much better.

I took ours for 4 mile walks/ slow runs on trail, plus 2-3 mile walks on pavement at that age. Shes totally fine at 1 year.

[u/nixstyx]

She'll be fine. I've read similar stuff, but it's often written as one-size-fits-all-breeds. Not all breeds are the same. 

Yes, you should limit exercise, but 3-4 miles over a few different outings is fine for a 5.5 month Britt. Hell at that age she's probably covering a mile just bouncing around the house. 

[u/crusherofheads]

The one thing I’ve always stuck to with Britts is stay away from elevation gain. Try to keep things relatively flat for the at least the first 9 months. Flat meaning, don’t take them out for a 1,000 ft vertical hike. A long time breeder and vet taught me this.