To respond to the person letting their dog leading the bike... You are letting the dog in controll if you let he or see walk ahead of you. You're supposed to walk the dog, not have the dog walk you.
If I had a dog, my preferance would be (on a quiet road or path) to let the dog run ahead of the bike on a long harnessed lead attached to the central stem of the handlebars. That way the dog could pull the bike (or you could keep the lead slack by pedalling), going at its desired speed. You could brake when you want them to stop and it would be like gently pulling on the lead. You could pedal on hills to remove the load on the dog going up hill.
I know it sucks, but if you avoid stress on the bones and joints now, you're more likely to have a structurally sound dog when she matures. Then you'll be able to do all sorts of activities with her! Hope this helps!
But I think this rule is overly cautious. She should be fine with an hour of walking at this age. Is there any place you could take her swimming? That would be a great low-impact exercise, especially as the weather starts to heat up! Then she could build up her muscles without putting stress on the joints. Also, mental exercise can sometimes tire a dog out better than physical exercise! So try to give her plenty of mental stimulation as well.
I would really try not to run her on hard surfaces. Humans have special shoes designed to absorb the impact of our weight when exercising, while dogs do not. If you can find a place that has grass to run on it may be okay to take her biking once a week, if you keep it short and slow. Really long walks can also be bad. I've read that a good rule to follow is 5 minutes of walking for each month a pup is old. So if she is 6 months old, she could get 30 minutes. cont...
This is a horribly sucky thing to have to worry about. I just figured exercise was mandatory and it drains her and she isn't on a destructive rampage. ha ha. She is defiantly a gardener at heart. She's the demolition team that comes in to tear the yard up before being landscaped. ha ha. I want to do what's best for her.
do the bike thing once a week or once every two weeks if I'm afraid?? She said at least then she won't forget the training and won't become fearful or stubborn towards the bike. If she did this I would stop doing it. Thanks you guys.
I don't know why my message didn't post. Here it is again: So Golden, you think her jogging/walking fast/running .4 - .6 miles on the asphalt is ok? Do you Casey? If so then how often? I was doing it everyday but then I got scared and stopped completely. She has a lot of pent up energy because of it too. (even though we walk for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours which someone just told me isn't good for her either)??? Most of the time on asphalt and sometimes on grass or at park. My mom said maybe I should
Oh, and don't worry about using something that makes walking her easier. Everyone has their own way of doing things. I know using the head collar on my golden really helped me out, and it also kept my arm from getting torn out of the socket! lol! :)
This is the exercise a puppy gets when he/she is off leash and free to play, stop, change direction, run, flop down, get up, turn and twist, and just do what comes naturally. There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking your pup for daily walks, swims, casual short hikes, or letting her run around on her own. I don't know if this is what GoldenDBZ also means or not. I just wanted to clarify what I said before.
When I talk about "forced" exercise, I mean things like jogging, biking, and trotting behind a moving car. Most dogs really love to do these things (I know my dog certainly does!). It doesn't mean you're actually forcing an unwilling dog to do something, it's just what this type of exercise is usually called. There's also "free" exercise, which is the kind that is best for puppies. continued...
Also, what do you mean by forced? b/c she wants to do it real bad. She loves it. ? They can't run even on dirt or anything? Wow. That is a very strict rule that a dog cannot run until it's 1 1/2 years old. I don't understand. Please explain. Oh, and thanks again for all your help.
continued: I clocked it today and when we're on the bike we go .4 - .6 miles. There isn't any dirt around so we're walking on sidewalk and asphalt anyways so I'm starting to wonder if it might be ok? Do you have anything to say on this? Thanks.
Well, I'm glad you can do it because I can't. ha ha. My dog is hyper crazy. I'm trying the best I can. She is 6 months old and very strong and very excited and I'm not very strong and I have another dog too. She really needs special attention but I do not have the strength to go on two seperate walks. I don't have money to pay someone and I don't have anyone to help me. When she gets tired on the bike then it's a lot easier to train her. I haven't done the bike thing since Casey commented.
That's very true about puppies and exercise. A friend of mine just recently got a german shepherd puppy, and in the breeder's contract it states: NO FORCED exercise or running until at least 18 months of age. If he doesn't follow this rule, then the hip and elbow guarantee will become null and void. At first I thought maybe this was just for german shepherds, since they can have a lot of joint problems, but apparently it goes for other breeds too.
Yeah, my golden also hated the head collar! It worked great but he would rub his face on the ground or on my leg, and then try to use his paws to get it off. It would drive us both crazy! lol! Another product you could try is the SENSE-ation No-Pull harness. It works similar to the Easy Walk except it supposedly doesn't tighten across the chest and shoulders, so some people like it better.
Why not just teach the dog not to pull? Why use these devices that are just covering up the problem? My friend who has a pit bull uses one of those no-pull harness thingies (not sure which brand), and it must work since I never see the dog pulling with it on. But as soon as he takes it off, the dog is all over the place! I always use a flat collar and leash. That's it. I don't think there's a reason to use anything else when training.
Well, I disagree. My dog was such a strong and determined puller, that it would take forever to get anywhere when walking (since I wouldn't move forward if he was pulling). So what I would do is start out with the head collar on, and then switch the leash to his regular collar every so often to practice his loose leash walking. So of course the problem isn't going to be solved unless the owner also takes some time to train. But I don't think there's any one right way to go about it.
I will most definatly take your words into mind when I am exercising her. THANK YOU for looking out for her. Yes she pulls LIKE CRAZY. I say she acts like she's on crack. ha ha. I use the gentle leader on her and it's the ONLY way I can walk her but she HATES it SOOOO BAD. She's getting a little used to it but it just sucks that it's a nussance to her. I am going to try the Easy Walk harness. Thanks for your advice. Leah :)
Goldens seem to keep their puppy playfulness and intensity longer than many other breeds, but I really love that about them! So is she hard to walk because she pulls? If that's the case, you could try something called an Easy Walk harness. If the dog pulls, the Easy Walk harness causes them to turn back around. I've never used it myself, so I don't know how well it works. Anyways, I didn't mean to worry you so much, just lookin' out for your adorable little girl!
Personally, I would wait until she's older. A puppy's bones aren't fully formed and hardened until at least 18 months old, so any excessive exercise that is too great for a puppy can cause the bones and joints to become misshapen, deformed and painful. It's also a good idea to avoid walking on hard surfaces (asphalt, concrete) if possible. Just my opinion. I can definitely understand the difficulty of a high energy dog! I have a golden retriever myself, and he was a handful at that age! cont...
We're actually going up the hill in the video. It doesn't look steep but it's kinda hard to walk if you're out of shape plus the side we go down is steeper. ??
Wow. Your comment really worries me. I can really be a worrier. My Golden is 6 months and she has SOO much energy that it's difficult to say the least - to walk her so - before we walk -we ride up a hill and back down a hill...pretty steep hills and she seems to love it. 3 times I have added an extra loop to it and she didn't seem to like it. I hope this is ok. I won't make her do the extra lap anymore after hearing this. Do you think the one loop is ok? It's around 1/4 - 1/2 mile. ???
Looks like fun! I would take it easy with your golden though, as you really shouldn't be doing any kind of "forced" exercise until they are at least 18 months old. They're still growing and this could cause damage.
To respond to the person letting their dog leading the bike... You are letting the dog in controll if you let he or see walk ahead of you. You're supposed to walk the dog, not have the dog walk you.
pceflwrgrl 1 year ago
If I had a dog, my preferance would be (on a quiet road or path) to let the dog run ahead of the bike on a long harnessed lead attached to the central stem of the handlebars. That way the dog could pull the bike (or you could keep the lead slack by pedalling), going at its desired speed. You could brake when you want them to stop and it would be like gently pulling on the lead. You could pedal on hills to remove the load on the dog going up hill.
TimpBizkit 2 years ago
I know it sucks, but if you avoid stress on the bones and joints now, you're more likely to have a structurally sound dog when she matures. Then you'll be able to do all sorts of activities with her! Hope this helps!
caseyhes317 2 years ago
But I think this rule is overly cautious. She should be fine with an hour of walking at this age. Is there any place you could take her swimming? That would be a great low-impact exercise, especially as the weather starts to heat up! Then she could build up her muscles without putting stress on the joints. Also, mental exercise can sometimes tire a dog out better than physical exercise! So try to give her plenty of mental stimulation as well.
caseyhes317 2 years ago
I would really try not to run her on hard surfaces. Humans have special shoes designed to absorb the impact of our weight when exercising, while dogs do not. If you can find a place that has grass to run on it may be okay to take her biking once a week, if you keep it short and slow. Really long walks can also be bad. I've read that a good rule to follow is 5 minutes of walking for each month a pup is old. So if she is 6 months old, she could get 30 minutes. cont...
caseyhes317 2 years ago
This is a horribly sucky thing to have to worry about. I just figured exercise was mandatory and it drains her and she isn't on a destructive rampage. ha ha. She is defiantly a gardener at heart. She's the demolition team that comes in to tear the yard up before being landscaped. ha ha. I want to do what's best for her.
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
do the bike thing once a week or once every two weeks if I'm afraid?? She said at least then she won't forget the training and won't become fearful or stubborn towards the bike. If she did this I would stop doing it. Thanks you guys.
Leah
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
I don't know why my message didn't post. Here it is again: So Golden, you think her jogging/walking fast/running .4 - .6 miles on the asphalt is ok? Do you Casey? If so then how often? I was doing it everyday but then I got scared and stopped completely. She has a lot of pent up energy because of it too. (even though we walk for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours which someone just told me isn't good for her either)??? Most of the time on asphalt and sometimes on grass or at park. My mom said maybe I should
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
Oh, and don't worry about using something that makes walking her easier. Everyone has their own way of doing things. I know using the head collar on my golden really helped me out, and it also kept my arm from getting torn out of the socket! lol! :)
caseyhes317 2 years ago
This is the exercise a puppy gets when he/she is off leash and free to play, stop, change direction, run, flop down, get up, turn and twist, and just do what comes naturally. There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking your pup for daily walks, swims, casual short hikes, or letting her run around on her own. I don't know if this is what GoldenDBZ also means or not. I just wanted to clarify what I said before.
caseyhes317 2 years ago
Yes, that's what I meant.
GoldenDBZ 2 years ago
When I talk about "forced" exercise, I mean things like jogging, biking, and trotting behind a moving car. Most dogs really love to do these things (I know my dog certainly does!). It doesn't mean you're actually forcing an unwilling dog to do something, it's just what this type of exercise is usually called. There's also "free" exercise, which is the kind that is best for puppies. continued...
caseyhes317 2 years ago
Also, what do you mean by forced? b/c she wants to do it real bad. She loves it. ? They can't run even on dirt or anything? Wow. That is a very strict rule that a dog cannot run until it's 1 1/2 years old. I don't understand. Please explain. Oh, and thanks again for all your help.
Leah
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
continued: I clocked it today and when we're on the bike we go .4 - .6 miles. There isn't any dirt around so we're walking on sidewalk and asphalt anyways so I'm starting to wonder if it might be ok? Do you have anything to say on this? Thanks.
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
I don't know. I only know what my friend told me from his breeder. Sorry!
GoldenDBZ 2 years ago
Well, I'm glad you can do it because I can't. ha ha. My dog is hyper crazy. I'm trying the best I can. She is 6 months old and very strong and very excited and I'm not very strong and I have another dog too. She really needs special attention but I do not have the strength to go on two seperate walks. I don't have money to pay someone and I don't have anyone to help me. When she gets tired on the bike then it's a lot easier to train her. I haven't done the bike thing since Casey commented.
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
That's very true about puppies and exercise. A friend of mine just recently got a german shepherd puppy, and in the breeder's contract it states: NO FORCED exercise or running until at least 18 months of age. If he doesn't follow this rule, then the hip and elbow guarantee will become null and void. At first I thought maybe this was just for german shepherds, since they can have a lot of joint problems, but apparently it goes for other breeds too.
GoldenDBZ 2 years ago
Will do! Thanks for your comments. They are so appreciated. :) *)
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
Yeah, my golden also hated the head collar! It worked great but he would rub his face on the ground or on my leg, and then try to use his paws to get it off. It would drive us both crazy! lol! Another product you could try is the SENSE-ation No-Pull harness. It works similar to the Easy Walk except it supposedly doesn't tighten across the chest and shoulders, so some people like it better.
caseyhes317 2 years ago
caseyhes-
Why not just teach the dog not to pull? Why use these devices that are just covering up the problem? My friend who has a pit bull uses one of those no-pull harness thingies (not sure which brand), and it must work since I never see the dog pulling with it on. But as soon as he takes it off, the dog is all over the place! I always use a flat collar and leash. That's it. I don't think there's a reason to use anything else when training.
GoldenDBZ 2 years ago
Well, I disagree. My dog was such a strong and determined puller, that it would take forever to get anywhere when walking (since I wouldn't move forward if he was pulling). So what I would do is start out with the head collar on, and then switch the leash to his regular collar every so often to practice his loose leash walking. So of course the problem isn't going to be solved unless the owner also takes some time to train. But I don't think there's any one right way to go about it.
caseyhes317 2 years ago
Ah ok, I guess there's nothing wrong with doing it like that.
GoldenDBZ 2 years ago
I will most definatly take your words into mind when I am exercising her. THANK YOU for looking out for her. Yes she pulls LIKE CRAZY. I say she acts like she's on crack. ha ha. I use the gentle leader on her and it's the ONLY way I can walk her but she HATES it SOOOO BAD. She's getting a little used to it but it just sucks that it's a nussance to her. I am going to try the Easy Walk harness. Thanks for your advice. Leah :)
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
Goldens seem to keep their puppy playfulness and intensity longer than many other breeds, but I really love that about them! So is she hard to walk because she pulls? If that's the case, you could try something called an Easy Walk harness. If the dog pulls, the Easy Walk harness causes them to turn back around. I've never used it myself, so I don't know how well it works. Anyways, I didn't mean to worry you so much, just lookin' out for your adorable little girl!
caseyhes317 2 years ago
Personally, I would wait until she's older. A puppy's bones aren't fully formed and hardened until at least 18 months old, so any excessive exercise that is too great for a puppy can cause the bones and joints to become misshapen, deformed and painful. It's also a good idea to avoid walking on hard surfaces (asphalt, concrete) if possible. Just my opinion. I can definitely understand the difficulty of a high energy dog! I have a golden retriever myself, and he was a handful at that age! cont...
caseyhes317 2 years ago
We're actually going up the hill in the video. It doesn't look steep but it's kinda hard to walk if you're out of shape plus the side we go down is steeper. ??
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
Wow. Your comment really worries me. I can really be a worrier. My Golden is 6 months and she has SOO much energy that it's difficult to say the least - to walk her so - before we walk -we ride up a hill and back down a hill...pretty steep hills and she seems to love it. 3 times I have added an extra loop to it and she didn't seem to like it. I hope this is ok. I won't make her do the extra lap anymore after hearing this. Do you think the one loop is ok? It's around 1/4 - 1/2 mile. ???
AngelLeah1981 2 years ago
Looks like fun! I would take it easy with your golden though, as you really shouldn't be doing any kind of "forced" exercise until they are at least 18 months old. They're still growing and this could cause damage.
caseyhes317 2 years ago