Puppy Health-How Much Exercise Does My New Golden Retriever Need?

From chasing balls, playing hide and seek, to romping in the park, exercise is so much fun and essential to puppy health. However, puppies need different levels of exercise than adult dogs. Too much exercise can be detrimental to a puppy’s physical growth and bone development. Strenuous exercise can cause joint damage or growth plate issues. Here are some simple guidelines to help determine the appropriate activity level for your puppy.

1. Let your puppy decide. Puppies get to choose when they stop an activity. Puppies tend to have lots of energy in short bursts. If your puppy has had enough exercise, he will let you know. This could be indicated by a resting posture (sitting/lying down), or loss of interest in the activity.
2. Use the 5-minute rule of thumb. Veterinary researchers have determined that puppies can take 5-minute walks multiplied by their age in months. So, a 3-month-old puppy can go for a fifteen minute walk and a 6-month old puppy can walk for thirty minutes. These are general approximations: weather, terrain, and distance should be taken into consideration as well.
3. Stay on soft surfaces. Exercising on grass, sand, and other natural surfaces lessens the impact on joints and ligaments. Concrete, asphalt, and other hard surfaces increase stress on a puppy’s musculoskeletal system.
4. Save leash jogging for later. Excessive running or training before one year of age can inhibit proper bone development.

Golden Retriever puppies are naturally energetic and active; regular exercise is vital. Keep the above guidelines in mind and go play with your pup!