I have a female 20 month old. from 6-12 months she went to a dog park daily, approx 1 mile walking plus playing. for the last 10 month she has been walking approx 3 miles per day. I am now being told she is getting two much exercise. how much is too much? how far should I be walking her? she always wants to go out and never wants to go home but walks very slowly and usually walks behind me not besides me. she has done this form the start. I appriciate the help. JO
how much exercise
- Thread starter Sunny
- Start date
Jeannie
Super Moderator
I don't think you can really do too much exercising as long as your newf is in good health and it is not too hot.
We have 3 newfs ages 3, 7 and 10. We usually walk them 2-3 miles per day. Last summer we thought our older girl had congestive heart failure. The canine cardiologist confirmed that she did not and also noted that Sara was in the best shape she has seen in a 10 year old newf in a long time. She said to keep up the walks because it is very healthy for them. Keeps weight down, keeps muscle tone, helps the heart and with arthritis. By the way Sara has only a hint of arthritis in her right hock--not bad for a 10 year old. We also had Sara tested for TDI this summer and the evaluator could not believe she was 10.
I say--keep up the walking
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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
We have 3 newfs ages 3, 7 and 10. We usually walk them 2-3 miles per day. Last summer we thought our older girl had congestive heart failure. The canine cardiologist confirmed that she did not and also noted that Sara was in the best shape she has seen in a 10 year old newf in a long time. She said to keep up the walks because it is very healthy for them. Keeps weight down, keeps muscle tone, helps the heart and with arthritis. By the way Sara has only a hint of arthritis in her right hock--not bad for a 10 year old. We also had Sara tested for TDI this summer and the evaluator could not believe she was 10.
I say--keep up the walking
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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
I think the walks would be doing only good, no harm. I think lengthy walking and lots of exercise is only a problem when they are puppies. Yours is a bit past that real puppy age so my guess is the more the better.
Mine doesn't really care for leashed walking so she just plays hard and wrestles at the dog park most days, usually for an hour to an hour and a half, depending on which of her doggie friends show us. Occasionally we will go for a street walk or a walk up and down the beach. I think that playing/wrestling/tug-of-war type of stuff is really healthy for them though, using lots of muscles and strength.
I think I should get her walking more though in addition.
Edited to add - from what I know, many Newfies are drag-behind walkers. I guess it's just their preferred pace sometimes. I don't think it means they don't like walking, they just like to take their time.
[This message has been edited by AmyPC (edited 11-06-2001).]
Mine doesn't really care for leashed walking so she just plays hard and wrestles at the dog park most days, usually for an hour to an hour and a half, depending on which of her doggie friends show us. Occasionally we will go for a street walk or a walk up and down the beach. I think that playing/wrestling/tug-of-war type of stuff is really healthy for them though, using lots of muscles and strength.
I think I should get her walking more though in addition.
Edited to add - from what I know, many Newfies are drag-behind walkers. I guess it's just their preferred pace sometimes. I don't think it means they don't like walking, they just like to take their time.
[This message has been edited by AmyPC (edited 11-06-2001).]
kzdz
New member
My dogs have different views on walking. When Morgan sees me putting on walking shoes and getting the leashes, she gets really excited and starts hopping around, grabbing them from my hand, and just being an overall pain. But once we get going she's definitely a "walk behind" dog. Quark, on the other hand, does everything short of hiding. He's getting better and seems to enjoy the walks a little more, but he still walks a lot slower going away from the house than going towards it! For the first couple months we'd get to the end of the driveway and he'd plant his feet and do his best not to move. He's coming up on 6 months now and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a very large couch potato on my hands. I had him tied up to one of those stakes that screws into the ground one day, and he pulled it out of the ground so he could reach his favorite outdoor sleeping spot!
misamala00
Inactive Member
I guess my Misha is an exception in this "walk behind" company. She loves her walks (gets two every day), and is always faster on the way there than on the way home. But it's true that on the walks she doesn't run around so much - usually keeps close to me.
We work and play on our walks and that's what she really ejoys - she comes close to me, putting her nose into my pocket where I keep a toy for her until I pull it out to play.
When she was a pup, she would also stop at the end of the street, but I convinced her to folow me by waving with a toy. Now, she gets really miserable when I don't have the time for long walks.
Must mention that she's quite skinny, just like the vet told us she must be. She may not look so stunning, but she's in perfect health and fast as a wind - have you ever seen a newfy run right after a husky?! Misha's best (dog)friend is a husky and they look great together.
Mirjam & Misha
We work and play on our walks and that's what she really ejoys - she comes close to me, putting her nose into my pocket where I keep a toy for her until I pull it out to play.
When she was a pup, she would also stop at the end of the street, but I convinced her to folow me by waving with a toy. Now, she gets really miserable when I don't have the time for long walks.
Must mention that she's quite skinny, just like the vet told us she must be. She may not look so stunning, but she's in perfect health and fast as a wind - have you ever seen a newfy run right after a husky?! Misha's best (dog)friend is a husky and they look great together.
Mirjam & Misha
thanks so much to everyone who answered my question. I am having problems with the breeder and she has told me I am causing hip problems by walking her too much and playing in the yard with her. I understand that hip problems are genetic and while exercise may hasten the problem it does not actually cause it. Thanks also for all the info on 'drag behind walkers' The breeder said this shows she has hip problems as she also tends to hang her head. But she never wants to turn back home so I think she is ok. So glad I found this site.
JO
JO
bridge2itnf@aol.com
New member
i think i would listen to my breeder.swimming is a much beter excersise.i would never walk mine 3 miles not everyday. until over 2 years of age . i was also told not to play tug or rasel with him for first two years or let him climb stairs. might be something to think about.dont mean to sound like i know it all its just the same advice i follow myself.
sarnewfie
New member
Hi sunny, yes to much excersise at a young age, especially when in an odd growth spurt or when bones are long and muscle not attached properly can cause harm, swimming is the BEST excersise, in my puppy care pamphlet i ask people not to stress joints to much the first year by overdoing walking, meaning, 1 mile is plenty and walking in sand rather than sidewalk or road.
there is much that can go wrong with giant breeds when they are at a delicate growth spurt.
take care.
there is much that can go wrong with giant breeds when they are at a delicate growth spurt.
take care.
sarnewfie
New member
One more thing sunny, hip displaysia is caused by many things, environment, genetics, diet, overexcersising can also cause undoo stress and accelerate the problem. puppies that are overweight from young ages on are also more at risk for developing CHD there are so many variables, they have not yet found an exact marker for the gene that may be the cause of CHD.
Kodiak
New member
Ko was diagnosed with "pano", which is self limiting and will disappear. We were told not to take him for long walks and definitely no stairs, other than our deck because this puts more stress on the long bones. We were also told to wait till he's at least a year old before we start walking him out on the sidewalks and then to start with short walks.
Annie Milliron
Alpha Goddess
I've always heard that Newfs should not pull weight until they are 2 years old, which is when their hips are totally developed. So... I think that excercise in moderation would be the prudent. Listening to your breeder is probably the best thing to do.
My husband & I recently picked up a Newf that was being surrendered to rescue. He was around a year old. Whenever anyone would touch him around his hip area, he would try and get away.... it turns out, that his previous owners had played with him a lot in the yard... their play included wrestling....
As it turns out, the poor boy had very bad hips, and the rough play was very detrimental... So until your Newf is fully grown and developed, I would defer to your breeder.
Annie
My husband & I recently picked up a Newf that was being surrendered to rescue. He was around a year old. Whenever anyone would touch him around his hip area, he would try and get away.... it turns out, that his previous owners had played with him a lot in the yard... their play included wrestling....
As it turns out, the poor boy had very bad hips, and the rough play was very detrimental... So until your Newf is fully grown and developed, I would defer to your breeder.
Annie
thanks for all the extra info. Unfortunately I don't get along with my breeder so find it hard to talk to her. My "puppy kit" said not to over exercise but that is so open to interpetation. But it looks by the posts that I have overdone it. more worries. I started walking her one a week about two miles with the other days at the dog park. Let her run and play there until she started showing a dislike for getting in and out of the station wagon. then walked her every day. since first posting I have cut her walk in half but now she cries at the garage door and wants to go again. Also starting to refuse to come into the yard at end of walk, wants to keep going. In addition I have played chase and retrieve in the yard half a dozen times a day. have now cut that out. My previous male was a rescue newf with terrible hip and front elbow problems. now you all have me worried. and I thought the breeder was just being bossy.