A 4 mile run... too much?

Kittilicious · 12-30-2011, 10:47 AM

My sister in law, who has my puppy's littermate, invited us out today to go for a run. We've been out there before, that isn't the issue. My concern is the run - what she means by this is we get on the 4 wheelers and the dogs run with us. It's usually about a 4 mile run (the dogs are running full speed the entire time). Her dogs are used to this, they do it everyday and thats fine. Mine, however, is not used to this. He gets daily walks with small run spurts during them and does a lot of running/wrestling in the backyard, but he has yet to go on an extended run like her dogs. When I said that I wasn't too sure, she laughed at me and gave me a lecture on how thats why Knuckles is smaller than hers, because he doesn't get ran everyday. We live in town, so it's not like I have the luxury of running him like she does in the country. I am not running him along side my car, thats for sure and I'm not in the best of shape (bad hip) to be running him myself for a mile, let alone 4!
I think I should listen to my gut and not take him on this run or at least talk her into a shorter one, but yet she's hard to convince of anything so it probably wouldn't work anyway.
Am I right to think it will be too much for him in one day? I don't want to come home with a hurt puppy.

Rott-n-GSDs · 12-30-2011, 10:49 AM

There's absolutely NO way I'd take a 4 month old puppy out for a full out four mile run. I wouldn't take a 4 month old puppy for a SLOW 2 mile run!

I sure hope her poor puppy's going to be okay... that's absolutely a ridiculous that she runs him that hard.

Kittilicious · 12-30-2011, 10:51 AM

Whew. Thats what I thought too. I think it's too much for them. She mentioned her puppy is clumsy on the runs and when I questioned that maybe it's too much, the lecture started back up. She knows whats right.

PaddyD · 12-30-2011, 10:55 AM

Just tell her: Different strokes for different folks. Just because she thinks it is ok does not mean you have to follow like a sheep.
The only reason her dog is bigger is because of genetics, not running.

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 12-30-2011, 11:00 AM

And actually, slow controlled growth is MUCH better for larger pups.

Between that (any idea what she feeds him?) and the constant repetitive stress on his joints*, tell her to start her supplement savings account...

*If you know any elementary PE teachers, ask them about this.

ETA - before anyone thinks this is support for puppies not to exercise, I think they should, just at their own pace, stopping-starting, goofing, sniffing, etc.

CassandGunnar · 12-30-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

And actually, slow controlled growth is MUCH better for larger pups.

Between that (any idea what she feeds him?) and the constant repetitive stress on his joints*, tell her to start her supplement savings account...

*If you know any elementary PE teachers, ask them about this.

ETA - before anyone thinks this is support for puppies not to exercise, I think they should, just at their own pace, stopping-starting, goofing, sniffing, etc.

Excellent point! She'll have to sell a 4 wheeler to pay for hip surgery.

Emoore · 12-30-2011, 11:06 AM

No, you shouldn't do this.

Kittilicious · 12-30-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

Between that (any idea what she feeds him?) and the constant repetitive stress on his joints*, tell her to start her supplement savings account...

No idea, but I know it's the cheapest stuff at the feed store... He also is free fed, which I have come to realize is ok for some, not ok for most. Knuckles can't be free fed - he would eat the entire bag in one day. My golden could be (and has been before Knuckles came). They built a huge automatic feeder in their garage and it seems like he's always in it. He has no waistline, either... but they think I underfeed Knuckles because he has a waistline.

I mentioned this to my husband this morning and how I wasn't sure I wanted to do this. He brought up how thick her puppy's legs are (and they are THICK). He thinks it's impressive but I said I think it looks funny, it looks abnormal to me. They look deformed almost.

PaddyD · 12-30-2011, 11:15 AM

Sometimes you just have to say "NO THANKS" and let people do their own thing and demand that they 'let' you do yours.

Kittilicious · 12-30-2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CassandGunnar

Excellent point! She'll have to sell a 4 wheeler to pay for hip surgery.

Ok now here's a question - what about her 2 adult GSDs? They go on the same run everyday.... is it hard on them, too?

12-30-2011, 10:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kittilicious Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,100	A 4 mile run... too much? My sister in law, who has my puppy's littermate, invited us out today to go for a run. We've been out there before, that isn't the issue. My concern is the run - what she means by this is we get on the 4 wheelers and the dogs run with us. It's usually about a 4 mile run (the dogs are running full speed the entire time). Her dogs are used to this, they do it everyday and thats fine. Mine, however, is not used to this. He gets daily walks with small run spurts during them and does a lot of running/wrestling in the backyard, but he has yet to go on an extended run like her dogs. When I said that I wasn't too sure, she laughed at me and gave me a lecture on how thats why Knuckles is smaller than hers, because he doesn't get ran everyday. We live in town, so it's not like I have the luxury of running him like she does in the country. I am not running him along side my car, thats for sure and I'm not in the best of shape (bad hip) to be running him myself for a mile, let alone 4! I think I should listen to my gut and not take him on this run or at least talk her into a shorter one, but yet she's hard to convince of anything so it probably wouldn't work anyway. Am I right to think it will be too much for him in one day? I don't want to come home with a hurt puppy. __________________ - Berleen - Knuckles - born 8/21/11 - my big knucklehead and can't forget Saki; the Golden Retriever, Born 11/07/07 The felines that rule the house - Oliver, Serena, Sakura & Bastian. https://www.facebook.com/berleen

12-30-2011, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rott-n-GSDs Master Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Range, WI Posts: 999	There's absolutely NO way I'd take a 4 month old puppy out for a full out four mile run. I wouldn't take a 4 month old puppy for a SLOW 2 mile run! I sure hope her poor puppy's going to be okay... that's absolutely a ridiculous that she runs him that hard. __________________ Luna, GSD (11/22/08) Nova, GSD (07/01/07) Apollo, Rottweiler (06/28/08)

12-30-2011, 10:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kittilicious Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,100	Whew. Thats what I thought too. I think it's too much for them. She mentioned her puppy is clumsy on the runs and when I questioned that maybe it's too much, the lecture started back up. She knows whats right. __________________ - Berleen - Knuckles - born 8/21/11 - my big knucklehead and can't forget Saki; the Golden Retriever, Born 11/07/07 The felines that rule the house - Oliver, Serena, Sakura & Bastian. https://www.facebook.com/berleen

12-30-2011, 11:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,697	And actually, slow controlled growth is MUCH better for larger pups. Between that (any idea what she feeds him?) and the constant repetitive stress on his joints, tell her to start her supplement savings account... If you know any elementary PE teachers, ask them about this. ETA - before anyone thinks this is support for puppies not to exercise, I think they should, just at their own pace, stopping-starting, goofing, sniffing, etc. __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org You can help Anna help IMOM help people help pets help people win...

12-30-2011, 11:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	No, you shouldn't do this. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

12-30-2011, 10:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	Just tell her: Different strokes for different folks. Just because she thinks it is ok does not mean you have to follow like a sheep. The only reason her dog is bigger is because of genetics, not running.

12-30-2011, 11:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	Sometimes you just have to say "NO THANKS" and let people do their own thing and demand that they 'let' you do yours.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement