The general rule is that a puppy will do ANYTHING to keep up with you -- whether because he's leashed; because you're encouraging him; because he feels like he has no other option, like on a walk; or because he just LOVES to be with you. So if a puppy is running or on a long hike that you set out certain idea of how much mileage you intend to cover (like most hikers at the beginning of the hike), you're likely doing it wrong.
Dh (dear husband) and I often bring our puppies to areas where we can park at a trail head and there aren't many people around, so they can bounce and play without us going very far. These are pretty close to home so we don't feel like we "wasted" a drive to get there when we end up going home after having only walked what's often a very short distance. Puppy is wiped out. The Big Kids spent most of their time sniffing, doing some critter digging off the trail, and all is good.
As for "what is running?" Running to me is any running that is on a hard surface (concrete, asphalt or hard-packed dirt), or any running that is coerced (like in my first sentence). I aim for springy, bouncy grass. But I do the best I can. My 2 y/o GSD has worn off all my grass in the front yard playing soccer 2-3 times a day for the last 2 years (it WAS springy and grassy!
). My puppy does still run on that surface. But I try to limit it, and I never encourage it (because puppies usually do what we ask them when they're little and we're playing with them). For HER playtime, we go into the back yard, where my GSD has not manage to destroy the grass (yet?).
Jumping. Sigh. My rule is 4-on-the-floor at all times. I sure wish I could enforce that one. I encourage my pup to use the ramp off our deck that we built for my senior. (Not a very elaborate ramp. A 1X12 would work for most puppies.) She uses it about half the time. My GSD uses it about 50% of the time too, which is good (til there's a traffic jam there. Then the senior jumps off the stairs.
). No jumping for frisbee. Either don't play with them, or toss them so low that there is no way that your dog can jump for them. Roll big balls (like soccer balls) as though you would roll a bowling ball; don't toss them.
Don't encourage running around in the house if you have slick floors throughout. If you have a carpeted hallway, play fetch up and down that. Be careful once winter shows up with slippery and icy conditions. Dh and one of my dogs were once chasing each other on an icy parking lot. HE fell and hurt himself, not the dog. It's a dangerous world out there!
The thing is, we can't control everything our dogs do. I know we can't. I can't, that's for sure. My GSD (now 2 y/o) loves to bounce like a dang kangaroo after his soccer balls. He jumps for frisbees that are 20 feet above his head, (if there's a bad toss or the wind catches it). When I toss treats to either him or my senior, they both jump. Why? To get to the treat a split second earlier, even though the treat is heading STRAIGHT for their mouths.
But every time we can prevent our dogs from jumping, that's one less impact on their joints and bones. When puppies are growing, that's one more time that their bodies can continue to grow normally. We watch; we remain vigilant; we avoid making bad decisions; we do the best we can.
