Exercising young bassets

[Caz w]

Hi I'm getting a basset hound in a couple of weeks and I have heard they can only have very little exercise for the first year of their life (5 mins for every month). I no they are slow developers and shouldn't be aloud to jump on furniture or go up and down stairs, but does it really take a year before they can go on a long walk ? Any advice welcome

 

[JoanneF]

For most dogs the recommendation is 5 minutes for each month. Its because their bone plates aren't fully formed. It doesn't include things like pottering about in the garden though. You might also want to consider taking him out in a carrier before he has completed his vaccinations so he is protected but starting to socialise with people and getting exposed to new experiences. The more he sees and hears and smells at a young age, the more confident and sociable he will be as an adult.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Yes, first and foremost, socialise, socialise, socialise. No puppy needs lots of exercise such as those given on long walks. They just need to visit all the places that they may see as an adult dog over the 15 years of their life. Lots of different people, animals, situations etc. Exercise can come later. While waiting for his vaccines to take effect he can go where there are other vaccinated dogs and they can visit him.