How much walking?

[Jan Woodhall]

Hi my puppy is a Russian Wolfhound now 4 months old. He is extremely exhuberant, but will often completely loose it and charge round the garden from 0 - 30 mph in a nano=second. Often will run into objects and hurt himself!. I have just started walking him out and he is really great although very worried about stuff, humans, traffic, dogs! But we cope with it all and I'm guessing he will gain more confidence as he gets more socialisation. However, my greatest concern is that I have been doing too much walking with him! The past 3 days we have had 3 walks a day of between 10 - 50 minutes each walk. We have stopped and started and sniffed our way round so never forced to walk, but having spoken with some other puppy owners it seems that is way too much for him - has slowed his running madly round the garden down though, so does the one balance out the other? Grateful for your thoughts. Thanks

 

[lurcherman]

Only thing I can say is it should be leads for now, big dog, big bones , so need time to build, another 5 to 6 months then you can slowly up the tempo, the bone growth in these dogs and most dogs to be fair is very important.

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Only thing I can say is it should be leads for now, big dog, big bones , so need time to build, another 5 to 6 months then you can slowly up the tempo, the bone growth in these dogs and most dogs to be fair is very important.

Thank you, yes I do understand. I will shorten the walks exponentally for now. I am not sure how I can get him to NOT belt frantically round the garden or the lounge though, I can only let him in the garden on his lead if necessary, but how so in the house? This is often occurring after he has eaten also, often but not only! He is such a happy, little chap and really does just want to run. I was planning on getting him up to the yard and let him run in the back (closed by cornish hedging) field, but that, clearly then is a BAD idea so young. Thank you so much for your very speedy and wise response.

 

[JudyN]

I think walks where you're doing plenty of stopping, sniffing, sitting down and looking at the sky, observing traffic, other dogs etc. from a confortable distance and so on are fine if it decreases the amount of pelting around like a loony. There is a standard guideline of 5 minutes per month of age (per walk, not per day), but that applies more to continuous walking.

 

[Hemlock]

Young sighthounds all belt about like mad things while their owners cringe and wince. It's very hard to find the balance between fulfilling their needs and protecting their bodies. And how I can relate to the after-dinner Wall of Death round the house and up and down the garden!

You are doing well by the sound of it. Walks where your dog can sniff and look around are surprisingly tiring. It's important that he doesn't land on hard surfaces jumping off furniture or out of the car. I buy cheap duvets and fold them next to sofas and chairs, and lift mine out of the car when they are pups. A few zoomies in safe places can be allowed.

 

[Rinkydinkydo]

It's just about impossible to stop a sighthound running,but you can limit it. What you don't want is your pup hitting the turbo button and going flat out. Experienced sighthound owners know when there dogs legs have fully formed, but around 12 months old is a pretty good guide.
They only ever get one set of legs,the more you look after them when they are growing the better. The dog will thank you later on in life when it starts getting older.
Don't worry,it's not all doom & gloom and enjoy your pup.

 

[Jan Woodhall]

It's just about impossible to stop a sighthound running,but you can limit it. What you don't want is your pup hitting the turbo button and going flat out. Experienced sighthound owners know when there dogs legs have fully formed, but around 12 months old is a pretty good guide.
They only ever get one set of legs,the more you look after them when they are growing the better. The dog will thank you later on in life when it starts getting older.
Don't worry,it's not all doom & gloom and enjoy your pup.

Okay, so that is all well and good - however, you have not met my pup! Literally, spent 5 minutes JUST tearing around the lounge and I am quite sure he has a little bit of mental health problems! He is going round and round and round at a really fast rate of knots! I have been unable to catch him, nor able to stop him, he is barking and going one way then the other! He will generally do this at least once a day, and I am not sure if it is more dangerous for him to be inside or out! He crashes into the furniture when in and into the sheds when out! When he is good he is very very good and when he is mad, he is mad! There is absolutely NO predicting this as just a few minutes before his brain left the planet he was dozing off!. He has now stopped - and that was nothing to do with my trying to stop him as that made him run faster! I really am at my wits end with him! I am wondering if I should have purchased a stuffed toy instead! I am truly terrified he is going to either knock himself senseless and end up with brain damage, or he is going to take his leg off! .................

 

[Jan Woodhall]

I think walks where you're doing plenty of stopping, sniffing, sitting down and looking at the sky, observing traffic, other dogs etc. from a confortable distance and so on are fine if it decreases the amount of pelting around like a loony. There is a standard guideline of 5 minutes per month of age (per walk, not per day), but that applies more to continuous walking.

Thanks (again!) JudyN. That makes a lot of sense. I've just replied to an earlier response and explained a little more about what this loony pup is like - is this normal, or do you think he has some mental health problems? Or am I doing it all wrong? ......
BTW it is not possible to get a video of his behaviour because I am not as quick as he is! ...

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Young sighthounds all belt about like mad things while their owners cringe and wince. It's very hard to find the balance between fulfilling their needs and protecting their bodies. And how I can relate to the after-dinner Wall of Death round the house and up and down the garden!

You are doing well by the sound of it. Walks where your dog can sniff and look around are surprisingly tiring. It's important that he doesn't land on hard surfaces jumping off furniture or out of the car. I buy cheap duvets and fold them next to sofas and chairs, and lift mine out of the car when they are pups. A few zoomies in safe places can be allowed.

s

A voice of sanity and reason! Thank you! However, please look at my reply below, he has just had another complete mental episode! He does unfortunately jump on and off the furniture, I don't somehow think the quilts would make any difference because I fear he would become more excited by them on the floor and simply shred them and probably end up ingesting the filling! ...........

 

[Jan Woodhall]

I think I shall skip the lunchtime walk now! .......................................

 

[Hemlock]

Perfectly normal sighthound. And I completely 'get' that you think he is at more risk of injury blatting round indoors than out. Young as he is, there may be merit in hiring one of those well-fenced dog exercise fields once or twice a week to let him tear around in (relative) safety. These dogs are more like foals than dogs at times!

What are you feeding him? This can make a huge difference.

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Perfectly normal sighthound. And I completely 'get' that you think he is at more risk of injury blatting round indoors than out. Young as he is, there may be merit in hiring one of those well-fenced dog exercise fields once or twice a week to let him tear around in (relative) safety. These dogs are more like foals than dogs at times!!)

What are you feeding him? This can make a huge difference.

Thanks! I did think about electric fence round the pond, but knowing horses as well as I do ( you can check out my webpage if you like, what I do now in my 'retirement'! LOL) Diceys Legacy.co.uk. Obviously not a good idea! LOL I wonder if a run in the field might be a good idea then? The back field is about 2 acres and has a 4' cornish hedge around. But he is then going to be fitter and perhaps more likely to do more damage! Can I drug him! LOL (joking!) He is on a plain diet of butchers minced offal, AVA (just a handful) one egg and a little goat milk, aHe nd a chicken carcass. He also has 'treats' when training him - just basic sit wait stay, down stuff. Come is a little harder! Perhaps it is the treats? sprats dried, some fruit (blackberries/blueberries) and I have also bought some frozen dog food and some treats from pets at home - they are more likely to be a causative factor I'm guessing? LOL He is a VERY powerful emotional dog and you can see his brain ticking over if he does not WANT to come! ...

 

[Hemlock]

Diet sounds fine unless there are colourings and additives in the commercial-brand treats. It doesn't take much to tip a sighthound over the edge. I don't know what AVA is. He might benefit from some green veggies even if it just to rip them up - it all uses energy.

You have to make recall VERY worthwhile, and never do more than a couple at a time. Throwing a sprat for him to chase and then another in the other direction so he has to come back past you can be useful. More fun than just coming to you.

 

[JudyN]

He sounds completely normal to me and at a very quick glance his diet looks fine. You said in an earlier thread that he has calm times - gradually, these will increase and the loony times decrease. Keep working on interactive/impulse control games to encourage calm, mentally taxing play.

When Jasper was a similar age we took him to a 'puppy party' at Pets @ Home, which was really a talk about all their products. The other puppies sat quietly on their owners' laps, or on the floor next to them - cavaliers, poodles and so on - while Jasper was like a power ball on a length of elastic. Then another lurcher pup came in. The two clapped their eyes on each other and spent the rest of the session rolling around in a fluffy ball of teeth, claws and play growls, having a whale of a time while the other owners (and their dogs I suspect!) looked on in horror at these delinquents...

Enjoy the ride, whilst doing what you can to protect his joints - you can only do so much. And don't compare him to 'normal' dogs!

 

[JudyN]

Oh, and please - no electric fences. Sighthounds are sensitive dogs, and they could fry his brain - figuratively, not literally!

More about electric fences & dogs here: Using an Electric Fence For Your Dog

 

[Jan Woodhall]

Diet sounds fine unless there are colourings and additives in the commercial-brand treats. It doesn't take much to tip a sighthound over the edge. I don't know what AVA is. He might benefit from some green veggies even if it just to rip them up - it all uses energy.

You have to make recall VERY worthwhile, and never do more than a couple at a time. Throwing a sprat for him to chase and then another in the other direction so he has to come back past you can be useful. More fun than just coming to you.

Like the sprat idea! Thanks, There are colourings in the treats I'm afraid, I perhaps should just use whole and normal foods. Like the idea about giving whole veg too! He has had some cut up kale, that is very good for them (humans too! ) but perhaps give the whole leaf in future! He certainly enjoys tearing stuff! I want to post a couple of videos of him, Judy N asked for some photos, but I am such a techno phobe I havent got the faintest idea how to do it and as you can see I have dreadful difficulties with this old lap top that is litterally gasping it's last (fan or something!)

AVA us a produced whole food in kibble - it is 'veterinary approved'! which means it is sh** . with added bits of this and bits of that and really all I give it him for is to have something to 'crunch' and hopefully cover any missing vitamins or minerals.

Diet sounds fine unless there are colourings and additives in the commercial-brand treats. It doesn't take much to tip a sighthound over the edge. I don't know what AVA is. He might benefit from some green veggies even if it just to rip them up - it all uses energy.

You have to make recall VERY worthwhile, and never do more than a couple at a time. Throwing a sprat for him to chase and then another in the other direction so he has to come back past you can be useful. More fun than just coming to you.

Thanks, I love the throw behind trick! and Judy N, I had discounted the electric fence instantly! It was a transient thought!

Oh, and please - no electric fences. Sighthounds are sensitive dogs, and they could fry his brain - figuratively, not literally!

More about electric fences & dogs here: Using an Electric Fence For Your Dog

 

[Jan Woodhall]

He sounds completely normal to me and at a very quick glance his diet looks fine. You said in an earlier thread that he has calm times - gradually, these will increase and the loony times decrease. Keep working on interactive/impulse control games to encourage calm, mentally taxing play.

When Jasper was a similar age we took him to a 'puppy party' at Pets @ Home, which was really a talk about all their products. The other puppies sat quietly on their owners' laps, or on the floor next to them - cavaliers, poodles and so on - while Jasper was like a power ball on a length of elastic. Then another lurcher pup came in. The two clapped their eyes on each other and spent the rest of the session rolling around in a fluffy ball of teeth, claws and play growls, having a whale of a time while the other owners (and their dogs I suspect!) looked on in horror at these delinquents...

Enjoy the ride, whilst doing what you can to protect his joints - you can only do so much. And don't compare him to 'normal' dogs!

Oh Judy, that is SOOOOOOoooo funny! I actually needed that because I was beginning to think I was a failure as a 'mum'. There is a lurcher puppy next door to me, 7 months old I believe, he is much different to Robin, although he was difficult at puppy training classes and thought every dog he saw was a 'rabbit'! LOL He is much bigger and stronger than Robin, but I am hoping when we can walk out they might become friends. They have met briefly yesterday and both were calm and interested in each other, so that is a Ve+

 

[lurcherman]

Your only job for now is to keep your young leggy animal safe, I still say safety for now should be in your brain, ringy also said 12 months and I agree fully,, a sighthound with dodgy legs for me would mean a life of no fun for me and hound.

 

[JudyN]

There's a guide to posting photos and vids here: How to Post a Picture or Video Hopefully that'll help, if not come back and ask

 

[Rinkydinkydo]

Okay, so that is all well and good - however, you have not met my pup! Literally, spent 5 minutes JUST tearing around the lounge and I am quite sure he has a little bit of mental health problems! He is going round and round and round at a really fast rate of knots! I have been unable to catch him, nor able to stop him, he is barking and going one way then the other! He will generally do this at least once a day, and I am not sure if it is more dangerous for him to be inside or out! He crashes into the furniture when in and into the sheds when out! When he is good he is very very good and when he is mad, he is mad! There is absolutely NO predicting this as just a few minutes before his brain left the planet he was dozing off!. He has now stopped - and that was nothing to do with my trying to stop him as that made him run faster! I really am at my wits end with him! I am wondering if I should have purchased a stuffed toy instead! I am truly terrified he is going to either knock himself senseless and end up with brain damage, or he is going to take his leg off! .................

What ever your pup is like,I've seen it multiple times. As a toddler I used to take my afternoon nap with 4 of them.

I'll leave to it there ,,, good luck you'll need it.