How much exercise

[malachi]

My puppy is 4 months old today. I know exercise is important for this active bread and I also have heard when they very young they need to be inside resting, eating and growing. I was wondering how much exercise is appropriate for a 4 month old puppy? And when can I start taking him on runs with me? Also, he tears up all his toys and those are the ones he likes best so if you have any suggestions about that it would be appreciated. Thanks for all your help!

[Riptora]

Your pup can have as much exercise as it can handle. It's not like a human baby/toddler and will sleep when it's tired. I suggest stronger toys, there are so many different breeds of dogs with different chewing power, I think you need to get some nice, tough toys. Go ahead and take your pup running, be aware of how tired it gets, don't push it too hard and make sure you always offer water. They are not as fragile as you may be thinking and your pup is equivelent to a small child developmentally speaking, so you should offer as many activities and new stimulation as you can.

[ChevyTech]

Yeah alot of people (petsmart) have been telling me not to walk my pups yet. They are 10 weeks, I really wasn't too sure why they would tell me something like that. I've heard not to run mastiffs when they are pups, but why would they say that about a bulldog?

[Suki]

Pups at 4 months are still developing, so allowing him to rest, as soon as he shows signs of tiring is essential. His bones and joints can become damaged by too much, or over strenuous exercise, though these problems may not arise until your pup matures. Lots of jumping, too much running, basically, too much of any type of exercise is not good at his young age. Rest and a good diet are essential for his developement now. I would suggest short walks, and if you're starting to train, short, (10-15 minutes sessions) of training as well. As he ages, his level of energy will increase, as should his exercise sessions. As a pup, imo, it's best to under do it, rather than over due it.