Is It Possible To Overwalk

[Rhona]

My neighbour has just commented to me that she feels sorry for Sam because she thinks we walk him too much.   I think this is rubbish personally.   I have had a wee think and would say on an average day to day basis he is walked altogether for about between 2 to 2.5 hours.   We do take him out hillwalking and have been known to be out for as long as 6 hours on average although have been a bit longer than that too.  He seems very happy with that although does sleep for ages afterwards.

I would think (but I am quite happy to hear if I am wrong) that a Cocker Spaniel loves a long walk but equally is happy enough with a shorter stroll too.

I am sure the average amount of walking he gets daily is not at all out of the ordinary.  

How much exercise do others give their dogs?

[tiggerbabe]

Hi Rhona!

I have been giving my new 5yr old Cocker Sophie about the same amount of exercise - and I go hillwalking too, so we are hoping that is something Sophie will enjoy with us in the Summer!  

I think a Cocker would soon let you know if they didn't want to walk any further!!    

I think Sam will be having a ball - and as long as he isn't overly hot/panting or limping, I wouldn't be too worried!

Do your neighbours have dogs?? If not, they maybe don't realise the amount of exercise they need!          

[Colin]

How old is Sam ? Is he still a puppy ? If so, a good guideline is to walk him for 5minutes for every month of age - ie 30 mins at 6 months, 35 at 7 months etc. Then at 12 months they are able to be walked as long as you like, building them up gradually though.

Overwalking can put a strain on puppy's joints, causing them to be a bit "leggy" and can also lead to other problems in later life. I have to admit I probably overwalked Jimmy a bit as a pup as I didn't know all this then.

[Rhona]

He is one tomorrow so he is good to go I think.

[Colin]

No offence Rhona but I have to say, I think 6 hour walks are way too excessive for a dog of Sam's age.

[Rhona]

None taken I asked for an opinion and am happy to hear advice.   It is not a daily occurrence, and certainly not at the moment even a weekly occurrence although it is more likely to be weekly come the spring/summer.  

[alan&ness]

Hi Rhona , We walk our Monty 3 times a day for 40 mins aprox 1 1/2 - 2 miles a day a little more at weekends he loves it, He likes a car ride at weekends & go somewhere new .  

[KellyS]

Just to reiterate what Colin said. We learnt the hard way and over walked one of our cockers as a pup, which  I believe contributed to some of her joint/structural problems, which may not have been so severe had  we known better.

I never give any forced exercise (walks) to any of our puppies now until they are at least 7-8 months old. When their bones have hardend and growth rate has slowed down we very slowly introduce walks. Although they play in the house/garden but not for long periods.  After the experience we had it is not worth the risk. It makes me cringe when I see young puppies 12 weeks old being dragged out for a day at the seaside etc.  

IMO if a fully grown cocker is gradually built up to long walks(fitness is built up over time) and seems happy then no problem, but if your dog is only used to short walks and then you take it on a hike for 4 hours I feel this is unfair and could cause strains/injuries.

We walk our adult dogs for about 1-1.5 hours aday split into 2 walks plus they get free run in the garden for most of the day, and during one of the walks they get free run over farmland and if they are lucky a dip in a pond!!!
 

[Cob-Web]

I never give any forced exercise (walks) to any of our puppies now until they are at least 7-8 months old. When their bones have hardend and growth rate has slowed down we very slowly introduce walks. Although they play in the house/garden but not for long periods.  After the experience we had it is not worth the risk. It makes me cringe when I see young puppies 12 weeks old being dragged out for a day at the seaside etc. 

So sorry to hear of your past experiences, Kelly  

The advise and guidance on this, maybe more than any other issue, is so contradictory and diverse, that I find it difficult to know what to do  

If Molo had not been *walked* until now at 7 to 8 months old, and restricted to play in the house and garden, his socialisation would have been incomplete and many of the things that he is familiar with would be strange to him; steam trains, the waves crashing on the beach, horse-riders, sheep, strong gusts of wind on the cliff-top, children playing; all these things he has experienced when out for a *walk*.......

However, I am concious that his joints are still growing; and that at this age, he might want to walk for miles, but it is not good for him. It is easy to get carried away; especially if, like me, a dog was chosen to be a walking companion, and with 600 + miles of footpath here on the Island, I'm spoilt for choice.

I hope that the compromise I have found does not cause Molo any long term problems; and I can't wait until he can accompany me during my training for the annual sponsored walk from the Eastern to Western tip of the Island - planned for 2006, not this year!  

[Sheila]

I have to admit that I think I overwalked Goldie as a puppy, I assumed that a young lab needed lots of exercise and I believe that contributed to her joint problems and arthritis.
I have been very conservative with exercise with Lottie and sticking to the 5 mins for every month rule.
She always looks like she could go for much longer but I wont take the risk.
I intend to build the length up over the summer once she is a year old.
I have assumed that as adult dog can take as much exercise as you are willing and have time for.

[Magic Star]

No offence Rhona but I have to say, I think 6 hour walks are way too excessive for a dog of Sam's age.

I have to agree with Colin on this one

 

[Pete and Jo]

Jarvis is coming up to 4 months and we have been taking him out twice a day, a 15-20 minute free run on some great common land (Beverley Westwood in East Yorkshire) in the morning and a 10-15 min stroll around the block either at lunch or evening.  

He lets us know when he is a bit tired by sitting at our feet, so we always go back at that point.

At weekends though, we do take him out for the day visiting, though his actual walking is probably not much more than a normal day - he is shattered but more from all the attention

I think we will build up the free running as time goes on, but maybe keep the pavement walking a similar time as now.

[KellyS]

If Molo had not been *walked* until now at 7 to 8 months old, and restricted to play in the house and garden, his socialisation would have been incomplete and many of the things that he is familiar with would be strange to him; steam trains, the waves crashing on the beach, horse-riders, sheep, strong gusts of wind on the cliff-top, children playing; all these things he has experienced when out for a *walk*.......

[/color]

I do agree with your comments re socialisation IWLass,which is very important. I do still take our pups out, they go to puppy socialisation classes which I think are very important to start from a very young age. Also we have carried them around our local town and market, that way they get to see pushchairs, umbrellas etc also generally alot of people and children stop you on your way! They have been popped down on the floor for short periods, we just don't walk them any longer than 5 -10 mins whilst they are young pups. In the region that we live you could go for a walk and not meet a car yet alone anything else!!


I think it's down to the individual to just be aware and not over do it with your puppies. Once they are fully grown they have got there whole lives to go for long walks!

[subeeloo]

........it's up to every individual. We are all different as humans, therefore so are our dogs. I've not heard of a cocker yet who refuses to walk. I bet part of that 6 hour walk is in a car anyway. As someone said earlier, if he didn't want to go any further he would let you know, you do what you feel is right,  
p.s.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM, 1 YEAR OLD TODAY!!!!!!!      

[Jane S]

I'm afraid I also think that 6 hours walking is too long for a young, immature dog.  I don't think it's right to say we should let our dogs decide how much exercise they should have - Cockers can't always be relied on to know what's good for them A Cocker puppy doesn't know that over-walking could cause arthritis in later life but we do so it's up to us owners not to over-do things at too young an age. As Kelly say, there's all the time in the world for long walks later on when our dogs are fully mature. Being sensible about exercise does not mean neglecting socialisation which is of course vital but you can socialise a puppy/young dog without going on marathon walks

Jane