Q: I’ve been told dogs shouldn’t be taken on long walks until they are around nine months old. Is that right?
Q: I’ve been told dogs shouldn’t be taken on long walks until they are around nine months old. Is that right?
With puppies, walks are just as much about the mental stimulation as physical effect. A slow, short walk with lots of sniffing is just as beneficial for them, and potentially safer (than running) for their growing bones and developing joints. Once they have reached 80 percent maturity (usually around 8-10 months) you can increase the length of the walk, but do it gradually so that they can adapt to the increase in exercise.
