When Can You Start Running With Your Puppy? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ – Dogster (2024)

FAQs

When Can You Start Running With Your Puppy? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ – Dogster? ›

However, it needs to be done safely. In general, if you have a smaller breed, you may be able to start running with your pup at around 9 months of age. Larger dogs may be ready to run at about 1.5 years of age, and some pups, depending on the breed, may not be suited to run at all.

You shouldn't run with puppies. Wait until they are 12 to 18 months old before you can start running. The rule for puppy exercise is no more than 5 minutes walking per month of life, and a maximum of two times per day.

A six-month-old dog might be capable of taking longer walks or even short jogs (if your vet helps you determine he's in good overall health and up for it), for example, but long hikes over rough terrain or strenuous agility classes are still potentially dangerous.

A typical vet schedule for puppies is for appointments to occur every 3 to 4 weeks starting when puppies are 6 to 8 weeks old and ending when they are 4 or 5 months old. Most puppies start their vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old.

Running around: It's fine to let your puppy run around freely at their own pace at home and in your garden, but it's not appropriate to take them out for a run because it's too intense for their growing bones.

When should you let go of the crate? My preference is to allow your dog to sleep out of a crate around 4-5 months and to be free completely before a year. Your dog should be housetrained; which means you know how long your dog can hold his bladder and he knows how to ask to go outside to go.

As a rule, where physical exercise is concerned, other than free play with toys or with other pets, the average puppy who is still growing could do about five minutes for every month of their age, once or twice a day. For example, a puppy of five months old can do 25 minutes of exercise up to twice a day.

For most breeds, 12 months is a reasonable age to start a running program. Start gently, don't run too often, and keep him on soft terrain such as grass and trails. Make sure you watch him, because a lot of dogs don't want to stop when they should.

Puppy stage: By 6 months. By this age, your growing puppy should be well-versed in several lessons.

By 16 weeks of age (4 months old), most puppies can go for 30-minute meandering walks. Increase the time to 45 to 60 minutes as your puppy reaches 6 or 7 months of age. Hold off on true hikes or long purposeful walks on pavement until your puppy has physically matured.

When to deworm a puppy? ›

Because worms are so common in puppies, vets recommend de-worming them for the first time when they're 2 to 3 weeks old. Worms can pass from mother to baby before birth or soon after, through their milk. It will take more than one dose. The first round kills the worms that are there at the time.

Generally, puppies can go outside to public spaces around 2 weeks after their second puppy vaccinations. At this time, their immune response to the vaccinations kicks in and reduces the changed of them catching a disease they've been vaccinated against. However, always double check this with your vet!

It is not uncommon for a puppy to defecate 5-6 times per day. Some will eliminate even more frequently. The good news is that the pace of pooping will slow down as the dog matures. Although a 2-week-old puppy may defecate at every feeding, by 12 weeks, they may be down to only 4 times per day.

According to Adelaide based Vet, Andrew Spanner (2020), dogs of a small breed can begin extended running from the age of 9 months, medium breeds 10-11 months, large breeds 12-14 months and giant breeds 18-24 months. This of course does not mean you can't get outdoors and explore with your new puppy.

However, there is a clever trick known as the '5-minute rule' that can give a good idea. The way this works is quite simple: from three months of age, you allow five minutes of exercise for each month the puppy is old.

Younger dogs should not be given too much vigorous exercise. Their bones are still growing, and, if put under too much stress, they may experience complications later in life. Your dog should be fully grown before running alongside you.

Letting your puppy run around freely at home, or in a safe and enclosed garden away from other animals is a great way for them to burn some of that energy! However, do not take your puppy out for a run with you until they are fully developed adults.

Puppies can go outside after their second set of vaccinations which will be given at 12 weeks of age. When you collect your puppy from the breeder or shelter, it's important to confirm that they've had their first set of vaccinations and if so, receive their vaccination card or paperwork.

Assuming your puppy had their first vaccination at eight weeks old, they should be ready for their first walk by 12 weeks (first dose, two-week gap, second dose, two-week wait).

Until six months, leash walks should be short — at this time they can become gradually longer, but running or jogging should still be avoided.