Puppy - stiff after walk

Hughesy84

Our puppy staffy (6 month) sometimes seems stiff after a walk (a few hours later) or the next day...

Does anyone know what the problem is, is it just too much exercise or something more serious like athritis? Also we let him chase a ball/ stick sometimes, should we stop this?

He doesnt do it all the time/ and he seems to do it more if we have showered him down to clean him up after his walk....

Any advice would be good - thanks

pruney

Perhaps you're overwalking him? Puppies don't really do self restraint. I find it really hard to decide how far is too far, especially if they love to walk and run about. I read something once that says you should walk your puppy for 1 minute per week of their age up to 1 year old but I don't think you can use that for all breeds. My middle dog is a shih tzu and although she would very much love to walk for much longer than 50 minutes, she wouldn't be able to. She jumps up when she's had enough as if to say I've had enough now plus she slows down a lot.

Bubby

Puppies should be walked for 5 minutes per month of age so your pup shouls be having walks totalling 30 minutes per day so probably 2x15 minute walks morning and evening would be best. Are you walking alot longer than this? If so then cutting down should help, puppies get alot of exercise from playing etc. If this is the same as what you are currently doing then I would speak to the breeder or failing that give your vet a call.

moggylover

Agree with the other replies that this sounds like too much exercise some of the time. This will be especially important with a heavy bodied pup like a staffie because too much strain on the joints whilst young could do damage and cause longer term problems.

Bubby has given good advice on the length of walks which is pretty much in line with the advice given by the Samoyed breeder that my mothers dog came from quite a few years ago.

They can still play in the garden and so forth, but the actual walks need to be quite gentle until fully grown.

Hughesy84

Thanks for your replies.

Il cut down the walks then - we probably went for 1 hour yesterday, which included abit of ball throwing.

What do we class as fully grown? 12 months? Also is ball throwing ok once they are fully grown?!

Bubby

In terms of the walking rule I believe it goes up to 12 months. Ball throwing is fine as play at any time as long as you don't overdo it:)

cleomolly

A dog is classed as 'adult' at 18 months I believe. As someone said above 5 mins for every month of age is a good rule to go by. also are his walks regular or do you do an hour one day and nothing the next? this won't help, walks should be gradually brought up and regular. I'd get him checked out though by a vet, they can always advise re exercise. Hope pup feels better soon : )

Raksha

Also watch the chasing sticks - it's dangerous! All it takes is for a stick to land end first and the dog to run into it and you've got a dead dog

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I believe you can get rubber sticks to deal with the issue Raksha describes. Probably safer when you think of how a Staffie chews through wood - no splinters in the gums, for a start.

candygirl

Raksha wrote: »

Also watch the chasing sticks - it's dangerous! All it takes is for a stick to land end first and the dog to run into it and you've got a dead dog

This happened to my mates staffy.Her two dogs were playing with a stick, one got it caught under her collar and the other one pulled and it strangled her:(:(:(
My boy staffy has stiff legs sometimes, not due to over exercise though, and I give him glucosmaine tablets to ease it:D:D

Hughesy84

Just so I feel confident in his bones & joints...... would it help if I gave him some milk every now and again?

He loves the stuff but I dont let him have it really...think he's only had it twice!

Or is milk bad for him??