This page was last updated on: May 7, 2008
Exercise
The right kind............at
the right time!
........please read before running with your Weimaraner!
Exercising your Weimaraner is vital.......
Exercising your Weimaraner is vital, however, running should be limited when they are young and growing. Many people over-exercise young puppies, or give them the wrong type of exercise. The wrong type of exercise can include forced running for any distance and too much exercise on tarmac or other hard surfaces. Up to at least six months of age, exercise on hard surfaces should be kept at a minimum. Correct exercise for puppies includes running and playing in the yard, garden, or in a park. Games that involve jumping, large series of stairs, and very rough play should be avoided. Expect the pup to rest as soon as he has had enough. All things in moderation you must not "over-do" it. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise which builds up the muscles without putting stress on the joints.
Peteducation.com has a lot of good information of hip dysplasia and puppy exercise. Here is what they have to say about Exercise related hip dysplasia: Exercise may be another risk factor. It appears that dogs that are genetically susceptible to the disease may have an increased incidence of disease if they over-exercised at a young age. But at the same time, we know that dogs with large and prominent leg muscle mass are less likely to contract the disease than dogs with small muscle mass. So exercising and maintaining good muscle mass may actually decrease the incidence of the disease. Moderate exercise that strengthens the gluteal muscles, such as running and swimming, is probably a good idea. Whereas, activities that apply a lot of force to the joint are contraindicated. An example would be jumping activities such as playing Frisbee.
For those who are not looking at gaining a running partner, Weimaraner exercise is vital for several reasons:
- General Health and well being
- To run off excess energy curbs many behavior problems
- To focus on constructive and positive outlets for their intelligence and energy level.
Exercising your Weimaraner can take many forms and it important to incorporate a lot of different types into your schedule. This keeps them interested and also they don't get set into a routine. Weims love routine but this can be a minus in the event that you cannot keep the routine. We also feel that keeping them guessing can be a positive and intriguing dimension to your training and socialization goals. As we said exercise can take many forms, and positive exercise can include:
- Walking
- Running-- (as long as age appropriate)
- Throwing a ball, Frisbee, or bumper -- (as long as age appropriate)
- Swimming
- Water Retrieving
- Agility-- (as long as age appropriate)
- Hunting or hunt training-- (as long as age appropriate)
" A tired Weimy is a happy and content Weimy!"
With any exercise program watch for signs of a potential problem:
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus--more commonly called Bloat
With the topic of exercise you must always remember about bloat. Bloat is a problem in deep chested dogs and Weimaraners in particular. Recommendations are not to run within 4 hours of feeding.
- Stiffness or altered gait
- Limping -- check feet for a problem first.
- Any abnormal out of character behavior after or during the exercise.
Exercise is very important. Weims can and will often settle into a sedentary routine with their human. Weims are all about relationship and they want to be doing what your are doing. They are happy with you cuddled on the bed, sofa, or just using your foot as a pillow. Like humans they need exercise for overall body health and well-being. They also need to run off excess energy that can lead to all kinds of negative behavior such as chewing, digging, barking, and getting into stuff.
