Chris Smith
05-16-2005, 12:13 PM
Do working or hunting dog breeds need to have the amount of their exercise moderated? My 9 month old can and will play, run, fetch, swim FOREVER! Sometimes I wonder if he is overdoing it or would know when to stop. He will retrieve and fetch and swim continuously even though he is breathing hard or shivering. And this is usually after 1 1/2 - 2 hours of non-stop play. When I force him to stop (take away the ball, pull him away from the water, etc.) he is so unhappy and definitely wants to keep playing.
Sometimes after these play sessions, he seems extremely exhausted - moves up the stairs real slowly, can barely jump up into the car, and a couple of times hasn't been able to eat without sitting down.
Am I overdoing his exercise? How can I tell when it should be stopped? (I do want to tire him out because he is a bundle of energy but I don't want him to get hurt or have a heart attack!) We go on trails with other dogs (very different breeds) and often those dogs will slow down a lot if they seem tired, lay down during the walk, or just stop playing. My dog never does this.
Do dogs know when to stop? Could I hurt him by too much exercise?
Sometimes after these play sessions, he seems extremely exhausted - moves up the stairs real slowly, can barely jump up into the car, and a couple of times hasn't been able to eat without sitting down.
Am I overdoing his exercise? How can I tell when it should be stopped? (I do want to tire him out because he is a bundle of energy but I don't want him to get hurt or have a heart attack!) We go on trails with other dogs (very different breeds) and often those dogs will slow down a lot if they seem tired, lay down during the walk, or just stop playing. My dog never does this.
Do dogs know when to stop? Could I hurt him by too much exercise?