27/03/2023
Copied from JBK Border Collies
⚠️FOCUSING ON PUPPIES, BONE GROWTH & EARLY ACTIVITY:
Today we bring you the explanation of why we shouldn't perform intense physical exercise with puppies until 18 months and even up to 24 months of age.
Puppy growth rates vary greatly by size. It's important to adapt diet and exercise to your puppies' specific requirements to ensure ideal skeletal development. Endocondral ossification (the process during which cartilage turns into bone) differs according to the adult size of your puppy, with closed growth plates (complete ossification has occurred) between 3 months in toy breeds and 24 months in large breeds (see photos).
There are many factors affecting growth rate and maturity age. For example, males mature more slowly than females. There are variations in periods of 'fast growth' ranging from birth to 11 weeks in small dogs and toys. Large breeds range from birth to 20 weeks (Hawthorne et al 2004). Excessive exercise and inadequate nutrition during these periods can lead to conformation and malformation of bones, which can lead to osteoarthritis development and degenerative joint disease.
Recommended exercise levels for puppies are 1 minute for each week of their life, twice a day. This should be LOW IMPACT at a steady pace. Puppies shouldn’t be fetching at high speeds, or jumping on/off furniture or in/out of vehicles.
If your goal is to train to compete for flyball or agility (for example), it is recommended to AVOID any jump training until full ossification has occurred.
This is why breeders tell new owners to not to rush certain physical activities with your pups. Instead, focus working on other things with them. Work their minds, smell, desensitizing, and socialization, etc.
After going through the development months and developing the corresponding plates, consult your veterinarian to determine if your dog is 100% ready for sport.
SEE THOSE FEET AND TOES. This is a massive reason to keep those toe nails filed back WEEKLY!
Long toe nails cause weird looking feet. You won’t see it at first. But the toes will shift. The dog will end up with arthritis prematurely 🥺😢😭
