Puppy walking Help!!!

[NICHOLLE1978]

I need help and suggestions on puppy walking. I just started walking my 12 week old rotti a week ago. He is really slow and today he started whining. So I picked him up held him all the way home (quite heavy not overweight). What is the standard length of walking for a puppy this age. He is really slow. How long of a walk is too long:eek: :). I don't want to push him. Is this completely normal. Will he eventually speed up? Has anyone ever experienced this? He is a healthy puppy.

Please help me!!!

[tatsxxx11]

Hi Nicholle! And congratulations on your Rottie pup!!:) Gee, I'm trying to remember back to when my girl was that age. I remember that we didn't walk too far. In actual distance, maybe to the end of the street and back, about 100 yds. We have a big back yard, so mostly she played and romped around there. The breeder suggested that I not let her run at all for a few months, as it might injure her hips. (She's a Lab) I do know puppies have a lot of energy, but they are growing, and rapidly, and often tire out quickly. I don't think I ever heard my Star whining though while walking. I could usually tell when she was tired, and a few times I did have to carry her home!! Has he been for his first puppy check up yet? If you think he is whining in pain, I might want to give the vet a call. As for being "slow," puppies have a very short attention span, and maybe he is just distracted, exploring the universe!!:D Hopefully, more experienced puppy Mom's may chime in! Love to your puppy!!

[Karen]

Especially with big dogs, the length of how long a "good walk" is depends on each pup individually. I would halve the length of the walk that was "too long" to start with, then go a little longer each day, as his and your patience allows. Oh, the sweetness of a 12-week-old Rottie! Big feet and puppy breath - but neither of you want to get in the habit of you carrying him! :)

A dog book I have says about Irish Wolfhounds, which is another "big dog" - "These pups should not be taken on long walks, as these can damage its joints. Instead, it should be encouraged to run and play at its own chosen pace."

[Logan]

The leash is probably a bit intimidating too. Maybe you could just work in your home and in the yard with your new baby on the leash, and make it fun. As your puppy gets older, he will want to walk more and more. Get ready!! If you can, you should try and enroll in a puppy kindergarten class, or if that doesn't work, get you a good puppy guidebook from the bookstore, or find one online and read up on tips about how to get a puppy comfortable with a leash. Long walks are tiring, but also probably a bit scary too for the little fellow. He'll come along, I'm sure!! :)

Good luck.

[NICHOLLE1978]

Thank you all so very much. Your replies in every way have helped me. It has been a long time since I have parented a large working breed. And he is so much fun!!!:) Thanks again.

[C.C.'s Mom]

I was told the lenght for a walk with a large breed puppy, is 5 minutes for every month. So, a 12 weeks old cute wobly rotti pup walks about 15 minutes when he's used to the leash. It took us quite some time too to get Cookie used to the leash.

[Cincy'sMom]

It took our Cincy awhile to get used to walking on a leash, now the challenge is teaching her to not pull while she is walking. At 18 weeks, she is ablw to do about 1.5-2 miles, depending on how much activity she has had during the day. (That is if I let her pull) we usually take shorter walks just a few houses at a time when we are working on "heel"

[mary_jsn]

Leika resently started walking on the lead too. It's just that they are scared of the outside world. You have to pull on him anyways and it's normal that he is slow as he is scared and he is exploring at the same time. Just do that and soon you'll be running so he doesn't carry you!!!!!

[NICHOLLE1978]

Thank you for your reply to my post. So how old is your puppy? What kind of dog do you have?

Thank you again.

Nicholle:)

[mary_jsn]

Leika is a Jack Russell Terrier. A really active breed. She is 3 months.

[carrie]

A really good rule of thumb is NEVER EVER go so far that you have to carry the pup home.
That may mean very short walks at first but it is more important for your pup to learn how to deal with the world at her level than to walk at the moment.
Good food, plenty of free play and exposure to as many environments as possible must be balanced with good sleep time.
Pick the puppy up ONLY as a last resort - give her time to rest, show you are not swayed by crying by ignoring it and make sure that you give enough time - even for short walks - so that you can spend time ignoring and resting.

Can I also suggest that you get the pup to the vet and voice your concerns? She may have hip problems or other joint problems or heart problems that need medication.
If all checks out - don't let this puppy make you her slave!

[mary_jsn]

i take Leika for short walks. I go off till the next street which is very short so sometimes we repeat the walk.

[purrley]

I need some help on this topic - my Chihuahua is taking ME for a walk and I'd like some suggestions on how to get her to stop pulling. She runs ahead of me and those little legs just get going so fast - she doesn't go anywhere when she reaches the end of the lead, but how can I get her to just walk along with me??? It's not too big a deal since she's so little, but if she were a big dog - this would not be fun:( Think she will get better as she gets older or is there something I could do to calm her down a bit so we both could enjoy our little jaunt in the afternoon?

[mary_jsn]

There's a site where you can find some information. If she pulls and like chokes try buying a harness. Leika now pulls less and the harness makes her stop so Ic an catch up with her. WEll here's the site http://www.petspark.co.uk. In the advice center there is some training were you teach pups to go on the lead.

[purrley]

She's in a harness.

[kobieeli]

Nicholle--
Congrats on the Rottie! They're such beautiful dogs....You know, when Eli was starting out on his leash (about 9 weeks old) he bucked like a bronco, bit at it, cowered on the sidewalk, and just generally acted like he hated it. Now he LOVES to walk! As your pup gets older he'll figure out that little short explorations outdoors aren't scary. Just keep his walks from tiring him out too much, and maybe give him treats and praise for walking with you, even for very short distances!


Purrley--
What worked for Eli's pulling was the "make like a tree" method of walking. Basically, when the dog gets out ahead of you and is yanking hard, stop dead in your tracks without talking to or looking at the dog. Most likely she'll stop pulling and wander back to your side; then you can start walking again. Gradually she figures out that you don't go anywhere when she pulls--that's no fun! You'll look kinda weird around your neighborhood for awhile, but it's worth a try... :)

[Crikit]

Purrley

Like Kobieeli suggested try the make like a tree thing and if she doesn't get the picture right away call her and praise her when she comes. If that doesn't work you could always try turning around and walking the other way as soon as she starts to pull, then when she catches back up to you, you turn back around and walk back the way you were coming...but you have to remember to praise her as soon as she catches up to you and when there's a little bit of slack in the leash. I've tried one method with Smudge and the other one with Winter, they both seem to work it's just a matter of remembering to do it.

[Barbiro]

Purrley,

What worked for Kobieeli worked for us with Tobi. Buffy is another story. She will always want to lead and not walk next to our side.

Just don't give her so much leeway on the leash so she'll learn she has to keep up with your pace and not the other way around. Buffy is a year old and Maggie still has to say "no-no" when Buffy is in her own little world and tries to go her own way. Like you stated, fortunately she is very tiny and with a small pull on the harness we can guide her. Little by little Buffy's getting the message, but not soon enough. Most of the time Maggie just winds up carrying her.

[carrie]

Encourage her to walk by your side as you set off and as soon as she walks ahead of you pat your leg, repeat the command you use (be it "heel", "close" whatever) and walk backwards until she is by your side again. Stop, praise quietly, and when she is calm give the command again and start to walk.
This will take a few times to settle into the dog's mind that by pulling she is delaying the walk and you will feel very silly at first so practice in the garden first. Move on to somewhere quiet next and she will get the idea.