I have a 7 week old great dane and I would like to know how often and long per day that I should be exercising him without causing joint problems.
I live in Wisconsin and in my state we do not have any specific laws on how old a puppy must be before selling it so please do some research before you assume it is illegal for everyone.
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First of all….it is illegal to have a puppy under 8 weeks old….just throwing that out there…and he is a great dane…he needs to have lots of room to play, and run….and should be taken out on walks…but bc he is still so small, take it easy with him, lift him up if he gets to tired during his walk. Dont over exert him.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/greatdane.htm
That should help you out!
Great danes need to be exercised 1-2 hours a day. The more exercise they get, The better the tempermant. They NEED to be taken on a LONG daily walk.
As much as you can take! Serioulsy, Great Danes need lots of exercise. So he’ll need at least a couple of long walks each day, plus play time in the backyard or at a puppy dog park.
Isn’t it illegal to have a puppy under 8 weeks old. Well if you have a fenced in yard just let him/her out and you can just keep an eye out for him. Or you can just take him for a walk about maybe 2-4 blocks.he needs to have lots of room to play, and run….and should be taken out on walks…but bc he is still so small, take it easy with him, lift him up if he gets to tired during his walk. Dont over exert him. Also you can take him to the park and throw a ball around. Just call you local vet if this wasn’t enough.
At this age a great dane puppy should not be doing any forced exercise. You may want to join danesonline.com They have helped me learn a lot about danes and helped me with my 2 year old dane. It is a combination of vets, those who show, as well as regular dane owners like myself.
Danes are very prone to joint problems and a lot get OCD in the shoulders so correct diet and exercise is a must.
The general rule for lead walking is 5 mins per day per month of life – so at 3 months it would only be 15 mins per day.
Would of preferred to see you not get him for another week yet as those weeks with mum & litter are important.
Did you not get him from a good breeder that gave you instructions on all of that.
The very best advice I can give you is to find a really good Great Dane forum where you will usually find good breeders, show people, and others that have been in the breed for years.
Take all advice from them.
Add on – sorry but I find Ash & David’s advice quite scary. Please join a Dane forum where they know what they are talking about as some people clearly do not.
Start with two walks (20-30 minutes each) per day or take him jogging at an easy pace, but don’t let him jump around too much or engage in strenuous exercise until he gets older. Puppy bones are a lot softer and “spongey” than adult dog bones, and they usually won’t harden completely until he’s about a year and a half old. Jumping down from or over beds, stairs, large rocks, etc should be discouraged because it puts a lot of stress on his muscles and ligaments that cause lasting damage and health problems down the road.
Great Danes grow VERY fast, so make sure he’s also on a good quality high-protein food to ensure that he’s getting the adequate nutrients to meet his needs. My friend has two Danes, and she fed them adult dog food starting at 2-3 months.
And I also want to clarify that it is not illegal to HAVE a puppy under 8 weeks of age. Many states have laws against the selling of puppies and kitten under the age of 8 weeks, and rightly so. The reason for the 8 week mark is because puppies receive antibodies from their mother’s milk that helps them fight off diseases and parasites until they are old enough to be vaccinated. It’s also good for them to learn important socialization skills with their littermates. HOWEVER, there could be a number of reasons for someone having a dog younger than that, so there’s no reason to jump down someone’s throat for having a 7 week old puppy when they’re asking for information on how to ensure that he grows up healthy.
“Jessica” has NO clue what she’s talking about. It is far from “illegal” to own a dog at 7 weeks. USUALLY, 8 is recommended, but dogs can leave their mothers as soon as they are fully weaned.
I’m glad you’re realizing that Great Dane’s are very susceptible to joint problems. He should definitely NOT be encouraged to jump, but normal puppy playing is fine. However, he will not tell you when he should stop playing because he doesn’t know. Great Danes do not need “a great deal of exercise” as someone else wrote. All puppies are active and playful, but in general, Great Danes are not excessively active.
Hold off for long games of fetch and running until about 18 months. Long periods of exercise can cause hairline fractures for a Great Dane pup. Also very important: do not allow your puppy to play on slippery surfaces such as your kitchen floor, or hardwood.This is a possible environmental cause of hip dysplasia in large breeds. If you have only tile or wood floors, it would be a good idea to pick up a few throw rugs and play with your puppy on the carpet.
Puppies will be sleeping a good portion of the day anyway. Set aside time to start “training” (name recognition, handling ears, mouth and paws, brushing…etc.) in addition to play and sleep time. This will help keep the pups interest, but also break up time of hardcore playing.
If you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to call the breeder and ask. Also talk to your vet about supplements. Some studies have shown that vitamin C helps to ease “growing pains” associated with rapid bone growth in large breeds.
Best of luck with your new puppy!
A Dane puppy should NEVER have extended or forced exercise at a young age…..no jumping, jogging, long walks, etc. Danes as a breed aren’t overly active. They don’t require a lot of exercise nor do they need a large yard or a lot of space..this is a popular misconception.
A Dane puppy should simply have normal regular puppy play and a bit of obedience training as well.
As a side note…even if it is not against the law in your particular state to purchase or adopt a puppy under 8 weeks of age (it is in many states) a responsible breeder never sends any of their pups off to their new homes under 8 weeks of age.this is especially important with giant breeds such as Danes.
I suggest that you join DOL http://dolforum.com and also go to the Great Dane Club of America site http://www.gdca.org to learn more and to help you raise & train your Dane properly.
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