How much exercise is right for a labrador?
- Tuesday Nov 17,2009 06:10 AM
- By diddy
- In Others
Hello all
We are thinking of getting a puppy and wanted to do a bit of research before jumping in….. I have heard that labradors need a lot of exercise or the can become destructive.
How much exercise would be right? ie a half hour walk daily and a long walk twice a week, or an hour walk every day,etc?
We have a medium sized back yard so the dog will have a bit of space to run around there?
Please help!
Back Yard, Exercise, Getting A Puppy, Half Hour, Hello, Labrador, Labradors, Lot
6 Comments
That sounds fine! Yours might enjoy retrieving balls or frisbee in the backyard, too. You don’t really have to take long walks, even 20 min. is good. The best way to wear out a dog is about 15 min. a day of training. Wearing out the brain a bit is a very good thing! It’s good to research your breed. I sure did! Any dog breed can become destructive without training and proper attention. Teach them how to live in your house, and that you are in charge, in that early learning stage and all should go well. Buy from a reputable breeder. Labs should not be hyper. Pure ones are calm.
I have one too and he hardly get tired of something, believe me! it’s an amazing dog, very hyper.
Well. It is good that you have the yard room for "him" to run around in. You might also want to plan on an hour or so play with the dog (at the very least). "He" will also appreciate a good 20-30 minute walk a couple of times each day to keep "him" fit, happy, and not wrecking your house.
Your best bet is to find a Lab breeder in your area, and have a good long talk with them. Labs need exercise or they’ll gain weight too quickly. 1/2 hour twice a day would be good, as long as the animal has an opportunity to RUN. This should be kept to the puppy’s pace until it’s a year old, in order not to overstress growing bones, ligaments, etc.
Go to AKC.ORG and read the full description of the breed and it’s characteristics. This will help yo pick your puppy.
My 10 month old lab has nearly endless energy. It takes at least an hour a day of running to get her tired. They need to be exercised every day. The backyard won’t help too much unless they have a playmate. Labs are very social and won’t generally want to exercise alone. If you aren’t up for vigorous exercise with your dog every day, check if you town has any fenced-in off-leash areas. This has the added benefit of the dog getting some social interaction time. Lab puppies should not be trusted off-leash in an unsecured area! Good luck with your new dog!
My black lab is 10 years old and enjoys two 30 minute walks every day. You will never believe how much fun you will have with your dog the first time you take it to a stream or lake to swim, as they love it !
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Leave a reply