Exercising your puppy - how much is too much? - Support your puppy's joint health
A cute, cuddly, whirlwind of fluff has just entered your life! Welcome to pup-parenthood!
You'll be settling into life with your new puppy, getting vaccinations, heading out into the big wide world and taking your little pup on some big adventures.
Although puppies are huge bundles of energy, that energy needs to be directed. Have you considered how much you can exercise them when they are little? Your new puppy will be with you for years to come, and taking care of their joints will have a huge impact on their life as they age.
So, let's learn how to keep your puppy safe and active for years to come.
What happens if a puppy is over-exercised?
When your puppy is young, their skeletal development isn't complete. Their growth plates have not yet closed, and too much exercise can cause long-term damage.
The growth plates are the soft sections at the ends of your puppy's long bones. The cells within the growth plates divide until the area is filled—making the bones longer and denser.
Damage to these delicate areas of cartilage in puppyhood can result in long-term joint mobility problems for your adult dog.
Unfortunately, enthusiastic puppies won't show any signs that damage is being done until it is too late, so preventing damage by not over-exercising your young puppy is the best course of action.
When is my puppy fully grown?
Most of your puppy's growth is done in the first 9 months of its life, and for an average-sized dog, the growth plates are closed at around 1 year.
Larger breed dogs grow quickly, but mature slowly and aren't fully mature until 18 months to 2 years old.
5 ways to support your puppy's joint health
20% of dogs over the age of 1 already have joint stiffness signs
Joint stiffness can start much earlier than you might think. It has been shown that 20% of dogs over age 1 already have signs of joint stiffness, so it is important to support your pup's long-term quality of life, with age-appropriate exercise to maintain healthy joints.
Time your walks
Playing in the house and garden is fine, but make sure your pup takes plenty of rest breaks. However, formal exercise, such as walks on the lead, should be kept short initially and gradually increased as your puppy gets older.
This doesn't mean your puppy need to be cooped up in the house all day. Its important to take them out and about to experience all the sights, sounds and smells of the outside world- traffic, people, other animals, different floor surfaces- it's all new for them.
Brain Games
Brain games and mental stimulation are essential for puppies because their developing minds need just as much exercise as their bodies. Activities like puzzle toys, basic training, and scent games challenge them to think, focus, and problem-solve, which helps build confidence and reduce boredom-related behaviours. In fact, mental work can be just as tiring, if not more so, than physical exercise, because it requires sustained concentration and decision-making. A short training session or interactive game can leave a puppy happily exhausted, making mental stimulation a powerful and often overlooked part of their daily routine.
Jumping and canine sports
Introducing your young dog to agility, or other canine sports such as flyball, is great fun and brilliant mental stimulation for your dog. However, lots of jumping and turning puts strain on your pup's joints.
Find a reputable trainer to ensure canine sports are introduced slowly and in an age-appropriate manner.
Avoiding stairs
You may have been advised never to let your puppy climb stairs. Apply common sense here.
Many pups sleep in their pet parent's bedroom, and tackling the stairs a couple of times a day is fine for your pup as long as they take the stairs in a controlled manner. Keep a lookout to prevent them from falling, and don't let the stairs become a playground.
Consider a dog joint supplement
There are many joint supplements for dogs available that will support your dog's lifelong joint health.
Introducing a joint supplement when your dog is young will support normal, healthy mobility and help your dog stay active as they age.
Finding the right joint supplement can be confusing, so learning what you should look for in a joint supplement is vital. It’s important to understand the ingredients and how they can support your pup as they go through life. Learn about Green Lipped Mussel and the importance of quality here.
Large breed puppies - exercise and joint health
If you are a large or giant breed puppy owner, you need to take extra care of your pup's joint health.
Dogs are considered to be large breeds if they are likely to have an adult body weight of 20kg or over. This could include Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers and more obvious breeds such as Rottweillers.
Giant dog breeds and large breed dogs don't reach full skeletal maturity until they are around 18 months old.
Ensure you keep their formal exercise to a safe length, and consider introducing a joint supplement to their daily routine.
Overweight dogs have more joint stiffness
Excess weight puts a greater strain on your dog's joints, so it is important to ensure they stay healthy. Overweight dogs are also more likely to develop joint stiffness as they get older.
If you are going to have your puppy neutered, be aware that their nutritional requirements will decrease; however, their appetite may increase—so feed them the correct amount and use healthy, low-calorie treats.
Learn more about your dog’s weight and how it can impact mobility here.
Can you feed Antinol Joint Care Pro to a puppy?
Absolutely, yes! We recommend you wait until they are at least 12 weeks old and fully weaned—but Antinol is a fantastic way to support their lifelong mobility and joint health.
Not all dogs will need a joint supplement this early in life, but it is particularly important if you know they are a breed prone to joint stiffness, or if you plan to be very active—perhaps competing in agility, or they’re a working dog.
Learn more about the pros of early joint supplements here.
Now that you know how to keep your puppy’s joints healthy, you can head out and start your adventures together.
Are you looking to support your dog’s healthy mobility with a joint supplement? Order your pup’s Antinol Starter Pack, with a 60-day money-back guarantee!
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