Puppy training for a healthy dog ​​body

– If the dog builds strong joints and good basic muscles at an early age, it will give the dog a good starting point for a healthy body in adulthood. Physical activity is important for the puppy to develop healthy and well-nourished joints that are less prone to injury, says Kristin Halle . She is a veterinarian with postgraduate training in veterinary chiropractic, osteopathy for dogs and horses, sports medicine for dogs and a specialization in neurology. Halle has completed all the advanced courses at IAVC - International Academy of Veterinary Chiropractic .

Activity is important for puppies

Physical activity is generally important for building a healthy and strong body that will last the dog's life. Physical activity should always take place on the puppy's terms, at a leisurely pace and with free expression. Gradually, you can gradually go for more and more walks as the puppy gets older. At the same time, it is important not to expose the puppy to frequent and heavy loads such as a lot of stairs and too much intensive play with sudden movements. Puppy life should consist of enjoyable activities with lots of exploration, enough rest and lots of fun.

Puppy training study

Kristin Halle says that studies have been done on training puppies. The studies showed that puppies who were allowed to move a lot (several kilometers a day, compared to a few kilometers a day) increased cartilage thickness, the content of glucosamine and glucans. This helps to “lubricate” the dog’s joints, among other things. The studies also showed that puppies who walked extremely far every day (40 kilometers every day) had, among other things, poorer cartilage formation. It was also negative for the puppy’s body with static ball throwing and intense play with other dogs – especially on hard and slippery surfaces.

Development for the puppy

The puppy needs to explore the world around him. They don't need to go on long walks on the asphalt on a leash. Instead, let the puppy sniff the flowers, stumble over twigs and learn to coordinate and balance his body on rough terrain without a leash. During the leash-training period, you can put a long leash on the puppy. It is important to remember that the puppy is like a baby. It is not how far you go that counts, but what the puppy experiences along the way. Kristin advises against taking the puppy on long jogging and skiing trips. - A puppy is terrified of being abandoned by the pack. It will follow its owner until it collapses, no matter how tired it is, she says.

Dog play

Playing and ball throwing consist of many sudden and intense movements. It is easier for injuries to occur when the growth zones in the joints are not closed. This does not mean that dogs should not play or socialize with other dogs. However, it may be a good idea to be aware of who and what kind of dogs the puppy plays with. Young dogs are often wild in play. Small dogs in particular can be injured in play with wild, large dogs. You can alternate between playing and going on quiet walks on a leash, having a treat hunt or going for walks in the forest with other dogs. They benefit greatly from learning to be calm around other dogs.

Forest walk with the puppy

– A good training session for your puppy could be to take a backpack and packed lunch with you on a walk in the forest. Sit down and let your puppy explore and roam around on his own. This will give him the opportunity to take breaks when he is tired, and be active when he is rested completely on his own terms. Let your puppy's paws get to know different surfaces, balance on tree trunks and other obstacles in the forest. If you see your puppy lying down, your puppy is tired. Then give him a longer break or carry him with you in a backpack.

Varied training

Kristin Halle recommends varied training. Both for the puppy and for the adult dog. Even if you are training an agility dog, it is at least as important, if not more important, to train in a variety of ways other than the agility course to avoid injuries. Everything from calm walks on a leash, to ski and mountain hikes, strength training, walking on rough terrain in the forest and in the mountains. Vary both gaits, intensity and length of the walks and training sessions.

The dog's body adapts

Many dog ​​owners, especially those with large breeds, are often advised to spare their dog as much physical stress as possible until it is about a year old. What is important to know is that the body adapts to the activity it is exposed to. If you wait until the puppy is a full year old before taking it on walks and activities, this could have negative consequences for the dog later. It is important to have regular physical activity from the puppy's young age, so that the body can adapt and not be shocked if the dog only starts moving at the age of one year. The physical build-up should happen gradually and calmly, but inactivity is directly unhealthy.

Stairs with dog

– Everything in moderation! There is a difference between living on the 4th floor of an apartment building and having to go up and down the stairs several times a day, and having a few steps that the puppy has to walk up and down every now and then, says Kristin. Walking up stairs can be a burden if done often and a lot. At the same time, the puppy should learn to coordinate its steps and walk up stairs at an early age, so that this does not become a problem when it gets older and you can no longer carry it. Everything in moderation!

Teach your puppy to calm down

Teaching puppies to be calm is something many people forget. If you take them on long walks every day and only expose them to high-intensity activities, you will quickly end up with a stressed dog that cannot calm down. Introduce one or more rest days a week early on, and make sure your puppy gets plenty of rest between each activity. You will get this back later, and it will be easier for your dog to adapt if you get sick or one day you don't have the opportunity for a long walk or a lot of activity. Not least, mental training is extremely important! Nose work in particular often has a calming effect on many dogs.

What is too much activity for a puppy?

Some puppies lie down or clearly show that they are tired and exhausted. In this case, it is important to listen to this and give the puppy a longer rest break. Many puppies can also increase their intensity when they are tired. They bite more, run more, and engage in an extra gear. They simply become overtired. If the activity they have been doing lasted a little too long, or contained too many impressions, the puppy can often struggle to find calm when it comes home. In this case, the best solution is to adjust the activity down, perhaps go for a shorter walk next time and help it calm down.

Enjoy your time with your puppy and take good care of it!