CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER

Health and nutrition, part 2.

The importance of exercise.

In our experience, exercise is just as important as proper nutrition for a growing puppy. Some breeders advise against hard exercise because of study results released many years ago. The study showed that puppies genetically prone to hip dysplasia did not develop clinical signs or had less severe hip dysplasia when they spent most of their time confined in small enclosures. This technique is not a reasonable or humane one for pets.

Lack of exercise, masking or creating a problem?

We have always felt that a minimum exercise routine might mask the tendency for bad hips. We think it is more important from a breeder's perspective to find out which lines have the best hips, even though some hopefuls may fail OFA or OVC certification.

No muscles, not good for hip development.

Running a boarding kennel and training clients dogs has been a real eye opener. Most of the dogs that come into the kennel are overweight and have little or no muscle tone. Various research seems to indicate that hip health and muscle mass are related. What we observe in our own dogs seems to confirm this idea.

What kind of exercise is best?

Our puppy exercise program changes with the seasons. Swimming is excellent but not an option during our long winters. Long runs in the field are great but must be limited in hot weather. The time you spend one-on-one with your pup will help mental development as well as physical. Below are lists of good & bad exercise for different age groups.

CAUTION

Dogs overheat more easily than humans. Do not exercise pups in the hottest part of a summer day. Swimming is the best exercise when the weather is really hot. Young pups do not have much stamina. If the pup is tiring, take a break to let the pup rest or even have a short nap.

PUPS 6 TO 16 WEEKS

Good exercise for young pups.

Off leash walks in woods or fields, distance increasing with age.
Wading & swimming in warm water.
Snow swimming- short walks in fairly deep, soft snow. Make sure the pup isn't freezing his "undercarriage" where the hair is thin or nonexistent.
Fun retrieves in the yard.
Playing with other pups of similar size.
On leash walks. Better than nothing but pup should have a chance to run, not just walk slowly.

Poor exercise routine.

Jogging on hard surfaces.
Retrieving through ditches narrow enough to jump. Jumping puts a lot of strain on the front quarters.
Swimming or retrieving in cold water might give the pup a bad attitude about water.
Opening cupboard door to get dog food.

FOUR TO EIGHT MONTHS

Good exercise for the older pup.

Land & water retrieving.
Off leash walks.
Longer distance swimming, perhaps behind a rowed boat or canoe. If the pup tires, let it ride in the boat for a while.
Light duty pulling. We use a regular sledding harness, attaching a check cord or flexi lead to the tug ring. Encourage the pup to go out to the end of the lead and gradually apply pressure. You can regulate the amount of pressure by pulling back or speeding up. Do this for short periods and alternate with attaching the lead to the collar and walking without pulling. There should be separate commands for each activity.

Poor exercise.

Jogging long distances on hard roads.
Jumping ditches and landing on unyielding surfaces. Young pups tend to "bounce" but bigger ones land heavily.
Activities involving high speed and fast turns. This is hard on the cruciate ligaments.
Watching Super Dogs on television.

OVER 8 MONTHS TO MATURITY

How they should look.

With a proper amount of exercise, dogs this age should have well developed thigh muscles, well muscled but not "loaded" shoulders, good tuck-up and moderate to excellent endurance.

Suitable exercise for the maturing dog.

They can gradually be introduced to pulling heavier weights, always with a well fitting harness not a rope tied around the neck! The goal is to build up muscle in the rear legs not develop an iron neck.

Bicycle rides or jogging.

Once obedience training is well established, the pup can be taught to trot at heel beside a bicycle. The pup should always be on leash or attached to a device on the bicycle. The ones I have seen advertised are called "Springers". It may take a while to find the right speed so the dog can stay at a trot, a good endurance gait.

By this age, pups can go jogging with you for a good distance. Always remember to watch your dog for signs of overheating or dehydration. Carry water for both of you or plan your route to take breaks by a pond or lake where the dog may safely drink and/or swim.

Retrieving training for fitness.

If you have been training your pup for hunting or competitions, he/she has learned to run over uneven terrain, coping with ditches and other obstacles. You still have to think for your pup. Enthusiasm will override natural caution and could put the pup at risk for serious injury. Always check out the terrain for unseen holes, ditches, metal stakes or shards of glass. No mark is important enough to put your dog at risk. Accidents happen but most injuries can be avoided by careful planning.