True or False?

The best way to exercise a puppy or dog is to take it for a walk every day.

FALSE!

Walks can actually be intimidating and overwhelming for many puppies! Did you also know that a puppy’s growth plates may not close until 18 months of age, making walking on pavement (the way humans go for a walk) potentially harmful to a growing puppy?

Did you know that there are at least five skill sets your dog needs to learn before he can walk nicely on leash?

Exercise for all dogs should meet the following needs:

• On Leash Exploration – also known as Adventure Walks or Sniff and Stroll Walks
• Free Exploration (especially for puppies) – the ability to approach and investigate sights, surfaces, and people at the puppy’s comfort level
• Brain Exercises – puzzles, mazes, and shaping exercises (mat training)
• Proprioception and Balance – over, under, around and through objects at the puppy or dog’s pace

Does any of that sound like a human’s version of “going for a walk?”

WALKING, WHILE BENEFICIAL FOR MOST HUMANS, IS NOT THE BEST TYPE OF EXERCISE FOR DOGS!