How much exercise your puppy should have is a topic that is often discussed. You may have heard about the 5 minute rule (5 minutes of exercise per month of age) but it’s important to know that there’s no scientific evidence behind this rule.
Regular exercise will help your puppy to become a strong, confident and fit adult, but it’s important to avoid over-exercising them while their bones are still forming.
Puppies that are exercised too much, or do too much high impact exercise, are at risk of joint and bone damage, which can lead to conditions such as arthritis and hip dysplasia.
However, limiting your puppy’s exercise too much could cause boredom, frustration and lead to behavioural problems.
The risks of bone damage is all to to with not causing damage to the growing bones and joints. Before a puppy has fully skeletally mature there is a risk of damage to the growth or epiphyseal plate.
The epiphyseal Plate is the area towards the end of the bones of the limbs where the growth occurs. Before these areas are fully developed they are more susceptible to injury.
At birth, the fetal cartilaginous skeleton of the canine is almost completely replaced by bone. Ossification is the process of laying down new bone, this occurs in the central part of the long bone (diaphysis). The existing cartilage is covered with an outer layer of bone-forming columnar cartilage. As the cortex thickens capillary vessels sprout and supply nutrients, osteoblasts and osteoclasts to the diaphysis enabling endochondral ossification. This process continues with osteoblastic cells replacing hyaline cartilage to bone(Dirsko 2009).
The diaphysis develops first in the foetus. Primary ossification happens in the diaphysis of the long bones and new bone is laid down towards the ends of bones.
Olsson 2002 (as cited in Dirsko 2009) stated that secondary ossification occurs at the epiphysis when osteoclasts remove bone from the diaphysis to the end of the bones. These areas remain cartilage to enable bones to lengthen until maturity when the epiphysis is replaced by bone. The epiphysial plate is then responsible for the growth of bone in length. The vascular reserve zone cartilage is responsible for the growth of the epiphysis toward the joint (Boskey 2002 as cited in Dirsko 2009).
These growth plates close at different times depending on the bone type, body region, breed and gender. The following diagram shows the open growth plate on the left and the closed one on the right.
Growth plates – What are they (2024)
Table 1 gives a guide as to how specific breeds may vary in their times of rapid growth and full skeletal maturity. Table 2 shows the different areas of the body and when it is likely for the epiphysial plate to close.
Table 1: Table depicting dog size, Typical Breeds, Average Weights and Growth Timescales. Lewis G, (2019)
Table 2: Approximate Ages for Epiphyseal Plate closure. Lewis G, (2019)
So to prevent numerous conditions such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia until your puppy has reached maturity caution has to be exercised in order to avoid any damage. Factors that should be considered are:
Age: The older your puppy gets, the more exercise they can do. Just remember to always keep an eye on them and encourage them to rest if they show signs of getting tired.
Size: It’s important to know roughly how long your dog will be growing for, because until they are fully grown, their joints and growth plates will be at risk of damage if they do too much exercise. Most dogs are fully grown by one year of age, but larger breeds such as Greyhounds, Labradors, Dobermans and Great Danes can take as long as 18 months to 2 years to reach full size!
Breed: Are they at risk of joint problems? It’s especially important to exercise your puppy sensibly if they are a breed that’s at risk of joint conditions such as hip dysplasia. If you are worried about your puppy’s joints, avoid high intensity activities, discourage them from jumping up and skidding, and speak to your vet for advice.
Lifestyle: Feeding your puppy a healthy diet is just as important as exercise when it comes to their growing bones, because carrying additional weight on their body can put pressure on their joints.
Play, short walks and training are all great activities to build your puppy’s fitness, strength, confidence and social skills. Here are some top tips for exercising your pup:
Play, play, play: Playing with your pup at home and in the garden is a great way to keep them physically and mentally active. Just keep in mind that they also need lots of sleep, so allow them to rest when they get tired.
Walking: Walks are a lovely way to exercise your pup. Puppy walks are mostly about exploring the world and experiencing new sights, sounds and smells in a positive way. Always build your pup’s walking stamina gradually and if they get tired, stop to let them rest until they’re ready to walk again – and don’t forget to leave them with enough energy to get home!
Running around: It’s fine to let your puppy run around freely at their own pace at home and in your garden, but it’s not appropriate to take them out for a run because it’s too intense for their growing bones.
Training: Teaching your pup some basic commands is a great way to keep their mind stimulated, and can be just as tiring as playing/going for a walk. Remember to keep sessions short and enjoyable and let your pup rest once they’ve had enough.
Thinking activities: Keeping your puppy’s mind active is just as important as physical exercise. You can do this by making them puzzle feeders and snuffle mats – it’s a great way to keep them out of trouble!
There are a few things you can do to keep your puppy safe while they’re exercising:
Make sure they are fully vaccinated before exercising them in public spaces.
Limit high impact exercise such as jumping, twisting and skidding.
Keep exercise sessions short and allow them to rest as much as they need.
If you notice them getting tired but not stopping to rest, pop them on their lead and take them out of the situation to recover for a few minutes.
Cover any slippery floors in your home to protect their joints.
Avoid long walks, hikes and activities such as running and cycling until they are fully grown, and always build their fitness up slowly.
Boskey AL 2002 as cited in Dirsko J F von Pfeil 1, Charles E DeCamp (2009). The epiphyseal plate: physiology, anatomy, and trauma. Compend Contin Educ Vet . , [online] 12(8), pp.1–11. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19866441/ [Accessed 25 Apr. 2024].
Olsson SE, Ekman S. 2002 as cited in as cited in Dirsko J F von Pfeil 1, Charles E DeCamp (2009). The epiphyseal plate: physiology, anatomy, and trauma. Compend Contin Educ Vet . , [online] 12(8), pp.1–11. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19866441/ [Accessed 25 Apr. 2024].
Growth plates – What are they 2024 Filigold Golden Retrievers https://filigrigold.com/carehealth/ Accessed 22/04/24
Lewis G, 2019. Musculoskeletal Development of the Puppy: Birth to Twelve Months. [online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333118590_Musculoskeletal_Development_of_the_Puppy_Birth_to_Twelve_Months. Accessed 13/04/24
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