10/30/2024
"Today we bring you the explanation of why we should not perform intense physical exercise with puppies until minimum 18 months - 24 months.
โจPuppy growth rates vary (greatly) by sizeโจ Large/Giant size dogs will obviously need longer to fully mature, I for instance have an American Bully Bloodline that takes a LONG time to fully mature (Seeing GrCh Prince Charmer from 3 to 6 years old is a crazy visual for most people but does show the overall mass put on as the dog matured so good bone structure & care was crucial for him)
It's important to adapt diet and exercise to your puppy s' specific requirements to ensure ideal skeletal development.
Endochondral ossification (the process during which cartilage turns into bone) differs according to the adult size of your puppy, with closed growth plates (once complete ossification has occurred) between 3 months in toy breeds and 24 months in large breeds (see photo).
There are many factors affecting growth rate and maturity age, for example, *males* mature more slowly than females.
There are variations in periods of 'fast growth' ranging from birth to 11 weeks in toy & small dogs.
Large breeds range from birth to 20 weeks (Hawthorne et al 2004) excessive exercise and inadequate nutrition during these periods can lead to conformation and malformation of bones, which can lead to osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.
Recommended exercise levels for puppies are 1 minute for each week of their life, twice a day.
****This should always be low impact & at a steady pace****.
If your goal is to train to compete for precision coursing, flyball or agility (for example), it is recommended to avoid any jump training until full ossification has occurred.
This is what we mean when we tell you *not* to rush with your pups, work on other things with them in the "growth stage". Work their minds (obedience, leash training), nose (lots of "find it" and puzzle games), worry about proper socializing and desensitizing. You have plenty of time to get into sports and/or heavier impact hobbies when they are at full growth maturity.
After taking your time in the development months and making the corresponding plates "fit well" together, consult your veterinarian if your dog is 100 % for sport". by JL Sippel & slightly edited