08/11/2026
Thinking of starting agility or high-impact training with your pup? Read this first! 👇
We love seeing young dogs full of energy and eager to learn. Building confidence and bond through training is fantastic, but when it comes to physical activities like agility or intensive gun dog work, timing is everything.
As trainers, our number one priority is ensuring our dogs live long, happy, and pain-free lives. That’s why we always advocate for waiting until a dog is physically mature before introducing high-impact exercises.
Inside every puppy’s skeletal system are growth plates—areas of developing cartilage at the ends of the long bones. As your puppy grows, these plates are soft and highly vulnerable to injury.
Eventually, these plates calcify and "close," turning into solid bone.
• Small breeds: Growth plates typically close around 10–12 months.
• Medium to Large breeds (including most gun dogs): They often don't fully close until 12 to 18 months of age
The damage that can be done to their joints is significant. Even if the jumps are low, the quick turns, and changes of direction put a significant stress on soft joints, tendons and ligaments. Often the impact is not seen until later
In life. When a young dog with open growth plates repeatedly performs high-impact activities, it can cause micro-traumas to the joints. This can lead to long-term issues like early-onset arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, and developmental deformities.
You don't have to wait to start training! Early gun dog foundations and ‘puppy’ agility are great, provided they keep all four paws safely on or near the ground!
Before enrolling your young dog in any fast-paced fitness or agility course, always ask the instructor how they modify the equipment or course for a puppy’s/ young dog’s age and breed. A great trainer will always protect those joints first!
Keep the focus on mental stimulation and solid obedience now, and your dog’s body will thank you for years to come. Concentrate instead on building a close bond, developing steadiness and impulse control, teaching directional cues, engagement, play and reliable recalls.
Jacqui Sollars
APGI
