Am I over-excersing my 6 month old working cocker

Question

Megan   QUESTION: Hi, I'm really worried that I'm over-exerting my 6 month working Cocker puppy.  She loves all that I can throw at her but I keep reading in articles that I can damage her growth plates by over doing it.  I checked with my vet who said that if there are no signs of exhaustion it should be fine in a Cocker.  Currently she gets 3 walks including ball lobbing of about 45 minutes each a day or could do a big walk of up to 4 hours and still wants to chase and play.

Please put my mind at rest or tell me to slow it down, her health is paramount.

ANSWER: Megan sure looks up to it :) and usually I have the opposite problem - trying to persuade people they actually DO have to walk their dogs.

At 6 months she's still in a massive growth spurt and I certainly disagree with your vet about waiting for "signs of exhaustion".  So yes, I think you're overdoing it a bit.  3 walks a day of an hour each is PLENTY!  When she's over a year and isn't using up everything just "growing" then you can increase to her limits.

But I must say, she's a lucky girl and I do hope you're feeding a really premium food?
Exercise and nutrition are the most important things !
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Megan   QUESTION: Hi Delores,

Thanks for your answer, it really put my mind at rest.  Just one follow up, what's your opinion on jumping and tumbling after chased balls, should I prevent her from doing it, try to keep it to a minimum or feel its all good exercise and probably won't do her any harm in the long term.

Thanks again for your time and here's another picture of her at play.

Paul.

Answer
Watch that!  She can really hurt herself.  I'd chill on the ball throwing..she's getting plenty of good exercise.

At this age think of her as a human toddler whose bones are still soft and growing rapidly.
One wrong "twist" or "bad landing" and it can be big trouble.  Pain for her and expense and trauma for you.

Delores