running with poodle puppy

Question
I have a 5 month old small standard poodle puppy.  I started running with him and we go a little over 2.5 miles four days a week.  We've gone twice that far a couple other times. I just contacted his breeder and she said he shouldn't be running yet because it is bad for his joints since they haven't closed yet.  Is there a chance I've done damage to his joints?  And when can he run with me and how limited should it be?

Answer
Hello Judy,
The surface that your dog is running on would be a key factor in determining if your dog can run with you or not.  If you can run on a sidewalk where he can jog in the grass, it should be ok for him, but if he has to come in contact with the concrete or asphalt then it could hurt his joints.  One thing you could do that would be less stressful is to run maybe a 1/2 mile, then walk or power walk for a 1/2 mile.  Alternate running and walking, making sure that when he runs with you, that he is on the grass.  This should also help him.   
I wouldn't think that you have hurt him with the amount you have run so far, but to be on the safe side I would keep him from running unless he can run in the grass until he is at least 2 yrs old.  You also need to keep him from jumping on and off the couch, (you can bring him up or let him climb up, but no jumping on and mainly no jumping off the couch) and from jumping off porches, steps or into and out of a car.  It doesn't take much for them to land wrong (being puppies, their bodies sometimes go their own way) and that can lead to problems as they continue to grow.  

Another thing you can do is to feed him a diet that is made for large dogs.  Iams and Eukanuba (and many other fine dog foods as well) make a Large Breed Puppy food that you can feed to large breed puppies.  The food is suppose to contain supplements for growing bones and joints, and to provide support for the growing dog, since large breed dogs can grow too fast for their bones and joints.  You might look at the brand you are feeding and see if they have a Large Breed formula.  

I hope this helps you and your puppy some.  If you have other questions for me, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com
Kim