I have a 2 1/2 yr old black lab that is full of energy all the time. I take her out everyday for at least one hour but I will occassionally walk her for up to two hours. My friends say that I am walking her too long and too often, could taking her out for so long end up hurting her?
2007-01-24 02:01:43 · 13 answers · asked by Tri-Lambs 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Labs can run for many hours without hurting themselves. Unless she has a medical condition, she can handle two hours or more per day. 1 Hour is the bare minimum for a young lab like yours. If you notice her gait change, like shaking limbs or a less balanced looking walk, then she's overworked and needs rest. If she's panting a lot, make sure you bring a water bottle along on the walks. And make sure she's not eating immediately before or after walks, to prevent bloat which can be fatal. And if you live in a snowy climate, make sure you're keeping her paws in good shape by trimming the hair between the pads, and using vasoline or bag balm on the pads to keep them from cracking when they get too rough. Ice and salt are hard on them. Other than that, have fun and enjoy the exercise.
2007-01-24 02:44:39 · answer #1 · answered by Lindsey 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ha ha, I bet if you asked your dog this question, he'd say "Noooooo! Not possible! Hey, want to go for a walk?"
Labs have a ton of energy, and luckily they are also crazy about food, so they are always enthusiastic about anything having to do with food. I know a lot of labs who are great at Agility, playing Disc Dog (there's actually clubs you can join for this!) and flyball. You could look into a beginner clicker class in your area and go from there. I love that your dog is getting a lot of exercise, but you could balance that with some mental stimulation too - and teaching tricks with a clicker is a great way to do that.
2007-01-24 02:10:51 · answer #2 · answered by Misa M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leash walking should be done in 30min increments, 2 hrs is a good amount for a day so you should be walking her 4 times a day. Letting her outside to play on top of the walks is fine, she goes at her own pace then, runs if she wants to run, walks if she wants to walk, sits, lies down, etc. My only warning is that even though labs are not AS prone to bloat as other breeds, it can still happen. Do not walk her for more than enough time for her to potty or let her out for a serious romp 1hr b/4 and after eating
2007-01-24 02:13:35 · answer #3 · answered by GreyChevelle 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think so. My dog is a bundle of energy and we walk her for an hour a day or more sometimes. Sometimes we even take her to a tennis court and play fetch and such with her for another hour. After she is done, she STILL wants to play some more. If your dog cannot handle being walked that much, she will tell you in some way or another.
2007-01-24 02:39:35 · answer #4 · answered by bpbjess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How sad that only 1 person here touched on hip issues.
Labs are prone to hip displacia which may not have any symptoms until he's 4 or older. If you walk your dog that frequently, you could be causing trouble down the road. I'd recommend having your dog examined for early signs of displacia. If he's fine, then walk him as much as he wants to walk. Dogs will not push themselves beyond their limits.
2007-01-24 05:21:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lucky dog! Labs were bred to work all day so need plenty of exercise. Only word of caution is that Labs of prone to hip problems, so if your dog shows signs of lameness it might be worth checking with the vet. As long as she's fit & happy & doesn't show any signs of distress, she's fine.
2007-01-24 02:14:05 · answer #6 · answered by anwen55 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No I don't believe you're walking her to much. Just watch for signs of fatigue while on your walks. I've taken my girls out trick or treating for over 5 hours. They were wiped out at the end of the day but were good to go during.
Watch for her pads - if on concrete all the time you could wear them down and they might bleed (but that'll be rare).
Good Luck
2007-01-24 02:10:35 · answer #7 · answered by sillybuttmunky 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't see how it could, if anything your dog will be amazing shape. I was for a while walking my Schmitty (that's him in the pic) for about 2 or so hours a day then he had a nasty bout of arthitis and I stopped walking him and now that he is back to himself, i a trying to walk him AND me again.
2007-01-24 02:08:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the dog is happily walking along, she's fine. She's young enough to walk with you for two hours.
If she's dragging and looks unhappy then you may want to cut back.
2007-01-24 02:10:14 · answer #9 · answered by Bobbie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the occasional two hour walk is going to hurt if she's as energetic as you say. Just keep an eye on her if you feel concerned; if she starts straggling behind or panting alot it'll be safe to say that she's tired :P
2007-01-24 02:09:23 · answer #10 · answered by Jupiter583 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋