My new Newfoundland puppy and exercise.?

Question

I was thinking that it was a big dog and needed a lot of exercise, but something I read made me think again. What is the proper exercise for my 12 weeks old pup, and since he doesn't drool at all, does that mean he is a "dry mouth"?

Answer 1

Newfs do not generally require a lot of ecercise. They are happy to lay around and wait for something interesting to do. Some are higher energy than others....I have a bit ch that thinks she is a Lab :(
What you do not do is over-exercise a puppy and you NEVER walk them on hard surfaces like concrete or pavement. That puts too much stress on the growing bones and joints and can lead to hip and elbow problems.
A light walk on the grass a couple times a day and regular playing is all they require. Also make sure you are not keeping the pup on slippery flooring and NO STAIRS. Those, along with keeping the pup lean are the best guards against joint problems. Many people keep them in the kitchen area, which has slippery flooring. If that is the case, get cheap indoor/outdoor area rugs. You cna spray them off with the hose if need be, but they will provide better footing.
Most puppies will not drool at that age, although some do!! You may not know until later if he is going to be a heavy drooler. My boy was pretty dry until about 13 months, and now he is the worst drooler I have ever had.
There is no such thing as a "dry mouth" Newf. They all drool, it just depends on how much. I hope you were not sold a "dry mouth" pup!!!! That is a selling point used by poor breeders.

Good luck with him!!!

Answer 2

Rule of thumb is 1 minute for each week of the puppy's life, i.e 12 weeks - 12 minutes. Newfoundlands are very large breeds and, if excercised too much, can be prone to joint problems.

Your puppy is still very young and he won't need a lot of excercise yet. Natural play will be enough for him right now until his bones develop. You don't want to put too much strain on his joints.

12 week old puppies usually don't drool. If he is going to drool that will come later.

Wonderful breed. Enjoy him.

Answer 3

You probably won't get much drooling out of a 12 week old pup.

My Bernese are pretty low exercise compared with my Samoyeds.

Newfs are a giant breed, special care should be taken not to overstress their body as they grow, you'll also want to keep him a bit on the lean side as growing too fast can lead to structural issues (hip/elbow dysplasia).

Hopefully TorbayNewfs will chime in...