Hunter's Heart Brittanys - General Puppy Information

A puppy's skeleton isn't completely mature until 12 months of age.( The bones' growth plates fuse in the 7th month, but then the bones' undergoes a lot of remodeling i.e. the structure changes as the bones adapt to the stresses put on them.) While the bones are growing, it is not safe to over exercise your puppy.

It is important that you bring your puppy outside at an early age to get him used to all the smells & sounds. But is also important not to do any permanent damage to the puppy's growing skeleton. When you damage the skeleton, joint problems (e.g. some conditions resembling hip dysplasia) may result. Such problems are painful & may result in lameness.

Exercise Guidelines

photo: Chief running over the top of the wall in agility

There aren't any scientific studies to determine where, exactly, to draw the line between a good amount of exercise and over exercise. One jump or a single 40 minute hike for a 10 month old is probably reasonably safe, and may be impossible to avoid. But the more consistently you go beyond the guidelines, the greater the chances of injury.

Our veterinarian suggests the following guidelines for exercise until your Brittany reaches 12 months of age. These are only guidelines for healthy puppies; as always be aware of the risks and use your own judgment.

Don't walk your puppy for more than 30 minutes at a time. Two walks per day, each 30 minutes long is OK. (What you're trying to minimize is the stress of repeatedly jarring the joints without a rest.)
Playing fetch is OK, within reason. For example, you wouldn't want to throw an object over 50 feet, 20 times in a row for your puppy to retrieve. But feel free to play fetch in the house, especially in bad weather or if you (the human) are recovering from an injury like a broken leg.
Don't let an older, larger dog or human set the pace for a puppy. You don't want to force your puppy to keep up to you beyond the point of what hurts him. Since puppies want to please their human master(s), the puppy will try his best to keep up, even if it hurts him. So it is not a good idea to ride your bicycle or rollerblades & expect your puppy to follow alongside.
If possible, don't let your puppy jump out of your car. Put on his leash & then lift him out. Obviously, most puppies must get used to going up & down stairs. But don't have extended play periods where your puppy is chasing people up & down stairs.
Be careful how you lift & carry your puppy. You put a lot of stress on your puppy's elbows if you use them to support his weight. (This could potentially lead to an elbow dislocation.) You also put a lot of stress on a pup's bladder & abdominal organs if you lift him by placing your hand under his lower belly. (Have you ever had someone press on your lower belly when you have to go to the washroom?)

Some agility instructors suggest that you don't teach a puppy weave poles until 18 months, since the side to side motion puts stress on the back and spine. Personally, I introduce the weave poles by putting them in my living room or backyard to month old puppies. This familiarizes them with the appearance of obstacle. By 6 months of age, I might encourage the puppy through a set of 6 poles with gates, lured by food, 2 times in a row, as an introduction. But as for 5-15 minute sessions to work on really learning to weave with speed or accuracy, I do wait until 18 months to be safe. Moderation is the key.

HAVING YOUR PUPPY SPAYED or NEUTERED

We strongly recommend that you spay or neuter your puppy at 6 months of age. There are many reasons to do this. At the very least, "fixing" your puppy will prevent surprise heat & mating & unwanted puppies! If a breeder requires that you sign a non-breeding agreement before you purchase a puppy, it's a good sign that the breeder is responsible.

For more information about "fixing" your puppy, click on
To "Fix" or To Breed?.