Running puppy ... any danger`

LittleLinus · Mar 10, 2016

Hello all,

Linus is doing really well, growing and becoming very social and active. Today at the dog park he was running around, having a great time. As he was zooming by us, a woman asked me if I was going to let him continue to run around, and wasn't I worried about his hips. When I asked her what she meant she replied that someone had told her that Frenchie puppies aren't supposed to run around very much because it can screw up their hips. I told her that I hadn't read anything about that, and that neither the breeder nor our vet had raised it as a concern.

Linus is a happy and healthy 19 week old puppy and he likes to run around and play with his dog pals. Should I limit his running? I'm aware of the breathing issues, it was nice out today but not too hot, and he had plenty of water available and he never got to panting stage. Now that this woman planted that idea in my mind I"m out to either confirm or disprove. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Nu2frenchie · Mar 10, 2016

I am very interested to see what others have to say about this.

blushy · Mar 10, 2016

In my opinion since frenchies are not an athletic breed, which is also predisposed to hip dysplasia, luxating patella, and also IVDD etc etc, I PERSONALLY believe that frenchies physical activity should be limited.

BUT I do not think that anyone should hold back their puppy or dog from playing just because of this reason, and I wouldn't walk up to someone with a dachshund who lets them jump and ask "oh gosh aren't you afraid they'll snap their back?"

As long as you are doing what you need to do to keep your pet happy and healthy, and your vet who you trust has no concern, I would continue as usual.

That's just my 2¢.!

Side note: I read so much online and most of it is horror stories of medical crisis and I have induced panic onto myself for everything health wise for frenchies as well, so that is a backing reason for my paranoia and believing that they should be limited.

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WeeDex · Mar 11, 2016

I have also read all the horror stories under the sun online! It's enough to make you crazy with paranoia of things that can go wrong with our pups / dogs!

I did ask my vet about this when Dexter was tiny, and he pretty much said what Blushy mentioned above. As long as you are with your pup supervising, they're not doing anything really crazy like running about until they're going to keel over, or jumping off things from a great height, then you should be ok.

There is no way we could ever have stopped Dexter from running around - he needed it to burn off all that puppy energy! I have noticed since having a Frenchie how many people like to share their opinion..... I know most people are somehow trying to be helpful, but they can be so wrong with their "advice" it's unreal!

MaplesMommy · Mar 11, 2016

Never would I hold my pup back from playing with others.
If this is ever needed then we should ask ourselves what this breed has turned into...
If a dog can't even play with others anymore.
I go jogging with Maple, she loves to play with other,especially larger dogs.

Did you make sure that his parents where patella /hip checked?

blushy · Mar 11, 2016

MaplesMommy said:
Never would I hold my pup back from playing with others.
If this is ever needed then we should ask ourselves what this breed has turned into...
If a dog can't even play with others anymore.
I go jogging with Maple, she loves to play with other,especially larger dogs.

Did you make sure that his parents where patella /hip checked?

I do agree with this and I do let my dogs run jump and play together.

But I personally limit them for my own sanity.

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hannah · Mar 11, 2016

I do not limit my dogs running? I have never heard of anyone doing this before unless they are injured in some way or told by a vet to rest for a certain reason. Banksy and aiko love to run and play and take a break when they are tired and know they need too. Sometimes I stop Banksy and give him water because he is quite intense and seems to forget he needs it. Aiko isn't that way. Then they either continue on or take a rest. I agree with [MENTION=377]MaplesMommy[/MENTION] it seems very odd to restrict your dog from being... a dog

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KimB3384 · Mar 11, 2016

I just had a good little laugh at the thought of trying to stop Beezy from running and jumping. I mean, it's just not going to happen. Our bed is really high and one of her favorite things to do is jump up there every morning while I'm getting dressed and then jump off when it's time to go downstairs for "Nut Butter Time". She'll also fly to the floor from the third or fourth step, just like a kid. Will she have issues when she's older? Maybe. But she might have had them regardless.

I can't stop my d00d from running 50-mile races and I can't stop my Frenchie from running and jumping. Nature is nature - whaddaya gonna do? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Squishy Walnuts · Mar 11, 2016

MaplesMommy said:
Never would I hold my pup back from playing with others.
If this is ever needed then we should ask ourselves what this breed has turned into...
If a dog can't even play with others anymore.
I go jogging with Maple, she loves to play with other,especially larger dogs.

Did you make sure that his parents where patella /hip checked?

Agreed. My dogs power walk with me every morning as well as play rough together.

2bullymama · Mar 11, 2016

We are lucky, Cheli is great at self regulating. He stops when he has gotten to tired or begins to get too hot.... I watch them closely and based on temperature (weather) and conditions -- I may limit the activity, but for the most part I just let them have fun and go!

Jakeyjake · Mar 11, 2016

A healthy happy puppy should be able to run and play. When I brought my two to the vet for the first time as puppies, he automatically x-rayed their spine to ensure there were no issues, since frenchies are prone. I do worry about jumping and injuries. They are never allowed to jump off of the bed, but when off leash at the beach it's game on and they run, play fetch and play with other dogs.

Jordanmyles · Mar 11, 2016

This is a great thread, as I am always wondering about this with Bella.

I am sometimes worried we are too active. Bella is unbelievable docile but as soon as we see another dog, start our walk, or I have a stick in my hand, she is crazy and there is no tiring her out. I've learned from observation that a 1 hour walk in the park plus all the mingling and hardcore playing with all the other dogs is still not enough. I've only ever seen her truly tired out after she had played with her English bully friend for hours and hours.

What I am learning with Bella is that her mind is much more active then her physical-self. I think in this case overexertion of muscles and joints is definitely a thing. Just like us, they can only handle so much before the body begins to breakdown. Furthermore, I think many of these dogs do not have the ability to self-regulate individual bouts of exercise and this is where the owners in some cases have to step in.

I think it comes down to how active you and your pup are, and if your personal opinion is to limit than go for it! I agree that many physical maladies could of happened anyway but many can and could be associated with over-exertion.

I have recently introduced some agility type exercises with Bella and it has made such a difference on her energy levels. Having her brain working along with her body has truly satisfied her. Yesterday, we ran across logs, along benches, jumped snow banks, and ran between pylons for 30 mins and Bella was exhausted.

I am thinking Agility classes are coming soon.

Alice Kable · Mar 11, 2016

Buster is half OEB, loves to run and jump and be very active. He wouldn't be a happy pup if I restricted his exercise!

WeeDex · Mar 11, 2016

This is a great thread! Sometimes I laugh when I see the "needs minimal exercise" comments against the breed type - Dexter didn't get that memo! Today I was wishing he had - he's never stopped!

Jakeyjake · Mar 11, 2016

WeeDex said:
This is a great thread! Sometimes I laugh when I see the "needs minimal exercise" comments against the breed type - Dexter didn't get that memo! Today I was wishing he had - he's never stopped!

Same with Stella! I swear she would play fetch until she collapsed. On warm days I am literally the one that has to put a stop to it :rundog: Working with the trainer also helps "tire" her out a bit as she is quite focused and exercising her little brain.

blushy · Mar 11, 2016

It seems like we all generally agree that we know what our individual dog needs/can handle, and that is exactly what we should do.

If they can run run run Til the sun don't shine? Good.
If they can't? Good.

Some of our frenchies are lazy, some are athletic. (Just like some of US I'm sure

)

I took Titan for a long walk, his little hips couldn't handle it, now he's limping and stiff? To me that's NOT worth it to constantly put him or myself through it? So I will definitely LIMIT his walking to shorter walks... That's just what we should do. Tailor our dogs activity to what they can do/need.

I also think as all of us are Frenchie owners so we know what to expect like was mentioned above, you can't control nature or fate. (I'd just like to hinder it a little bit!)

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Jakeyjake · Mar 11, 2016

blushy said:
It seems like we all generally agree that we know what our individual dog needs/can handle, and that is exactly what we should do.

If they can run run run Til the sun don't shine? Good.
If they can't? Good.

Some of our frenchies are lazy, some are athletic. (Just like some of US I'm sure )

I took Titan for a long walk, his little hips couldn't handle it, now he's limping and stiff? To me that's NOT worth it to constantly put him or myself through it? So I will definitely LIMIT his walking to shorter walks... That's just what we should do. Tailor our dogs activity to what they can do/need.

I also think as all of us are Frenchie owners so we know what to expect like was mentioned above, you can't control nature or fate. (I'd just like to hinder it a little bit!)

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Oh no, I just posted asking how he was doing. Are you going to get x-rays? [MENTION=894]blushy[/MENTION]

LittleLinus · Mar 11, 2016

Wow, thanks for all of the replies. I'm going to go about this the same way I did with my lab when he was a puppy, common sense and reason. I just wanted to be sure that I hadn't missed something.