How Much Exercise and Socialization Does Your Puppy Need? 

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I've had a bunch of labs. My current chocolate lab started going on adventures when she was 8 weeks old. We stopped in a national park on the way from the breeder and she started learning from my other dog right then and there. By the time she was 14 weeks old, she had been in 3 national parks, 2 national wildlife refuges, seen bears, gators, otters, snapping turtles, and more. She started on the agility equipment at 14 weeks (at an age appropriate level, of course). By the time Dixie was 6 months old, there wasn't much in the world that she hadn't seen. Trains, cars, cornfields, crowds, stores, you name it. Guess what? She is the happiest, healthiest dog I've ever had. She has the confidence to tackle any situation with style. She'll try anything I ask. Why? She trusts me, as Stonnie says, to never put her in a position that will harm her. Sure, dad, I'll try that! That leads her being willing to try new things. She trusts that the game is a good idea and she knows she has the ability, whatever it is. She has awesome proprioception which leads to more confidence and the ability to excel in anything physical. Would she have been this way if I didn't socialize her and expose her to the world? I doubt it. And by the way, guess what she isn't? Fat! I was at the vet the other day and he commented, "it's such a relief to see a lab that isn't overweight!" Stonnie, I couldn't agree with you more. Too many people teach their dogs and their children to be timid in life. Let's think about our responsibility to the kid or the dog and do what we can to teach them how to function at a high level in this big world of ours.

I agree 100%, “exercise exposes issues.” I am a Physiotherapist and I tell that to my patients everyday.

Stonnie I just watched a documentary I think you would enjoy. It's called "Happy People: A Year in the Taiga". It's about trappers/hunters in Siberia. A big part of the movie is their relationship with their dogs. One of the guys says "if you take a puppy in the house, and raise it there for 6 months, it can never handle the Taiga".

I thought when people say to restrict exercise, they mean don't take your 8-week-old puppy out for a 5-mile run. There's a difference between letting them exercise and forcing them to exercise.

Totally agree on this!! I will say I think a lot of this comes from today’s society of liability and fear though. My no nonsense vet told me something similar about not exercising a puppy too hard but she also clarified that she meant “don’t get an 8 week old puppy and take it on your daily 5 mile run” Rather than have common sense I think too many vets and breeders just don’t want to be sued and labelled to have a defective bloodline. So it’s all “don’t exercise them” nonsense no one with common sense should take literally.

When I adopted my Catahoula/BMC mix she was 3 and from a shelter. She had never seen stairs. I lived in a 3rd floor apartment with no elevator. It never even occurred to me that a dog could have no experience with stairs. I carried her (50lbs) for 2 days before I was done. I leaned heavily into exposure at that point. She went to the park and walked, but also just observed her surroundings while sitting down. A lot of times the behaviors and reactivity are triggered by lack of exposure. The more they see the less exciting things are, the calmer life is.

My German shepherd pup is now 7 1/2 months old. I have been taking him to city parks where there are children’s playgrounds. He goes up the stairs and down small slides. Different parks have different toys that I can put him on for enrichment. Before he had all his vaccinations, when I watched one of stony’s videos about going to a skate park to help your dog, I would take him to the skate park and let him go up and down and over the ramps. He really enjoys it.

Showing this little curly coated girl going through the tunnel is brilliant.

I’m in England and we just got a working line Labrador puppy a couple of weeks ago - we have been out adventuring straight away, learning and having fun. You have been a massive influence and inspiration, your videos never fail to bring joy to learning ❤

I agree with the exercise and socialization that you show on your videos. You are developing their confidence and also their coordination. However some new pet owners don't use common sense. When you say puppies need to get out and exercise, some people will take it to mean exercise like they themselves would exercise. I know a few who wanted a dog to run with them went they went out running, and they would get a puppy and take it running with them to "learn how to run with them". Miles of continuous running on hard pavement is not good for developing bodies of young (

I let my nine month old Swissy get the zoomies in a ploughed field. He fell over twice in the first minute but soon learned how to navigate the mounds & ruts and then used them to his advantage to boost off and over. It was magical to watch him learning in such a small time frame. A small risk of a pull or trauma yes, but he's still like elastic at the moment and I'd rather he learn now than when he's 18 months old and carrying most of his adult weight & bulk. Learning by doing at it's best 😉

I totally agree with this common sense! I shudder to think how many people think they're doing their dog good by leaving them in a crate all day :( The puppies in your video are some lucky dogs

Thanks so much for your videos Stonnie! ...I have a 10 week old Hungarian Vizsla who loooves adventuring on the hills at our place in New Zealand. I've been keeping his walks relatively short at his pace due to the advice not to over exercise but he hasn't read the 'expert' advice and runs around with the zoomies jumping and sprinting back and forth in the grass. He's in his element and needs to get it out of his system before he can relax. If I try and put him to bed too soon he's frustrated so I've just let him do his thing at his pace. Thanks for easing my mind that it is ok to let a puppy be a puppy and express his little wild and free spirit! :)

Stonnie, certain dogs I work with I use a bicycle to teach them rules and obedience. I generally start by walking the dog along with the bike and when they are ready we go 5-8 mph at their natural pace. Many people say this running is bad for puppies. I give dogs freedom from their home life and improve their physiology and social skills. We all need appropriate exercise and puppies need to start training and working. I’ve heard it all before vets, breeders, trainers and owners. Accidents and falls are the only trauma caused by exercise in the environment.

I've met these people that say puppys shoulndt do anything, with out exception they either dont own dogs or have dogs where the dog walks them not the other way around and they are constantly complaining about their dogs bad behaivor. I'm watching your videos with my 2 year old golden retriver (she likes watching the puppys on the tv:) that i trained using methods like yours. I used the "superdog" program from the army training guidlines which is basicly just what stoney teaches but writen down as a rule set so every army solider can do it and not mess it up.

We have a Bernese mountain dog that is now 7 months old. Folks told us the same thing about not letting climb steps and everything else. Didn't really agree with those opinions. At this point we think he is half billy goat!! His strength and agility is incredible. It is amazing what he climbs. Just waiting to see him in a tree like a cat. Thanks for the content, this is the first I came across your page.

I’m guessing the owner of the largest black dog- my guy plays intense frisbee three times a day, goes on community trails, gets socialized in parking lots when we pick up groceries where we sometimes meet homeless individuals when walking around buildings- he’s a Black Czech line GSD and I’ve done these types of things with him from 8 weeks of age. Love this dog

Ive heard a lot of people say that with mastiff breeds and a few others. Doesn't really make sense, I'd get not running them for miles and miles, using weighted vests or sled pulls etc on a puppy but going for walks, hikes , up n down stairs I don't see as a bad thing. Everything in moderation and just use common sense.

I agree with Stonnie, you can see he has proven results. I learn a lot. The excercise is key.

Dear dear Stonnie, What a Great mix of puppies!! The Aussie reminds me of my 7yr old red tri girl. She still acts like a pup. God help me if I skimp on her exercise. It is always a treat to be outside and just being together. Common sense. My favorite part of you and your style. FUN and common sense. We love our hikes and impromptu brush piles!!!LOL

Hank is like the leader of the pack now...he is a keeper

They’re all awesome having fun none of them needed to go to their kennel and wait till they were 18 mos…….

Awesome training advice! Thank you

One of your best vids, Stonnie! Adventure thearpy is the best treatment for any puppy. Also, camera man got the absolute cutest shot from 20:14 until the end omg!!

Wise words from Uncle Stonie👍🏼🐾

So good and so right. I want to set up something like this out in my yard. It all gives you pups confidence and ability.

I love watching your videos, I do agree with you on this exercise subject too!

I think the big retriever pup’s breeder said no exercise to 18 mo. Great video and spot on with managing exercise when they’re in geriatric years. My old dogs could only make it around the farm once and then we gradually went down to 50 ft walk, bless them-still miss those great dogs

I would watch this video just to enjoy the puppies all together, the learning and advice is a bonus.

Great video Stonnie, with MUCH needed advice! After 32 years with a couple of Labs at all times, the only potential for hazard is wearing out a dog during water retrieval. I knew someone whose puppy drowned, because the dog kept wanting the bumper thrown.

love the Honda and the training sir. excellent work

I’ve a border collie with me for residential training. If he didn’t get sufficient exercise he will destroy the place. He goes all day at 14 weeks so what can exercise with me do that’s worse than him bouncing off walls himself. The 5 min rule was a nonsense and you’re right exercise shows issues not creates. A they done in U.K. a couple of years ago showed no link between exercise in puppies and hip or elbow dysplasia, conditions are genetic. Thanks for your very been a huge influence on my dog training style over the years

I’ve been hiking a lot with my almost 5 month beagle , she’s loving it and her recall is stronger for it I think and we incorporate a few short bursts of running.It’s been awesome, the only thing I haven’t had to much success in is finding ways for her to be able to play with other doggos

Thanks Stonnie. my baby girl Nova(blonde lab) is almost 7 months now, just weighed her at 49 pounds today at the vet. I have been very hard on myself when it comes to exercising her to much and letting her eat things she shouldn't but also trying to let her be a dog, enjoy some off leash freedom. Love your videos and I try my best to emulate your methods as best as possible.

Stonnie, you have the greatest job ever. You are a lucky man. I love your videos and your style.

I agree absolutely. I trust Mother Nature.

Just my 2 cents on this from my experience purchasing various retriever breeds over the years from reputable breeders here in Michigan. Most come with a guarantee on hip dysplasia with fine print of course. I have always observed each dog as I raise them and let them adventure with me in the wood, water and so on. The dog will tell you enough is enough during or after real world adventures. I have never had a problem and my vet agrees with my approach even when it does not agree with the breeder. There are steps you can take and do with your vet to confirm issues but costs are high but worth it if you are concerned. Stoney is spot on. Love your life with your dog and adventure as much as possible just watch the pup and adjust.

I think some breeders are worried about getting injured puppies returned to them so that's why they say not to exercise.

Ive had my pup at 8 weeks old working him,playing with him everyday even in the snow ,rain ,heat and windy days for hours now my lab is two and solid and strong. We feed him, Beaverdam dog food with chicken breast ( cooked ). Cooper has developed into a good sound dog with voice commands fetching a bumper

Wow thanks Stonnie! So right on, that stupid advice from those docs & breeders leads to them being abandoned for "bad" behavoir😢

My friends veterinarian told her not to give her puppy any beef because that would raise his cholesterol. Can you believe this? Stonnie, you are absolutely right that regular moving/exercising is does not cause problems. Please let us know what you feed your dogs. Also any additional health advice would be greatly appreciated. It is my experience that most breeders and trainers give better health advice than veterinarians.

100% Agree!!!!!!

I recently acquired a mix breed puppy born December 15th of last year. I was wondering if she was getting too much exercise playing with my 5-year-old beagle. She plays hard for about an hour and then sleeps for about an hour. She is so cute how she runs, she looks like a movie on fast-forward. I started wondering if maybe she should not be playing so hard, but she really loves it. Her sire was a full-blooded GSP, and her mother was a Brittany Spaniel/Golden retriever mix. From your channel, I found that the father is a very energetic breed. Your video helped me realize it is good for her to explore and enjoy the physical activity at her age. I really like your homemade course and might even try to make one for my backyard.

I am sitting here with my seven month old golden retreiver. She spent the last hour and a half feverishly expelling energy and then plopped down to nap. When she gets up, she will run ten acres, jump in the pond, chase frogs and watch fish jump from the dock, do a long leash walk once or twice. I can't believe someone would say to not let a puppy do all of this until 18 mos. old? Bizzare.

13:50 stonnie is just chatting away. Meanwhile that little gold pup is having the struggle and subsequent revelation of his little life to date 😂

How cool would it be to have a doggie day care, Stonnnie style? My grandma always had a pack of dogs. She had a large yard and always took them on adventures in the woods once a week. She was a gentle leader and so good to her dogs.

In Germany we have the saying "Was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr." I try to translate - "something, the young Hans doesn't learn, the older Hans will never learn it."

Thats not strenuous exercise its gentle and enjoyable for the pups. Lucky little dotes❤ they are learning how to get along with other dogs socialising is so important

I have a 1yr Catahoula doing fast cats lol she's been doing lots of stuff since she was 6 months

Do not blame that misconception to postpone activity in dogs until after one year on "smart" people. The "tendon unit’ is a metabolic and functional structure enabling muscles to integrate with the skeleton. It modifies its structure based on the mechanical load that you apply to it. This releases growth hormones that strengthen tendons and ligaments. "You are never doing them any favors by not putting them in situations" where they cant work their tendons and muscles (quote from video). The worst thing you could do is wait a year and then thrust the dog into a robust exercise regimen. GSP mixes generally are cool dogs, like the one in this video. You created a challenge for the female catahoula with scooter, she wont like to be beaten by other dogs in games of fetch and chase. Good to socialize catahoula.

❤ there is hardly anything better than puppies tumbling and playing and experiencing the world. I would guess the golden retriever, but if that’s to protect hips, maybe breed a different pair, and protect the hips before birth.

🇮🇪 Good video sharing brilliant

Failure will give the dog something to look for to challenge them. How they take direction how they can be part of a team.

Brilliant post. Was it the long-haired golden retriever’s vet that said to limit its exercise?

NONE! I don’t think any of them would have benefited from not being exercised but my guess is that it was the Curly Coated Retriever breeder!🤷‍♀️ Keep up the amazing videos, Stonnie, my husband and I love watching them!!

Muscle, bones, and joints react to rigorous stimuli in the way of strengthening. If a puppy is not allowed to develop in a reasonable way, it would probably be prone to more injuries if it was introduced to those rigors at a later age.

Les chiots ont besoin de vivre des expériences ça c’est certain ! J’aime vos propos ! Pour mes chiens de 2 mois à 18 mois on ne fait pas travailler fort mais on fait beaucoup de choses.

Dogs need to do fun and interesting stuff while they are puppies

This type of advice reminds me of the “boys and men shouldn’t lift weights 🏋️‍♀️ until their growth plates are closed at age 20” advice from auntie types in the 1970s and 1980s. It took Arnold Schwarzenegger himself saying there is no evidence for that thinking for it to really go awat.

I’m an American, but lived in London for 20 years. Dog culture is very different there (in a good way). Socialization is a massive priority. Good vets have puppy socials starting at a very young age (after their first round of shots). To them the benefit of socialization far outweighs the risk of illness. You can find puppy socials in the US, but they are rarer and start at an older age.

I think all the exercises and different training is great but we were careful about our mastiffs and our other big dogs jumping out of the jeep or off high beds.

The lack of experience shows when ppl think not allowing a puppy to exercise bc their growth plates are still growing. Exercise doesn’t cause problems it reveals problems.

I think it's the golden breeder who say it

One of my puppy behaviorist/trainer said no excessive exercise or intense exercise, like wild jumping and leaping from heights until my pup was older, about 8 months. This not to cause potential damage to joints, bones, ligaments. She was all about exercise, just low intensity while the pup was young. Maybe the person whose breeder said to exercise meant no aggressive exercise until the dog was older. Regardless, movement is good for growing pups.

I think all the dogs you had out today were fine doing everything that you had laid out. Their muscles and joints were well able to deal with exercise. I feel if you had giant breeds you have to be careful of hips and joints but all the things you have on your course looked fine it wasn't too high we had a cane corso bitch who had hip dysplasia. So we're cautious.she had a good life and lived until she was 14 yrs old.

Hi Stonnie, Love your channel that I just found. If you have time, I would love to hear your opinion on ticks and tick disease prevention in dogs given that you are out in the country in The South. Do you have a dog, tick disease problem in your area and what do you do for prevention? I am much more interested in your experience than the text book advice from my veterinarians in California. Thanx

A young puppy can learn better then an adult dog

My English Cream Golden Retriever broke her leg at 5 months old. After surgery, she had to be confined to a kennel for three months. It drove her crazy not being able to get exercise. She is an over hyper dog now. I think partly because she was kenneled for such long periods of time with no exercise.

Hello form Yorkshire, England. It's a weird trend for breeders and trainers, but hearing the 10min per month thing more and more. Seems insane to me, young things want and need to run and play. No dog( or child) is better off being told to sit still all day, they will let you know when they have had enough.

If the suggestion was really to not let the dog go up and down stairs, then I have to change my guess. The hound didn’t have a per se breeder, and most of the other dogs would be too big to carry down stairs at 18 mos, so my detective skills from British mysteries say it’s the Springer.

Definitely that purple dog would have been better off without exercise 😅. One of our breeders told us that. We of course socialized and exercised him he’s almost 10 going strong

@Stonnie I'd like to get an LGD (preferably an Anatolian Shepherd). Do you have any experience/ videos/ advice regarding training them? Thanks.

Yeah I don't know Stonnie, I think those dogs need to be resting in the den for another year 😂 Looks like a beautiful late winter day out there.

I understand what you are saying but I didn’t see any dogs really pounding jumping running etc. I have a 50% Aussie mix 6 1/2 months old. She is SUPER active. Since 2 months old she would run like a whippet. Tumble, roll, jump, leap!!! I didn’t see any of theses dogs that active.. I have a lot of stairs too. What’s done is done because I did not hear anything about keeping her still until recently. I could tell you one thing though. There is no way she would do well with no exercise as a pup. I just hope she IS ok …

I think your perspective makes more sesnse, but I dont know much about dogs' growth and development. It seems to me the dog would be MORE prone to injury if its excercise was limited until it was grown. I would have thought that it's more important to develop strength, flexibility, and balance when they're small to protect their joints as they grow.

That’s strange for a breeder to say that. True you can’t take them for long walks when very young, but after 6-7 months they can do a 45 minute walk. I have a mini doodle which I got at 15 weeks from a farm and so lucky she was socialized with kids and other animals. Mid June, at 17 weeks I started her swimming with me. I live 7 minutes from a conservation lake. I took her and still do everywhere. She is my camping, swimming, shopping and driving companion bud. She is 5 now and best dog ever, but she also can be lazy. I don’t know how many times she has put the kibosh on walks especially in the morning. You take her out for a walk before noon and she’ll go about 10 houses , do her business and wants to bee line it home. Or if it’s a nasty day out. She is such an easy gentle girl. From day one she walked great on a leash and is Off the lead trained . House trained the day I got her, used the bell system. Went twice pee in the house the day we got her home and never gone in the house since. Which I think is amazing since she was raised on a farm. I really lucked out with this dog, but I do have experience in training dogs which helped, but each dog is different and I knew she was special. Not many dogs like her. Prior to her I had another amazing dog who lived to 14. Sally girl was a Great Pyrenees. So quite 2 different dogs.

Don’t what the breeders mean is for large boned dogs not to say run them or have them navigate stairs at least until they are done growing. The exercise that you are showing looks more like “low impact” exercise vs. things like jumping and running along a bike etc.

Random question, but where did you get pouch vest?

Would it be possible to see one of these comparisons with a hound breed vs othe breeds. I have a beagle and i see a lot of retreiver qualities in him than the german shorthair pointers although at first glance i thought otherwise but i see my dog more having retriever qualities ( minus letting it go once he brings things) lots of love

Stonnie, what brand of food do you feed your dogs? And why?

What kind of whistle do you use uncle Stonnie?

Do you ever have Spinone Italiano? I know you have a lot of gun dogs and hunting dogs.

👍🏽

100% Off topic that honda trail is a tough idem to find on the showroom floor. There good fun

I think that some people think their dogs are super hero’s or something.

I’ll be getting a goldendoodle from a breeder on the 20th and they said not to walk her around apartments bc parvo lives in the ground. We’re in an apartment till August so I’m wondering how true this is and where can I walk her cause really and truly there’s dogs everywhere which means there’s a possibility of parvo being everywhere ya know?

How do you feel about trainers saying you should take your dog somewhere different everyday? My normal life gives me ample time to walk and take my dog out around my neighborhood but to drive somewhere different everyday will cut into a great amount of time to walk him or cut it out all together 🤷🏽‍♀️. What would you say?

If your puppy was a feral street dog would they stop walking after 5 mins per month of age, would they not run and jump until they were 18 months old? If they were wild dogs? Put a bunch of young puppies together and watch them run, jump, rough and tumble. That is nature and natural.

I have a question my 1 year old standard poodle. She loves to run up the stairs skips 4 or step. I was told this could be hard on their body. After watching this video I would think you would disagree with that. Would this assumption be correct.

Thank you!! I have been since 8weeks and we have a set schedule for training and walking and feeding and crate since day 1 and he is10 months now. He is already over 90lbs and.half Malinois and half Dutch shepherd. He is reactive but we work every day on it on our walks etc( at least 6 walks a day cuz he is very high maintenance lol and a high drive pup) so thank you for making me feel better about starting everything at day 1 🩵🙏🏻jck9tank hooked me up with your videos and I am grateful for the advice

I think the breeder of the heavy Golden retriever said so. It's not a product of the mother nature, bur product of breeders trend.

I can't see a single dog that should be delayed from socializing and/or exercising. I've done it both ways and training and socialization from the day you get your puppy is most successful. Looking at your entourage today, I don't see any aggression, just a sea of wagging tails.

How do people even live with puppies that don’t get physical and mental exercise? I was told by a trainer that they do self regulate and just not to force them to do physical things for a long time. I didn’t start mine jumping in agility until their plates closed, but that would have been me asking them to.

13:30 - Stonnie, breeders very often say their health guarantees are only good if you buy/subscribe into a certain type of supplements through them. Often times, the breeder gets a kick back on that. What's your opinion on that?

How about if you can just have one puppy? Is it bad for puppy to have no interactions while training with owner without other puppies around?

I have Corgis. Books say they can't go up and down stairs and so... But it also says they are great for Agility!! So... Make up your mind please!!!😂

I think the breeder said the golden shouldn’t exercise until 18 months. I Don think any would be better off, we have all seen this happen. I lived in DC and saw a lab just ruined because they we afraid to exercise it.

We followed the 5 minutes of life rule for our lab and have had nothing but health and behaviour issues. Never again!

In my experience as long as a pup is not running around like a maniac with the other dogs then everything should be ok.