How old should my puppy be before taking on hikes with me?
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| Depends on the hike length and terrain. At three months my siberian could go 2 miles, very gradual incline, but sometime on the back she'd crash and have to be carried home. By 4 months she was good both ways.
Also will you be keeping the babe on a leash? You don't let them off leash until their recall is perfect! Pups tend to get distracted by other animals or worse.... Narrow trails or dangers are best left to an older dog. My first sheepie would not do a foot bridge over water until she was 6 months, then stand back, she turned it into a game. I can't tell you the times she tested my heart by slipping on narrow trails as a pup. Also pups don't have the "smarts" to know when they are in real danger. Bone and soft tissue development takes a year, but that doesn't mean constant flat terrain. Some light hill climbing is fine by 6 months.....don't worry, she'll let you know. After that, hills are good ways to develop the rear which is often lacking in dogs. Running is great, but realize these are dogs for short bursts, not prolong jogging.....get a Dalmation or Siberian for that. A sheeper will be amazing going up, down thru and around terrain.....they are generally very agile. Look at Val's Maggie and Henry photos and especially early Maggie photos. Just remember their growth lasts a good year or more so be gentle while the tissues grow and the bone ends firm up. Excess exercise can rip. |
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