German Shepherd pups come in the category of active breed and they do require sufficient exercise to maintain their body as it also allows them to live a healthy life. Exercising your German Shepherd puppy is also necessary for their development but the new dog owner may wonder how far should they walk their German Shepherd puppy.
The walking of German Shepherd puppies depends on their age. For example, if your German Shepherd puppy is 2 to 4 months older then their walk should be of 15 minutes around 2 to 3 times daily.
German Shepherd puppies should not go for longer walks as they get plenty of exercise roaming in your house and playing. They also walk more often while exploring their new world so if you are letting them walk outdoors that should be done in a controlled way.
There are many things that new owners should consider if they have a German Shepherd puppy. That’s why this post is going to be very helpful as you will be able to come to know:
- How long can you walk your German Shepherd puppy?
- How much walking does a German Shepherd puppy need?
- Can you overwalk a German Shepherd puppy?
- How to know if you are over-exercising your German Shepherd puppy?
- Signs your German Shepherd puppy will show because of overexercising.
Let’s discuss our topic thoroughly without wasting any time:
Table of Contents
How Long Should My German Shepherd walk?
German Shepherd puppies are athletic by birth and exercise also allows their body and muscles to be flexible. Your German Shepherd puppy does a lot of exercises while exploring their new world but the question that arises here is how long should they walk?
According to the thumb rule, German Shepherd puppies need 5 minutes of the walk every month of their age around 2 to 3 times a day. German Shepherd pups are very young so their walk should be short as they also spend their time wandering in your home which can also be considered in their walk.
The walk for your German Shepherd puppy should be in a controlled manner as their walk will depend directly on their age. This means that 8 weeks older GSD puppy should walk for 10 minutes around 2 to 3 times a day.
When your German Shepherd puppy becomes an adult then you can go for longer walks as they will require more exercise and will also be helpful for them. However, you should not allow your German Shepherd pup to for longer which can be responsible to give birth to other health issues.
At last, it’s also important to how much exercise is enough for your German Shepherd dogs as a young shepherd do a lot of physical activity that satisfies their exercise sessions.
How much walking does a German Shepherd puppy need?
It’s always a pleasant sight to see a young puppy walking and I know every dog owners enjoy their movement. But when I brought a new GSD puppy I also wondered how much walking it need.
German Shepherd puppies need a lot of exercises, especially when they are young. During puppyhood, it is recommended that German Shepherds receive at least 30 minutes of walking per day and no more than 2 hours.
This should be done in addition to other forms of physical activity such as playing fetch or participating in agility training. As the puppy grows older, the amount of time spent walking can increase but should remain within reasonable limits for their age and health.
When taken on walks, it is important to keep your German Shepherd leashed and under control as this breed tends to chase small animals and become overly excited if not properly supervised.
With routine walks, your German Shepherd will develop strong muscles and bones, stay mentally stimulated, and have less of a chance of developing behavioral problems.
However, it should also be noted that not all German Shepherds like too much walking but by providing your German Shepherd puppy with regular walks, you can help ensure they too like walking and will grow up to be happy and well-adjusted.
Can You Over Walk A German Shepherd Puppy?
German Shepherd pups are very small in age and you must be enjoying their company. They may be busy exploring their new world, playing, or roaming in the house. They get sufficient walking after doing such activities. But you may also be concerned can you overwalk your German Shepherd puppy?
No, you can never overwalk your German Shepherd puppy even if you can’t let them overrun or jog as their bones are not fully developed which can impact their health in the future. However, you can allow your German Shepherd pup to walk for 10 to 15 minutes around two times a day but it depends on their age.
You should walk them in a controlled manner as walking longer distances will hurt their health but when your pup will become older then you can allow them to walk long distances as this is the time they need more exercise. So unless your German Shepherd pups are not fully grown you must avoid the walk.
A long walk for your German Shepherd puppy can never be helpful for them it damages their health. Every dog owner needs to know the negative aspect that your German Shepherd pup may face if you overwalk them.
Let’s take a quick look at the negative aspects that your German Shepherd puppy may face when you overwalk them:
Growth Is Affected
The growth of your German Shepherd puppy is affected when they exercise too much. As your German Shepherd puppy is not fully developed then it’s obvious that too much exercise will damage its growth plates and the bones of the legs.
There becomes a higher possibility to get injured at the very initial stage of their life. They are not mature enough to heal their injury as it will affect their future. Too much exercise may lead to joint issues like hip or elbow dysplasia or other health issues.
You must think of their health first but the thing to consider is that your German Shepherd puppy explores itself when you bring them home for the first time. This also allows them to get enough walking as you should never allow them to do excessive exercise.
Risk Of Strains
German Shepherd puppies are in the growing stage and excessive exercise may lead them to get strain their muscles. You must remember that your German Shepherd pups are not fully grown and they can’t do much exercise like adult ones.
If you let your pup walk unnecessarily then there will be a higher risk of getting strains which may further lead them to go through a lot of pain and discomfort. So their walk should be limited as they get sufficient exercise while wandering the house or playing.
Risk Of Damaging Pads Of The Paws
Your German Shepherd pup may damage its pads while doing excess walking, you will have to understand their your pup is still young and its paws are too soft. If they walk unnecessarily there is a higher risk of damaging the pads of their paws.
Your German Shepherd pup may be walking in your house then you must be aware of the ill effects they can suffer from walking on rough surfaces. You can apply carpet on the surface so that their pads can’t be affected.
Invitation Of Getting Easy Fatigueness
German Shepherd puppies are not fully grown and as a result, they get easily fatigued ness if they do excessive physical exercise. Your Puppy is too living being they also need the energy to be active all the time but when you let them walk more often they lose their energy, and as a result, they feel tired.
If your German Shepherd pup walk in your home more often then you should provide them some break as they can walk around 2 to 3 times a day which also depends on their age. However, you can also encourage them to be calm most of the time so that they can easily restore their energy.
Affect The Training Process
Due to excessive exercise, another training process is also affected as your German Shepherd pups lose their stamina to remain active most of the time. No doubt your German Shepherd puppy comes in the category of the active breed but they will not be able to act when you provide them excessive exercise.
Always remember that your German Shepherd pups are very young so all the training should be provided in a limited manner. Once they become adults then you can increase their time. Your German Shepherd pups also get sufficient exercise by playing or wandering in your house. So consider their health never provide them excess walking or do other exercises.
How Do I Know If I’m Over-Exercising My German Shepherd Puppy?
Your German Shepherd Pups are too young to get a lot of exercise in a single day. They do sufficient exercises in the process of exploring their new world, wandering in the house, or playing. So if you try to exercise them then you must know whether it is over for them or not.
German Shepherd puppies will show many signs when you overexercise them. Your German Shepherd pup may not walk comfortably because of the injury they may face due to overexercising. There may also sign of muscular pain or stiffness that can also be because of excessive exercise.
There are many other signs that your German Shepherd pups will also as you have to understand their body language. They have not grown enough to do more exercise so you should neglect such things. Let’s look out for some of the signs that your GSD will show:
Signs To Know Your German Shepherd Is Overexercising
German Shepherd puppies will show some signs that you have to observe. Here are the signs that your German Shepherd pups can show if they getting excessive exercise
1. Discomfort In Walking
Your GSD pup will face difficulty in walking if they exhaust its energy due to excessive exercise. However, it can be dangerous for them which they can face in the future. So it’s important to follow a proper routine for your German Shepherd pup.
2. Stiffness In Muscles
Excessive exercise also leads to muscle pain or stiffness that can occur due to excessive exercise. The dog owner should observe their pet, when their pet gets up, they can struggle they can refuse to walk, or even in the worst case can refuse their meal.
3. Joint Injury
Excessive exercise can also cause sprain or strain in the joints of German Shepherd pups. However, it is important to know that it’s quite difficult to observe these joint issues externally.
4. Change In Behavior
There will be a change in behavior in your German Shepherd pup as they may refuse to walk or even refuse to take their meal. You can also observe this by taking an example if your German Shepherd plays daily time with you and if they face an issue they will refuse to do so.
The dog owner should observe such change in behavior as excessive exercise may be the reason they are doing this. If the condition persists you must meet your vets immediately as they are very young and need a quick recovery.
5. Loss Of Energy
All you know German Shepherd pups are a very energetic breed. They like to play most of the time but sudden neglection of play is because they have no energy left. This may also happen because your German Shepherd pups are doing a lot of exercises which is not suitable for them.
The only thing you should do is never prove them too much exercise that may be responsible for the loss of their energy. Provide them highly nutrient diet suggested by your nutritionist.
6. Tiredness
Your German Shepherd pup may be tired most of the time. They may neglect to walk with you or do other physical activities because of tiredness. This all can happen because of excessive exercise.
Always provide your German Shepherd pup to follow proper routine and note that they are very young and can walk 10 to 15 minutes a day that can be followed around 3 to 4 times daily as it will also depend on their age.
Final Thoughts:
German Shepherd puppies need 5 minutes of the walk every month of their age around 2 to 3 times a day as per the thumb rule. German Shepherd is very active and they explore their new world which also allows them sufficient.
German Shepherd pups are very young so if you are letting them walk unnecessarily then it will affect their health as they can face many medical issues. You must not allow your German Shepherd pup to do excessive exercise that also allows them to suffer from many joint issues.
On the other hand, you should also refrain from overexerting your senior German shepherd puppy because they lack the necessary physical stamina at this stage.
Take care of their hygiene as you should walk them in clean areas that are away from other dogs. Provide your young puppy sufficient indoor games if they are not doing any physical activity or you can provide mental stimulation games for their brain growth.
Related Questions:
Q. Can Too Much Exercise Hurt My German Shepherd Puppy?
German Shepherd puppies are not fully grown so their bones are also in the growth stage. Oh yes! too much exercise can hurt a German Shepherd puppy as over-exercise may damage their joints, hurt the pads of the paws and growth plates can also lead them to face joint issues like hip or elbow dysplasia in near future.
Q. Do My German Shepherd Puppy Need Days From Walking?
This relates to a free day for your German Shepherd puppy where there will be no interaction with the outer world. This will allow our pets to relax and restore their energy as it is also beneficial for their health.
Q. Can Over Exercising A German Shepherd Puppy Cause Hip Dysplasia?
Over-exercising a German Shepherd puppy lets them face joint issues which may be hip or elbow dysplasia. So yes, over-exercising can cause hip dysplasia among German Shepherd pups. However, hip dysplasia can also be caused by improper nutrition or other physical injuries.
Q. How far can I walk my 4-month-old German Shepherd puppy?
At four months of age, a German Shepherd puppy should not be walked for any long distances. Puppies are still growing and developing, and their bones, muscles, and joints are not fully formed yet.
It is important to keep your German Shepherd busy as you should build up your pup’s exercise routine gradually. Start with five-minute walks outside or playtime indoors for about 10 minutes at a time. You can slowly increase the length and intensity of the walks as your pup grows older.
Q. How long should I walk my 8 months German Shepherd puppy?
It is recommended that 8-month-old German Shepherd puppies get at least 30 minutes of walking a day. This should be split into two or three walks per day, depending on your puppy’s energy level and age.
During these walks, make sure to provide plenty of opportunities for sniffing, exploring, and playing. This will allow them to become a healthy adult German Shepherd in the future.
Q. How long should a German Shepherd puppy be outside?
It is important to limit the amount of time a German Shepherd puppy is outside. During the first year of life, puppies are still growing and developing, so it’s best to limit outdoor activity to 15 minutes or less during warm months and 10 minutes or less during cold months.
This helps protect their health and prevents them from becoming overly tired. As your puppy matures, you can gradually increase the time they spend outdoors as long as it doesn’t exceed two hours at any given time.