How exciting is it when you get a new performance puppy and all the things you've learn since your last puppy are just bursting our of your brain ready to put into practice!
But steady on my friend! Puppies are delicate, their growth plates aren't closed until 14-22 months depending on breed type and whether they are desexed, so treating them likean adult during this time is going to lead tears further on down the track.
"But they do worse on their own" - that's not a rationale for training and physically interacting with a puppy/young dog as an adult. And, it's typically not a true statement either - what a dog does on its own and what you ask a dog to do are 2 different things mentally and physically, so let's pop that excuse away.
As outlined by Dr Chris Zink, Sports Medicine expert, we first have to understand they simply are not as strong as adults, they have softer bones, weaker muscles and the thing that gets them into a lot of trouble is poor co-ordination.
Inappropriate exercise as a baby can contribute to medical challenges such as hip & elbow dysplasia, osteoarthritis & bone deformities.
โ๐ฆ๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐๐ป'๐ ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐?
๐Being a jogging partner
๐Running along side a bike
๐Mushing
๐Herding
๐Weight pull/weight vests
๐Strength training unless over 6 months
๐Flyball jumps or box turns
๐Agility jumps (height dependent), wraps, weaves & contact equipment
๐๐ด๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐
- No full height jumping until growth plate closure.
- Agility groundwork "foundations" can occur from 8 weeks but that doesn't include wrapping, 2 on/2 off contacts, repetitive actions etc.
- Jump training - no jumps above the wrist up until 4 months.
- Jump training at or below the elbow from 6 months.
- Jump training above elbow after growth plat closure.
- Weave pole training after growth plate closure.
๐๐น๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น
Although these dogs can compete at 12 months, ideally they would not be jumping until around 14 months months and no box turns until growth plate closure. This sport definitely needs minimum age reassessment.
โ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ?
Your Vet can check them on x-ray when you have your dogs hips & elbows x-rayed at around 18 months of age before you head to your first trial. If you're not x-raying which I strongly advise you to do, then you would assume an entire dogs growth plates are closed at around 14 months and a de-sexed dog at around 22 months - small dogs can close younger - your Vet can guide you.
โIf you're ever unsure what is an isn't appropriate, check with a professional.
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References: Dr Christine Zink, Avidog
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