How long should German Shepherd puppy walk to avoid hip problems?

Question

Hey, how long walks should German Shepherd puppy take so she doesn't develop any hip problems? And at what age they can start doing long jogs and all around more heavy stuff? And what about stairs (3d floor), jumping down the couch, out of the car etc? Right now I'm carrying her while I can but soon she's going to be too big. Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 1 month and 23 days old | 44 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

The biggest concern we have with puppies is repetitive pounding on concrete, so I don't recommend any running on concrete until their growth plates are closed (around 12-18 monhts). Walks are fine on any surface, so you can walk Pharah for as long as she is able to walk as she is growing without any concerns. And running on soft grassy areas is fine. I have not seen any studies on stairs with growing puppies, but it certainly can't hurt to train her to go down the stairs slowly to minimize the repetitive pounding on her joints as she goes down the stairs. I wouldn't worry about going up the stairs, or jumping off the couch or out of the car. We don't know if any of these things affect hips, but we do know that keeping a dog lean is very protective of hip problems, so keep Pharah thin. Congrats on your new baby! I hope that helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

How long should German Shepherd puppy walk to avoid hip problems?

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