Puppies, Exercise and Growth Plates
If you are wondering how much exercise your puppy should be doing, my advice is ‘Don’t Google It’! The general guidance is the ‘Five Minute of Exercise Rule’. That is, puppies should only get approximately five minutes per month of age, up to twice a day, of continuous exercise until their growth plates close. In toy and miniature breeds growth plates close around 6-8 months of age. In large breeds it can be closer to 14-16 months. However, none of the articles or blog posts are able to back this advice up with scientific studies. So let’s think about this logically.
First, what is a growth plate? Growth plates are found in the long bones of your dog’s body. These are the bones that are longer than they are wider. This includes the bones that make up a dog’s front and hind legs, as well as their feet. Most long bones have two growth plates, one at each end. As these bones lengthen, they do so at the growth plates. Growth plates are made up of cartilage, which is a flexible and rubbery material. Once a dog has stopped growing, the growth plates harden and close. Most of a dog’s growth happens between three and nine months of age, depending on their breed and size.
Children also have growth plates that function in the exact same way. In humans, the growth plates also close near the end of puberty. In females this is around 13-15 years of age, while in males it is around 15-17 years of age.
The main concern people have (or are told), is that if a puppy is exercised ‘too much’ before their growth plates close it will lead to shortening of the bone, which in turn can lead to a multitude of orthopaedic issues and the early onset of osteoarthritis.
There are some inherited, nutritional and medical reasons growth plates may close early; however, the main reason they do so is due to a traumatic fracture through the plate. . Examples include being hit by a car, jumping from a height, or being bowled over by another dog. Very rarely is it caused by a puppy being allowed to freely play, or them being taken on a walk longer than fifteen minutes when they are three months of age.
Here are some other things to consider:
1. What about packs of wild dogs, or even other species such as hyenas or lions? These animals play and roam from an early age, without any humans limiting the amount of exercise they do each day.
2. How many of you have children who run around the playground at school, as well as participate in regular sport? Are you limiting their activity until their growth plate’s close (keeping in mind it is well into their teenage years)? Don’t get me wrong, early growth plate closure in children can still happen. I was a competitive gymnast as a teenager, & have had wrist issues in the past from early closure of my radial growth plate. But again, this was due to repetitive loading from an early age, and not from your general run-of-the-mill play and sport. The majority of time, just as with dogs, early growth plate closure happens in children due to traumatic fractures. I have also never heard of a parent taking their child to get a radiograph to ensure their growth plates have closed, before allowing them to increase their exercise.
3. We are currently seeing increased breeder contracts stating a puppy’s physical exercise needs to be limited for a specific period of time. Is this backed by science, or is it just biding breeders time before potential orthopaedic issues are exposed?
4. Is lack of self-regulated exercise potentially a cause of early behavioural issues in some dogs? As the owner of four, high-drive dogs I can say with certainty that this would have been the case if we had limited the amount of exercise they had been able to do as puppies.
5. Exercise develops muscle strength and muscles protect the joints. It also helps flush out toxins, increases circulation and provides nutrients. It also helps keep a dog’s weight down, and we know that being overweight is the number one factor in dogs developing joint issues, such as osteoarthritis.
So, what is the answer to how much exercise you should allow your puppy to do until their growth plates close? Here are my thoughts:
· Don’t stress! The likelihood of your puppy’s growth plates closing early is small. I believe it’s more important to concentrate on developing their social and behavioural skills during this critical period.
· Be sensible. Most dogs, left to their own devices, will self-regulate their play and exercise. While I wouldn’t recommend you let your dog repeatedly jump, run long distances on leash or engage in over-excited play with larger dogs, most activity a young dog engages in is not going to have long-term harmful effects on their joints.
· Ensure your dog is orthopaedically sound. This does not mean they have to be a pure bred dog! In fact, in my experience I see just as many pure bred dogs with musculoskeletal and health issues than I see mix breeds. But if you have concerns, consult with your vet or canine rehabilitation professional, even if it’s just for a general check.
· Keep your dog’s weight down! This is the most important thing you can do for your dog to ensure they stay healthy, active and strong throughout their life, and I can’t emphasise it enough.
And remember … sometimes bad things happen despite all the care, protection and love we provide our dogs. Just as with humans, unexpected health and traumatic events occur. All we can do is our best.
If I can offer one last piece of advice it would be … play with your dog and have fun. It’s one of the best things you can do for your relationship with them long-term.
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