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Saint Bernards => Saint Bernard General Discussions => : Sullivan April 27, 2005, 10:43:36 AM

: Exercising your St. Bernard
: Sullivan April 27, 2005, 10:43:36 AM
Should a St. exercise be limited before they reach a certain age?  I know jumping is a no-no, but what about long walks?
: Re: Exercising your St.
: mastiffmommy April 27, 2005, 11:49:14 AM
I am no expert on ST. but I guess what goes for most of our large breeds goes for them aswell. Try to avoid slick floors, no stairs, well lol.... they do get kinda heavy early, so if you have a few steps up to your house thats okay, but I would try to make him not run up and down the stairs if you have an upstairs in the house. And walks, what do you mean by long walks, and how old is he??? A walk that is okay, the problem if they get too long, is that even though the dog may get tired and really should stop, they dont because we are on the other end of the leash or we keep walking so they want to keep up with us. But they do need exersise so most things with moderation. Good Luck

Marit
: Re: Exercising your St.
: stjennifer2413 April 29, 2005, 04:40:49 PM
I would definitely talk to a vet about the correct amount of exercise for a puppy.  I got Winston when he was about a year and we took long walks all summer and fall.  He loved being out, doing the meet & greet and he slept so well afterwards!  When the weather got bitterly cold, we started taking functional walks (do your business NOW 'cause mommy is freezing her a** off) and he got to be a chunky monkey this winter.  So we're doing longer walks, plus I got him a new buddy and they run around the yard like speed freaks every morning. 

Who told you no jumping for Saints?  I took Winston to obedience classes at Petsmart and on a few occasions he jumped the fence in the training ring to go say "hi" to other dogs in the store!  The trainer said if he could do that, then he could darn well do the agility stuff.  We got him to do hurdles.  It was pretty cool.
: Re: Exercising your St.
: mastiffmommy April 29, 2005, 11:20:07 PM
I agree totally with previous poster, my vets have always, for as long as I have had giant breeds, about 25 years or so, said that of course be careful with how much you work them, especially when growing, but one of the biggest risks is to get a giant dog fat...... Okay lol..... chunky sounds better, the heavier the more strain on joints and bones, so rather than having a too heavy dog, it is better to go for the little leaner look. Mind you if you conformation show, they want them kinda wide, not too, but definately not on the too lean side.

It must have been a sight lol..... your big guy doing hurdles. Are you still doing agility with him??

Marit
: Re: Exercising your St.
: momma-st May 03, 2005, 01:15:31 PM
I know our vet said that we should make sure she got her exercising 2- 3 time a day. And  to always have food out for her to eat when she was a puppy.  Because they grow so fast.  She still has food out all day and has never gotten fat.  Maggie is a very energetic st.  She will chase anything that runs... We are on the farm so she gets lot of exercise... But i would ask the vet...
: Re: Exercising your St.
: waffles717 May 03, 2005, 09:56:05 PM
 :DHello,My Maggie love's walk's i take her for two a day she is 4mo,old is 58pds,is so so much fun to be with make's so feel like a kid,and is such a loving anamal!! Has a Heart Of Gold! She love my Toy poodle!! ::) ::) ::) :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :ogive me an email waffles717@yahoo I would love to hear from some saints out there,i am new to them,doing good she is great!! :D ;) :o 8) :-* :-*time for bed! m,l, :-*
: Re: Exercising your St.
: nickerbokker May 03, 2005, 10:12:29 PM
I know our vet said that we should make sure she got her exercising 2- 3 time a day. And  to always have food out for her to eat when she was a puppy.  Because they grow so fast.  She still has food out all day and has never gotten fat.  Maggie is a very energetic st.  She will chase anything that runs... We are on the farm so she gets lot of exercise... But i would ask the vet...

how in the heck do you pull off leaving out food all day....
i have two dogs that are food freaks...they stare at the food bins all day, whenever i walk by the food bins they do circles in place...when its dinner time i tell them to sit and stay and they dance in place the whole time until i free them and then proceed to swallow all the food in 2 seconds (WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM), BUT IF I LEAVE FOOD OUT ALL DAY THEY WOULD EAT THEMSELVES TO DEATH.......is it bad that i only feed them at certain times and dont leave food out?  i give them plenty of treats when i am home, but other than that, they have set times to get fed...i just dont understand how people can leave food out for the dogs and they dont kill themselves.
: Re: Exercising your St.
: Sullivan May 04, 2005, 12:25:58 PM
I would definitely talk to a vet about the correct amount of exercise for a puppy.  I got Winston when he was about a year and we took long walks all summer and fall.  He loved being out, doing the meet & greet and he slept so well afterwards!  When the weather got bitterly cold, we started taking functional walks (do your business NOW 'cause mommy is freezing her a** off) and he got to be a chunky monkey this winter.  So we're doing longer walks, plus I got him a new buddy and they run around the yard like speed freaks every morning.  

Who told you no jumping for Saints?  I took Winston to obedience classes at Petsmart and on a few occasions he jumped the fence in the training ring to go say "hi" to other dogs in the store!  The trainer said if he could do that, then he could darn well do the agility stuff.  We got him to do hurdles.  It was pretty cool.
Hey just wanted to respond to your question about the jumping.  I can't remember where I read it, but it was when I was doing research before we bought Seamus.  It was some St. web site, it could have been St. club of America or something similar.  It's not that they can't jump, it is that it helps to avoid arthritus and hip problems (apparently).  Who knows.  I sort of feel like if they want to they should.  It seems to me that the more active they are, the more healthy they will be.  Makes sense for humans. :)
: Re: Exercising your St.
: Sullivan May 04, 2005, 12:31:07 PM
I'm glad to hear that exercising isn't that big of a problem.  I walk Seamus 3 miles about 3-5 times a week.  When I say 3 miles it is a leisurely 3 miles.  He has a chance to sniff and greet neighbors.  He seems to really love it, and never acts tired.  BUT i've become a narotic worried mother after the heart murmur thing, so I worry about everything.  Thanks for your responses.
: Re: Exercising your St.
: stjennifer2413 May 10, 2005, 12:53:48 PM
Winston was in a class with a standard poodle, a lab, a boxer and a rottweiler when he did agility.  He was definitely the least .... graceful of the group, but held his own.  We haven't done any agility stuff lately.  Our local dog park has an agility course, but I've had foster dogs since December and we haven't had a chance to go lately.  Next time we go I'll take my camera.  I'm sure we could all use a good laugh.
: Re: Exercising your St.
: shangrila June 06, 2005, 08:31:26 PM
Who told you no jumping for Saints?

My Saint has a vet-surgery-specialist that she sees for hip dyplascia. She has made it very clear to us that we should try and prevent Zoey from jumping to limit to impact on her hips. She said jumping up is worse on the hips that jumping down, but that we should try and avoid both. Since saints are so prone to hip problems, I would think you would want to limit jumpingfor all saints, even if they haven't been diagnosed with hip issues.

: Re: Exercising your St. Bernard
: Saintly Girl July 10, 2005, 11:40:20 AM
Now I heard diffrently.  Before I bought Maxwell, I read in many articles that you should restrict their jumping and stair climbing until they've developed their legs.  We carried Maxwell up the stairs until we could carry him no longer.  It said that they should excercise but not excessively.  Walking is fine but don't overdo it.  Since Max is almost one now, we let him play until he's pooped but I would be wary of stairs and jumping.