You just got a new puppy. You know the basics of dog ownership: someplace to sleep, food, training, and exercise and play. But a puppy is not an adult dog, he is still growing physically and still learning mentally. You need to approach each of these areas differently than you would an older dog.

When I see an enthusiastic new dog owner walking a puppy, I mean a little puppy not an almost-year-old-dog, I want to applaud the owner’s commitment but tell hi–scale it back just a notch for a minute. How much exercise and what kind to puppies really need?

All dogs need some movement, but for a puppy, just some playtime with you in the living room will suffice. (Not only is this enough exercise, this is crucial bonding activity to create a connection with the dog, make him feel secure, and establish your dominance.) Good puppy play can be anything unstructured and not too strenuous: chasing, running, playing with dog toys, tugging. For training purposes, you don’t want to encourage biting or gnawing and maybe even start using a command for when playtime is over so he will start to know the difference. Playing with other dogs that are in the house is good for him too, but just watch if you have older dogs. A puppy playing with an adult dog can tend to play hard to keep up, and will be more prone to injuries.

Overdoing it with your puppy can lead to problems later. Things like rough play and jumping is a bad idea for a young pup. A puppy’s bones are soft and spongy. They don’t completely harden until the puppy is 18 months to 2 year depending on your dog’s breed. High jumps, jumping over large objects and jumping out of things like porches or trucks should be discouraged. The stress soft bones, underdeveloped muscles and immature ligaments can create damage–maybe life-long issues.

More than a casual walk is not good for a young puppy either. Besides the issue of her still-developing bones, a puppy’s body is not good at controlling its body temperature, making her more prone to heat stroke. Running, jogging, rollerblading, and biking with you dog should be saved for later.

As your puppy grows, more intensive or longer workouts are fine. Here are some guidelines from Petco on appropriate physical activity for your pup:

Exercise Guidelines for Puppies

6 Weeks to 4 Months

• Short walks on soft terrain
• Playing with soft toys in a contained area, such as a fenced yard
• Swimming in warmer water for short periods

4 to 8 Months

• Longer walks on soft terrain
• Playing with soft toys
• Swimming and playing with toys in the water

8 to 12 Months

• Faster and/or longer walks on soft terrain
• Playing with soft toys
• Swimming and playing with toys in the water for longer periods

12 Months and Up

• Walks on terrain that has been checked for hazards such as unseen glass, holes, ditches, wires, stakes, and metal fragments
• Jogging with you (begin with short distances on softer terrain until endurance is built up)
• Playing with appropriate toys
• Swimming and playing with toys in the water

Remember, generally, you know any exercise is enough for your dog when he or she is laid out at the end of the day. A tired dog is a happy dog.

Canine diabetes may not be curable, but it is manageable in most dogs–if the condition is diagnosed early and treated properly. Only a veterinarian can diagnose this condition in dogs, but treatment will largely fall on the lap of the dog’s owners and it is no small thing. Treating any medical condition is a daily responsibility to be carried out consistently for the rest of the dog’s life. However, knowing the knowing the three components of at-home care  for a diabetic dog–food, medication, and exercise–you can create a schedule that is balanced, not overwhelming.

Diabetic Dog Food
Diet is a critical component of treatment of canine diabetes. The foundations of this diet is lower carbohydrate and higher fiber. Carbohydrates are considered a form of sugar because the body converts it into glucose. When blood sugar plummets too low, it results in hypoglycemia, which is a serious condition. A diet with low carbohydrate/glucose reduces the amount of insulin needed, keeping blood sugar low.

High quality fats and proteins are also turned into blood glucose much more slowly and evenly than carbohydrates, reducing blood-sugar highs right after mealtimes.

You might be amazed about the amounts of carbohydrates and sugar contained in commercial dog food with dry food being the biggest culprit. You can either buy diabetic dog food or make homemade food for your dog. Remember these when points developing your dog’s diet.

1. Natural food is best. You would know much better how much carbohydrates and sugar your dog is getting. A homemade diet of natural foods isn’t as expensive or as much work as you might think.
2. Or use high quality dog food. If you cannot avoid commercially manufactured dog food altogether, it is better to give your dog quality canned food that is low in carbohydrates and low in sodium. Diabetic dog food is better. Organic dog food is usually good too.
3. Avoid most dry dog foods. These are largely made up of simple carbohydrates (sugars and/or starches), something you really want to decrease if you dog is diagnosed with diabetes. Some are OK when the ingredients are high in protein and vegetables. No matter what dry dog food you use, it should never be the sole form of food–there is just not enough nutrition in it.

Medication for Your Diabetic Dog

If  your veterinarian has prescribed medication for your diabetic dog, she must receive twice-daily, precisely prescribed subcutaneous shots of insulin–one in the morning, another in the evening. Administering these injections without fail will be the job of its owners.

Exercise and the Diabetic

A diabetic dog must be exercised according to a rigorously maintained schedule. This helps keeps your dog’s insulin levels stable. And by exercise, I do not mean running your dog five miles one day, then letting him lie on a couch for the rest of the week. His exercise, at whatever level, must be consistent. And for you and him to stay consistent it is usually better to opt for short stints (even 10 minutes) every day, then ambitious sessions (30 minutes Frisbee practice or 2 mile jogs) that you can only manage to maintain a few days a week. See more in the article Exercise for Dogs with Diabetes.

While measuring insulin levels will be done periodically by a veterinarian, only a dog’s owner can  manage an animal’s daily workout program that levels out these levels.

Lately, when you take your dog to play in the yard or at the dog park or for a run, you may notice a slight limp later. It might not slow her down much, but you wonder if maybe you need to take it easier. What is Dysplasia “Off-and-on lameness is a common sign of degenerative joint disease,” says Dr. Ann Johnson, veterinary orthopedic specialist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. “Dogs show evidence of pain from degenerative joint disease by limping. Lameness can occur suddenly, or gradually increase over time. It can be persistent or intermittent.”

Canine hip dysplasia is an inherited condition where the bones don’t fit well, especially the thigh bone (femur) into the hip socket. This mismatch fit strains the cartilege that acts as a cushion between th bones. This strain leads to this progressive degenerative joint disease.

There are several ways a vet may deal with dysplasia including anti-inflammatory drugs, supplements, surgical procedures such as a total hip replacement, joint arthroplasty (removal of a portion of the bone), or arthrodesis (fusion of the joint). However, one of the first things vets recommend, especially when the condition is mild, is managing dysplasia with moderate exercise.

Why Should You Exercise A Dog with Dysplasia

Even though the joint is improper, you should still exercise your dog-moderately (we’ll talk more about that in a minute). First, exercise will strengthen the muscles around the joint, which lesses some of the stress on a joint.

Second, exercise helps you dog maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight adds stress to the joints and increases pain.

Exercises for Dysplasia

Moderation is the key for exercise. The key is a little exercise often. Even ten minutes, twice a day can help keep strenghthen your dog.

Good exercises for hip dysplasia

• Walks – casual, short walks
• Hikes – leisurely walks on easy trails
• Swimming – if you don’t have a pool or dog friendly pond nearby, look for canine hydrotherapy or rehab facilities
• Obstacle courses – tunnels/chutes, weaving through objects, balancing are fine–just no jumping
• Indoor chasing games – games like chase or hide-and-seek can provide rainy day fun, and prevent an energetic dog from running full out, which they would be feeling later
• Fetching games – easy, non-jumping games of fetch, chase, or catch

Not so good

• Running/jogging
• Sprints like squirrel chasing
• Jumping games