Doodles under a year old should not participate in prolonged exercise like long walks or running and should not walk/run in dry or deep sand. This can be a leading factor in the development of hip dysplasia or other orthopedic issues. Puppies should be allowed to exercise freely – running, jumping, galloping, and flopping down. Leash training can be worked on for 2 minutes at a time each day. Puppies that are less than 4 months old can go on walks once a day for up to 20 minutes. These should be informal walks around your yard. From 4-8 months, an hour long walk or jogging (not on pavement or dry/deep sand) a couple times a week with breaks as needed is suggested. From 8-12 months, a full hour-long walk is acceptable and jogging time can be increased gradually.
At home, always be careful of stairs. Your puppy should only go up or down one or two stairs at a time. More than that and your puppy should be carried. Also beware of slippery floors and falling hazards. Never keep your puppy behind a gate that encourages him/her to stand on his hind legs for any length of time. All of these dangers could affect your puppy’s health and joint development for the rest of his life.
