All of your forum posts have been so helpful to me since I got Ryder at 8 weeks old.  I cannot believe it, but now he is almost 15 weeks!  I know that most people talk about struggling to exercise their GSP's enough, but I have the opposite worry.  Part of me thinks I might be keeping him too active.

At 10 weeks, Ryder was 12lbs and clumsy.  His short, stubby legs combined with his extra long ears and huge feet made for a cute combination.  He could barely take a few steps in full stride without tumbling headfirst into a forward roll.  My main concern was a possible concussion with how many times he ran his head into furniture, walls, and trees!  At that point we started going on a mile and half walk every day around a lake by my house.  He was able to get a healthy combination of off leash and on leash time as the trail varied from heavily wooded to neighborhood sidewalks.  It was always a slow pace and we would take multiple stops so that he could lay down or just sniff freely.  If we didn't go on this daily walk, Ryder would tear apart the house looking for an outlet for all that energy!

Now at 15 weeks, Ryder is 25lbs and athletic.  He can get up on the couch on his own, he is going to the door when he needs to go potty, and he practically begs to go for walks.  We have continued the mile and half walk in the morning on the same trail.  Starting at 13 weeks there were some days when he just wouldn't stop begging to go back for another walk, so since then we would repeat the same trail in the afternoon.  He seems to have adjusted well to the increase, but it hasn't been an every day thing.  Our pace has increased as he has begun to run when off leash and I welcome the change because I want to be able to run with him eventually. 

I am curious if a straight three mile walk would be appropriate for him?  We did it yesterday and he slept the entire day when we got back.  I was worried that I had overworked him as he had spent nearly the entire 3 miles sprinting around. 

Part of my concern came from the fact that he acts what I can only describe as "manic" anytime he is awake in the house.  His only concern seems to be food.  I got him one of those wobbling Kongs that drops pieces of food one at a time when they tip it.  My trainer and vet recommended it for him because he was eating so quickly.  Still, anytime he gets the chance he will sit in the kitchen, in front of the fridge, just looking up where his food is kept on top of the fridge. 

I am feeding him Science Diet Large Breed Puppy and per the vet's recommendation, he is now eating 4 and 1/2 cups a day in three meals.  That increase came at 13 weeks when he went to the vet at 20lbs and was eating 3 cups a day in three meals.  Even with the increase, it seems like he is constantly hungry. 

My boyfriend and I do not feed him anything other than his food, even for treats.  He loves the food and responds well to training when rewarded with one piece rather than any treats.  He gets the occasional kong filled with peanut butter just to encourage him to chew on it rather than my couch, but chewing has really been an issue (yet!).  It is more that he just seems to be hungry.

He has been tested and does not have worms.  The vet just seems to think he is growing.  He is very tall and his growth keeps happening in large spurts, which has led her to tell us he is going to be large for his breed.  I don't know whether he will be on the large end of the GSP spectrum or not, but his parents were both very tall.  His dad was especially muscular and athletic.

My only concern is that I am overworking him.  I don't mind him getting big, but I don't want to injure his delicate puppy joints or impede healthy growth.  

Please let me know any guidelines for age appropriate exercise.  I am not training him to hunt, but would like to able to run with him, take him on moutain hikes with my boyfriend and I, and take him with me during practices.  I coach a DII college women's lacrosse team.  I am just waiting until someone tells me it is ok to start taking him to do those things.  Thank you in advance for any input.

double

Thank you for the input!  I am not attached to Science Diet.  As was mentioned, it was recommended by the vet.  What would be a better option?  I do not mind supplementing his food, but I also don't mind changing his food.  I'm certain that he is food driven enough to take to any kibble I give him.

Just to clarify, he does not beg for our food.  He simply sits in front of the fridge because I keep his food on top of it.  I only mentioned this because I didn't know if the amount of exercise he is getting was the cause for his seemingly endless hunger.

I know that I cannot jog or try to pace him yet, but that was what I was looking for.  As has been mentioned on this forum many times, google searching for a GSP growth chart turns up nothing of use.  The same seems to come for a guideline on levels of exercise for GSP's. 

So when is it appropriate for me to introduce that type of exercise?  And for what distances?  I have no basis for this and don't want to run him into the ground.

Welcome to the forum.  He is beautiful.

I agree with the others, Science Diet would not be my choice of foods.  I would look for higher protein fat and feed less of it.  I usually use something else for treats in training, that's what makes those training sessions that much more fun.  Whether it is chicken or some over the counter dog treat.  The treats I have are of different value.  Some things require more attention, thus a higher value treat. 

Personally I think some dogs are just more food driven.  I have two GSPs, one is a FOOD MONGER!!!  She will do absolutely anything for food, and never, never leave food out.  Her nose never fails her in that regard.  She will find it and eat it.  Maple is non-stop.  So much like your pup, she is not allowed go into the laundry room where the dog food is stored in these containers.  They are supposed to be dog proof, but I will not tempt fate in that regard.

My other GSP is food driven, but not what I call a food monger.  So perhaps your GSP is more like my Maple.  I will say that since I changed her food to a higher protein (Evo Red Meat), she is more content longer than she was on the Eunkanuba we previously fed.

As for activity, I started taking her to run freely for about 15 to 20 minutes.  I would jog and she would run around.  I live in an area with a large green space at the lakefront, so plenty of grass for her to run around and chase my other dogs.  This was good as she was tired, but not totally wiped out when we got back home.  This is now increased to about 30 to 45 minutes each morning.  She is now 15 months old. 

So if the pup comes home and sleeps all day, I would say it is too much right now.  So just shorten it a little for now.  At this age they are growing alot, so that is taking up alot of their energy too.

Unlike pixie I do worry about the growth plates, but I do train my GSPs in agility. We worry about that as we do not want them to do reptition jumping to cause chronic injury.  I see too many people try and get their dogs in competition for agility way too young and they end up with issues.  Just because the venues say they can start competing at 15 months does it mean you have to.  But typical free play, I would not worry about too much as long as they are in a safe environment.

And welcome to the world of shorthairs.  They are like ptotato chips, sometimes you cannot stop with just one!

This is Ryder the day after I got him.  It was my second to last day of work at an Indoor Sports Complex and he slept on the office chair next to me all day.  Needless to say, he was a customer favorite with his green eyes!  I am happy to say they have stayed that bright green color and look great with his camo bandana!

Ryder at 9 weeks old

Ryder at 14 weeks sitting on command.  This is his first trip to the beach.  He had no interest in the water.

Ryder's sweet little face at 8 weeks.  His extra skin wrinkles are my favorite.

 So I feed my puppies the same as my adults with a high protein, high fat performance dog food.  I have used Wellness and Innova, but there are lots of others that are good as well and you will find them in the dog food analysis site.  As for growth plates I too worry about them, but not obsessively.  As long as you don't jog  or do repetitive type exercise with your dog, you shouldn't have any problems. The way to think about it is if they are doing something loose and on their own (even it is running or jumping) they should be fine.  I let my puppies run off leash with my older shorthairs from when they are little on.  It builds the endurance and muscles as they grow.  You can typically expect the growth plates to close around a year to a year and half.  I err on the safe side and assume at least a year and a half.

He is a good looking puppy and those wrinkles you mentioned and the big ears, well he will grow into them.

Pixie,

I do see your point, but I worry about his growth plates and such because I want to make sure he can still be active even when he is old.  My parents' goldens were essentially immobile and confined in the house from 8 years until 13 and 15 when they each died.  It was a result of ignorance in feeding and health.  While both lived long lives, the quality of life is not one that would suit any GSP, but especially Ryder.  I just want to ensure that he has the best chance at a long, GSP deserving life.  Especially since I won't be hunting with him.  I nearly feel like I have to find ways to make it up to him!

RozyPozy,

Thank you! He seems to turn heads wherever we go.  As a result, any time he is out with me in public (nearly every day), it takes FOREVER to get where we are going. 

He for sure is a MONGER.  I will try the chicken and various other healthy treat options that were suggested.  He has taken to training quickly and well regardless of the reward, even if verbal.  It must be a result of his pedigree.  His dad is a champion in field competition (if that is what it is called).  The breeder kept repeating that to me.  We shall see how training works as he gets older and bolder.

As for getting more than just one GSP....it would have to be when we move into a house where they could be off leash on our property.  Plus, while my boyfriend is as in love with Ryder as I am (maybe even more than I am), he desperately wants to get a Rottweiler at some point.  So maybe another GSP after that?

KPWLEE,

I will check out that link tonight and decide what to switch him to.  I am also looking into supplementing his food gradually.  My boyfriend grew up with his family only feeding their dog beef that sometimes was mixed with green beans or cheese.  I don't know if I want to go this route, but he keeps telling me he wants us to get him on "real food".  Thank you for showing me how to do the pics, hope you like them!  They are only a few of the many, many, many that have been taken. 

Texas Belle,

I am looking into a change in diet.  Thank you for your input! I will probably go with the safe side and wait until he is a year and a half to push it.  He doesn't have other dogs to run with as every other dog in the neighborhood and that our families own are very old and inactive.  We try to make up for it as much as we can.

Honestly, I could care less if his eyes were green, brown, or bright red.  As long as he is healthy and happy and still cuddles with me every chance he gets, I will be happy!  He has a great pedigree. His mom is a show dog and has apparently won.  His dad has won field trials or something like that and is equally as beautiful.  His eyes have gotten a little darker since we got him, but have a shade of green when the sun catches them.  I know that his eyes would disqualify him, but I'm not going to show him so it doesn't matter anyway. 

I can deal with him growing into his wrinkles and ears.  I just don't know that I want him to grow into his paws!

Thanks for all your input!  Our walks have stayed consistent and he is getting stronger by the day. 

Because of how much he was eating due to his activity level, I chose to start cooking for him.  It is cheaper and he seems more satisfied after eating.  Plus, his coat looks so shiny and healthy!

Right now, he is getting either boiled chicken or beef with mixed veggies.  Greenbeans consistently, but occasionally some broccoli and carrotts.  Twice a day he gets a vitamin supplement with iron and liver that the vet gave us for him with this diet.  We switched him onto this around 15 weeks.  He's now 17 weeks. 

I realize that he could've just hit an awkward growth spurt in this time, but he has gotten considerably taller and now looks so so thin since we switched food.  I think he looks beautiful, especially because of how great his coat looks now, but I am just concerned with how thin he looks.  He was 30lbs last week.  This week, he's 27lbs.  We haven't changed his activity and I'm pretty sure because of Thanksgiving he actually got some scraps from family.

What do you think?

I took three pics just now.  I don't know what is "too thin" vs. how a GSP should look.  You can see at least three or four ribs on each side at all time.  When he takes a deep breath or a drink I can for sure see his hip bones.  I don't know for sure when he is standing still.  The pics below don't do a good job of showing his ribs, but give you an idea....

Also, he is now 27lbs at 17 weeks and was 30lbs at 16 weeks.  His Dam is 65lbs and all legs.  The Sire is 80lbs.