I'm a firm subscriber to the "a sleeping puppy is a good puppy" philosophy.  But I've been wondering...in general, at what age will I begin to see his uppermost daily exercise requirements? He's now 6 1/2 months old.  Is he there yet?  Or will he really turn on the juice in the next year or two?  I've seen posters here recommend anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 3 hours a day, but every dog is different.  Is there a point when you begin to see where your individual dog falls on the spectrum?

As a freelancer who works from a home office, I'm able to take Otto out for frequent off-leash runs throughout the day.  At this stage in the game, he seems pretty happy and hasn't wreaked any major havoc on our house (knock on wood).

Just curious...

Thanks!

I think in our dogs it has peaked at 2-3 years. And you can get away with less time spent exercising if you make said workout more intense... which is how I've talked a few folks into mushing with their dogs, which quickly takes on a life of it's own and then the discussion is about how to work the dog up to doing more miles...  

I'm DEFINITELY interested in learning more about this.  I was wondering how I was going to keep Otto tired and happy this winter--and this sounds like a great solution!  I've got some research to do, but will definitely be peppering you with questions shortly.

Thanks!

I would keep up Otto's off leash walks even in the winter. Just wear warm enough cloths to stay to be able to stay outside for as long as your dog needs.  Rocky seems to spark up even more in Wisconsin winters and loves the snow. Since Rocky loves year round tennis ball toss sessions, my husband snowblows him a ball toss path in our backyard. That way we don't lose as many tennis balls. Running thur deep snow fields burns off more GSP energy!!! Good luck and enjoy this winter!!!

Rocky on a Wisconsin winter run in deerland country burning winter GSP energy!!!

I love the retrieve track--great idea!  Those tennis balls are sooo easy to lose in the deep snow.

As far as keeping warm, I'm not concerned about myself.  I was born and raised in the Twin Cities, so I've dealt with my fair share of intensly cold, snowy winters.  And after college (never lost that freshman 10) and two pregnancies (there's just more of me to love!), I've developed a good layer of, oh, let's call it insulation?  But what about Otto, a.k.a. Skeletor?  The kid is skin and bones, and with no coat to speak of--how tolerant of the cold winters will he be?  I certainly expected to get out there with him, but assumed they would be frequent, short outings.  Is that not the case?  Are there any special precautions I should take with him?

Thanks!

Don't worry GSP's is surprisingly capable of withstanding colder temperatures with a stiff, water- and briar-repellent outerlayer and a dense undercoat for thermal insulation equivalent to long underwear believe it or not. If you can't believe it then you have to buy your GSP a neoprene Jacket like this one Rocky seems so happy  about.  We did have to alter this Jacket some for Rocky and only use it when it is 30 below zero.   GSP's are great for weight loss too. I was size 16 when we first adopted Rocky, now I am a size 12. Rocky keeps me on his exercise program as I have no self discipline to exercise by myself

There's actually some folks skijoring in the California mountains, although there like everywhere else the challange is finding ski-able trails that are OK with dogs. Most set track ski areas don't allow dogs, and if they do, it's for LOOSE dogs- which present a severe hazard. For whatever reason loose dogs that are normally OK with other loose dogs will often cheap-shot dogs in harness. This get really dangerous when an agressive strange dog gets tangled in the lines.

I personally focus on snomobile trails that are used mainly by locals, and I try to hit them on weekdays or weekend nights. I train my dogs to stay to the right just to make passes smooth and make sure to smile and wave at every kind 'biler that goes by. A little good will goes a long way IMO.

Age to train: most mushers harness break and do very short, happy runs at 6 months. By 9-12 months they're putting more milage on. The big thing is to make sure it's not too mentally stressful on young dogs. If you're taking pat-the-puppy breaks and coming back in when pupalupagus still wanted to do a little more, you'll be fine.

While there is an oft-repeated old saw about waiting until 'joints are closed', it seems that sled dogs from wildly different gene pools starting work at under a year old are often still out there on the trail at 10 years and beyond with a MUCH lower incidence of osteo problems than the general canine population. I wish I was young and rich and could go back to school to be a vet, because I would love to do a study on this. Besides being well exercised, sled dogs are typically kept very lean and fed higher protien and fat rations than the average pet from puppyhood onward.... maybe diet is the key here? Dunno, but I'd sure have fun teasing the data on this subject. Clearly there's something vastly different going on here than what vets are warning pet owners about.

Thanks everyone for the feedback!  I definitely want to find a structured activity that we'll both enjoy this winter--otherwise, it's way too easy to wimp out and come in by the fire.  Until the discovery of my favorite shoes/new dog chew toy that is...

We recently built a house at the base of an old ski resort (this is Wisconsin, so think extreme sledding), so the terrain really comes in handy when I need to wear Otto out in a hurry.  MegC--are there any special precautions you need to take when pulling up hill? Or do you walk up moderate inclines? (I'm thinking about my youngest son--I'm not so dillusional as to expect that string bean to cart my carcass uphill on his own.)

I definitely see that Otto needs those mental challenges like Simon, so over the winter I'll be working on our basic obedience commands from a distance and with greater distractions (and with three boys, those aren't hard to come by!).  My fear is that Otto will react to the winter like Simon has.  If that's the case, how do I meet his physical exercise needs?  How do you do it, Kate?

If anyone else has suggestions for keeping their GSPs happy and sane during the winter, I'd sure love to hear them! 

Thanks.

Sarah

My dogs don't like rain or mixed rain and snow, but they all go INSANE when we get a good fluffy dump of white. Of course they associate snow with sledding/skijoring since they were pups... I don't know if that makes a difference.

I can definitely see the benefit of a second pupster, but there's no way I'm talking the hubby into number two into the foreseeable future.

Does anyone else use neoprene vests, or some other type of doggie blanket--or do you think they are generally unnecessary?  And if you do, do your dogs forgive you for it?  Poor Rocky looks completely emasculated... 

Sarah,

Activities I do to keep high energy Rocky exercised in winter:  1. Toss balls with chuck-it from inside my door out in our back yard. I stay inside warm while Rocky goes after the ball. Then I open the door when he comes back and he drops it on the plastic mat I have laying down.  2.  Because it gets dark in December at 4:30pm, I have plastic balls that light up with motion that I can toss out the back door or inside down the basement steps.  Also I clear a side in our basement to toss balls down there on sub zero days. (Hope you have a basement.)  Also we play hide and seek in the house. Hide a tasty chew treat and have Otto "hunt it up".In my basement we have stuffed animals that I got from rummage sales for Rocky to dig out shake around  and have fun Zoomie, Zoomie time. I also have a stuffed Greenbay Packer football and every time the Packers make a touch down, we shout "touch down!!!!"  grab Rocky's football and go to the back yard and throw Rocky's Football  out the door so  Rocky can make a touch down and the kids get a real kick out of that.  Now when we just say touch down, Rocky heads for the back door ready to make a touch down with his football. Also thru out the winter I make alot of toys for Rocky. ei. Stuff tennis balls in socks. Tie pheasant wings from our hunts tied to his dummies for added interest.  Loves snowblown paths and if we get a deep snow can create a maze with the paths toss the ball in the maze and have Otto hunt it up. These are just activities you can do at home with the kids or by yourself with Otto to entertain, This will be Rocky's 5th winter coming up with us. Sorry to say, Rocky's energy level is the same as the day we adopted him so I am always up for more ideas too

Oh, I don't mind the energy.  I'm much like you--I need an incentive to get myself out the door.  And keeping this little rascal from eating the walls is more than enough!

I read your message to my son, Noah (who claims he bleeds green and gold).  He squealed and then took off in search of a football to begin training.  Great idea!  Only problem is he has a twin brother that is a die-hard Vikings fan.  Seems we'll need to hunt down a second football for "the opposition"!

I do remember reading an older post about someone playing hide and seek with their dog--I'll have to give that a try as well.  That will be a great one to involve the kids in.

FWIW I've had a few different jackets and I've liked the one I got for sled dogs better than the one I picked up at the feed store. The mushing jacket wasn't stiff so it doesn't lift up off the back if the dog is curled up.

Dulcie's jacket is something like this: http://dogbooties.com/indogjacsmal.html