Biking/Rollerblading with your boxer?

JakeB · #1 06-10-2006, 03:24 PM

Hi, I wen't on a small rollerblading walk with my 8 month old boxer today, we probably went about 2 miles, and by the end of the trip she was exausted! It was a hot day, and I know it was from the heat. My question is, on a nice cool day, how long of a bike/rollerblade trip can she endure? Me and my wife usually go 20 miles on a bike and 5-10 miles on rollerblades, we were hoping to work her up to 20 miles, is that possible at all?

SILLY6PAK · #2 06-10-2006, 04:20 PM

She is WAY WAY to young. You should wait until she is finished growing. About 18 months. I know it is hard to wait. Mia just started running with me and has rollerbladed with my brother and husband. If you do not wait you can have problems down the line with damage done to the growth plates.

**courtney323** · #3 06-10-2006, 04:52 PM

Hi Jake -

I'm afraid your Boxer is far too young to be doing that sort of exercise, and you risk doing some serious damage to her joints and bones by allowing her to do this before about 18 months of age (which is when the growth plates typically close on a Boxer).

The only exercise your pup should be getting at this point in her life should come from puppy play only

Once she's full grown, she should be a great companion for exercise.

ZOE*BOXER · #4 06-11-2006, 03:31 AM

I agree on the age thing first of all. Also, we bike with the dogs late at night, and I cannot imagine them going the distance you have in mind. Mabye that is just my babies, but they like to run so hard that one or two blocks is enough for them.

JakeB · #5 06-14-2006, 09:16 AM

Thanks for your replies, I guess I must have misspoken, I know she's too young to do 20 miles, nor do I ever expect her to run that long. I was just wondering in general what is the endurance limit for a boxer. I've been reading other sites and people with other breeds - huskies/greyhounds/shepards are putting on substantial mileage on their dogs, and I was just wondering if anyone has a fully grown boxer that they like to bike/rollerblade with and how long can they endure.

**Jan** · #6 06-14-2006, 09:26 AM

When she is fully grown (around 18 month) you can start training her to go longer distances. She sould probably be able to go 20 miles with proper conditioning. Right now she is way to young for forced exercise and 2 miles is definitely too much.

Darbysmom1 · #7 08-01-2006, 07:53 PM

I agree with 18 months to 2 years before conditioning but I also agree that 20 miles is no way totally out of the picture if you dog has slowly worked up to that they should be able to. My husband used to train a unit in the military and he would always take our dogs out on their long road marches there were only five instructors and 70 privates the dogs would run up and down and tattle if the privates would try to go in the bushes and take a break. they would jog 15 miles. The dogs love having a job to do!