Exercising Growing Bergamasco Puppies
A very young puppy will get all the exercise she needs through play. In early days, keep playtime and walks short but regular. Allow your puppy to sleep and rest as much as she needs.
It's important to remember that, although most puppies have lots of energy, their bodies are immature and not ready for exercise that causes sharp or repetitious impact during the first year. Avoid strenuous exercise or forced activities (trade-mill, forced jogs etc….) at a young age, for large and giant breeds the recommendation should be 18 months or older.
The leg bones grow from areas located near their ends. These soft areas of immature bone are called growth plates (also epiphyseal plates or the epiphysis). At about 12 to 16 months, the growth plates “close” as calcium and minerals harden the soft area. When the hardening process is complete, most growth stops and the growth plates are said to be closed. Before they close, the growth plates can be injured or fractured more easily than mature bone. An injury to the growth plate can cause the bone to stop growing or to grow incorrectly.
To protect your pup against damage to the growth plates, postpone high-impact and leg-twisting activities until you're sure the growth plates are closed. Leaping after flying disks or over jumps, jogging (especially on hard surfaces), and similar activities should be avoided until the pup matures. Your puppy is going into a medium to large dog (45 to 80 pounds) so wait until she's at least 14 months old to 18 months old, it's better to err on the side of safety—a few months of patience could make a lifetime of difference for your dog’s lifetime.
Your puppy needs enough exercise to grow healthily and to build enough muscle mass, but not too much that it tuns into injuries. The key is to find a happy medium.
