March 20, 2025, 3:19 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Puppies also want to be encouraged and challenged from an early age. Owners of breeds with a great need for exercise, in particular, therefore, ask themselves when the right time is to start doing dog sports with their little four-legged friend. After all, you don’t want to overtax your puppy or risk joint damage. Dog trainer Katharina Marioth shares what to do.
Breeds such as the Australian shepherd, dalmatian, or husky have a strong urge to exercise. Dog sports such as agility, dog frisbee, or canicross are often used to keep such dogs active. But when should puppies start doing dog sports? And which sports or exercises should be avoided? PETBOOK spoke to dog trainer Katharina Marioth about this.
“There Is Often the Idea That ‘a Lot Helps a Lot'”
Many owners want to get their puppy used to dog sports such as agility at an early age. But dog trainer Katharina Marioth warns against this. “This is one of my ‘hate questions,’ because there is often the idea that a lot helps a lot,” she said in an interview. The first 16 weeks are crucial for a dog to learn to calm down and relax. Especially during the change of teeth between the 14th and 16th week, additional stress can be harmful.
Instead of sporting activities, Marioth recommends calm activities such as sniffing games or search tasks. “We owners must also learn to leave the dog alone so that it can relax.” Many owners overtax their puppies by taking them to new activities every day.
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Many Sports Can Only Be Started When a Dog Is Fully Grown
According to Marioth, certain sports are particularly unsuitable for young dogs. “Anything that involves sudden stops, jumping, or exerting a lot of force on the joints should only be started when the dog is really fully grown.” This is the case at one and a half years at the earliest. Until then, it is more important that the dog has a stable character, can concentrate on its owner, and has learned to sleep.
Care must also be taken with dogs from animal welfare organizations. If the exact age is unclear, the change of teeth can be a clue. A vet can also give an approximate estimate by measuring the bones. “It is also important here to let the dog settle down first.” Mantrailing is a suitable activity for insecure dogs, as it is calm and concentrated and strengthens the bond between dog and owner. However, it is always crucial that both enjoy it — without ambition but with fun.