The Bones Of Your New Puppy

These are pictures of a 3 week old puppy's bones. Note that they do not touch each other.

When you get your 12-15 weeks old puppies, please keep these images in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

When you're letting your puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing- BOTH, not just one.

Once grown you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.

By Patricia Crespo

No spay or neutering until about 12 months old. It's best for the dog.

Photos Veteriankey.com @62 days

*Many Bones are not fully fused until 13-15 month of age.

This is why you can't have an 12 wk old pup with “hip issues" because they don't have the joints seated yet. Total growth is completed by 24 months old so that is why we don't do an official OFA x-ray until 24 mos.

--Bud Robers (dog trainer and consultant to EML)