Exercise and Your Doodle: A Guide for Guardians of Growing Doodledragons.

Hear ye, hear ye, noble keepers of Doodle pups and great-breed beastlings! Gather ‘round the ancient firepit (or the living-room rug), for this wisdom has been passed down by sages, druids, and at least three very tired veterinarians.

Before your fluffy youngling reaches one year of life, you must not subject them to regimented quests of endurance. That means no epic jogs across the Realm, no trotting alongside your iron steed (bicycle), no accompanying you on horseback like a squire-in-training, and no perilously long leash-marches.

WHY, you ask?Because no young creature of the enchanted forests ever repeats the same movement for miles on end. Such unnatural repetition strains their tender ligaments and freshly forged joints, risking long-lasting damage—perhaps even summoning the dreaded specter known as Hip Dysplasia, bane of canines and heartbreak of kingdoms.

Watch a puppy in its natural state and you will see the truth: they gallop, trot, leap, shimmy, zoom, and then collapse into a mystical nap. Then they rise and do it again. This chaotic, free-spirited movement is the sacred dance that shapes their growing bodies. It is written: “A puppy shall self-regulate, for they alone know the limits of their zoomies.”

WHAT IS PERMITTED IN THE GREAT AGE OF GROWTH?

(Guidelines from the Council of Puppy Elders)

Under 4 Moon Cycles (months):

• Up to 20 minutes of leash-walking or “forced” movement per day.

• Unlimited frolicking, gamboling, and spontaneous shenanigans.

4–8 Moon Cycles:

• Up to one hour of total daily walking, broken with interludes of free-range mayhem.

• Jogging? Only a couple miles, only 2–3 days a week, and preferably upon soft, natural earth—never the cursed pavement of the human city.

8–12 Moon Cycles:

• Up to one full hour of walking twice a day, with play breaks aplenty.

• Running distances may increase slowly, but again—choose the forest floor over the asphalt wastelands.

BEWARE THE FIVE GREAT DANGERS OF THE PUPPY REALM

1. Racing up and down the Tower Stairs.

2. The Treacherous Slippery Floors of Doom.

3. Leaping boldly from high perches like an overconfident griffin.

4. Sliding across polished tiles as though possessed by a mischievous floor sprite.

5. Standing on hind legs for long periods at the Baby Gate of Temptation—warping joints like dark magic.

Ignoring these warnings may summon joint maladies that linger for ages.

OTHER ENCHANTMENTS FOR HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

Ancient scholars (and modern studies) have discovered that daily Vitamin C, offered from puppyhood onward, can help shield your companion from Hip Dysplasia and joint troubles. Supplements like The Missing Link—a potion of formidable repute—are praised across many kingdoms. Beginning at 6 months, daily glucosamine becomes a valuable ally.

If you forge your own path and gather supplements from human marketplaces, fear not: most dogs devour children’s chewable Vitamin C as though it were a forbidden sweet of the fae folk. Calcium with Vitamin D can be hidden within a cheese offering, thus delighting your pup while strengthening their bones.

And remember: your Standard Doodle (or other large breed fledgling) should feast upon Large Breed Puppy Food until 12–18 months of age. These rations are crafted to prevent overly rapid growth—protecting delicate joints while still forging a strong, noble creature.

Thank you, brave guardian, for keeping your pup lean, fit, healthy, and joyful.

May your journeys be long, your naps plentiful, and your zoomies legendary.