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You are doing a great job exercising your Berner - which is key to good health.
The key with not overdoing it in the first 1.5 years and risking joint issues is repetitive motion - in other words, a forced pace of constant, repetitive motion. This is what happens with leash walks where we do not specifically go at their pace, stopping as often as they want, ensuring they are in front leading, and dictating the pace. I see people every day improperly jogging or walking their large dogs whereby the dog is lagging behind them, or behind their shoulder anyway, and this is what you want to avoid.
Free exercise is great - all the free, loose exercise he can get it beneficial and ensures he is moving at his pace, stopping as often as is needed, and avoiding repetitive motion - and play is great social skill building. The more dogs with good social skills the better....
Good luck!
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