how much walking for a pup?

[youfhearted]

i think i read 5 minutes per month, so our 15 week shoudl be ok for 20 minutes, how long this applicable for?
dh likes to take puppy out with tennis ball but i am worried it is too much for her little legs.someone said prevoiusly they dont need much in the way of walks yet but when does that change?

[PseudoBadger]

What breed? I always do 5 mins per month of age several times a day until about a year (border collies). Tennis ball for whole 20 mins not a good idea I think. If he wants to play with a ball then use it as part of training perhaps, hold puppy's collar, throw ball short distance, wait until it's stopped moving then send puppy to it and recall.

[youfhearted]

oh thanks, good idea.

jack russell terrier.

[PseudoBadger]

Long legged? You'll probably be wanting to restrict walks until about 9 months I think.

[youfhearted]

no, short arsed legged, terrier

[Whoknowswhocares]

Very helpful....am just about to bring my golden retreiver pup home. I know I will have to be careful as they are prone to problems with hips and elbows

Can anyone help with a suitable routine and how and when to increase it to a full grown dogs amount pls?

[tabulahrasa]

It's five minutes per month of age a day until they're 18 months old, for anything that they can't or won't stop doing by themselves. So walking on lead, playing with other dogs, exciting games like fetch...


Things where they're dictating the pace don't count, so running about the garden where they can stop, start or rest if they want to is not part of the five minutes thing.

It matters most for larger breeds or those prone to joint problems. Some people take it as 5 minutes per month per walk - but I'd rather be conservative. (has a dog with elbow dysplasia and can confirm that it's not much fun)

[needastrongone]

Perhaps speak to your Vet? There's a lot of variables at work here. As Tab says, this 'rule' applies more to large breeds and breeds with known joint issues.

However, our vet was very relaxed about me taking our springer out for a half am hour potter in the woods from 12 weeks. This was very specific advice though as we know the hip scores for both parents and the breed doesn't have a history of joint problems. She was equally specific that had we had a Lab, she would be giving very different advice.

The rule is there to stop idiots taking young puppies on 2 hours walks according to our vet but I definitely think there's a lot of merit in taking advice for your own dog. Not sure where terriers fall in this general guideline.

Good luck.

[needastrongone]

Oh. I forgot to mention that training really tires them out so its fine to go easy on physical exercise. If you clicker train little and often, use kongs and puzzle toys, maybe hide treats in boxes etc so your dog has to use their brain, you will find that tires them out as much as any long walk.