length of walks

[angelboysmummy]

Hi looking for some advice. Have an 11week old border terrier who will be able to go for walks from Monday. But wondering about lengths. Have read info about 5 mins per month of age however is that per walk or per day. She has so much energy can't imagine one short walk will suffice. Any feedback gratefully received.

At that age we walked our pup for three short walks each day plus lots of romping/training in the garden.

Perhaps chat this through with the vet? I think that rule is more applicable to large breeds and those with known hip issues such as labs etc.

We have a springer puppy whose parents hip scores are significantly below the breed average, they are also medium sized dogs with no particular susceptibility to hip problems. Our vet was fairly relaxed about us pottering through the woods etc off lead at his pace for half an hour. He could easily potter in the garden for this long at that stage anyway. Very stop start etc. She did make it very clear her advice would be different if we had say, a lab etc.

On lead walks on pavement are very different I think and not half as much fun for the dog anyway!!! Same repetitive motion used I guess and a hard surface.

Does provide new sniffs for the dog, tons of socialisation opportunities and a change of scenery for the owner.

Be prepared for your puppy not to like it at first though! Ours used to cry and try to go home. Took a few weeks but walks are easily his best time of the day!

I have a Border and I mentioned this at a vets appointment and she didn't seem worried. I think we started off at about 25 - 30 minutes. He has always loved being out.

He is coming up for 7 months and sometimes he lays down and refuses to move if I head towards exit at around the hour mark. We are normally out for 1 - 1 1/2 now but sometimes longer so I hope vets relaxed attitude was ok to follow else we could have stored up trouble

11 weeks is still very young and as a small breed, I'd wait until 3 months old. Until then, lots of play and running off the lead to develope muscles in the house and garden for charging around.
1st he has to get used to a collar - then the lead. The traffic noises can be frightening for lots of young pups at first.
If he is used to charging around in the garden, he will resent being on a lead there. Somewhere quiet and interesting is the best if you have it nearby for his first walk on a lead.
Good luck

thank you all very much for your advice