Our breeder/kennel whom we have known for a long time & is VERY reputable from whom we got our now 6 month old SOILY from was very adamant about the 5 minute rule for exercise. e.g.- 5 minute of exercise for every month of age...if 5 months old...25 minutes of exercise/walking per day etc.. Lack of bone structure is the main reason for this. For the first 4 months I was very close to keeping this recommendation. Now I am stretching the rule a little. I now at 6 months am walking him around 40-45 minutes most times on a single walk that is mostly level most of times,every day. That's about 15 minutes above the rule.He has NEVER shown any signs of being tired & we have cold weather in the Northeast here. I know even if he shows no signs of being tired that doesn't mean he can't be over straining his joints...he just doesn't know that. What's the thought here of slightly over doing the 5 minute rule?
Edward Prenga
Joined
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494 Posts
First, you may wish to check in with your very reputable breeder. A very reputable breeder offers support to new owners and knows the pup better than anyone. I am sure they would clarify what direction they had given. A very reputable breeder will offer this support for the entire life of the dog.
Second, while walking is good activity, it is not great exercise for your pup. Consider tossing a ball, tossing a ball on a hill, using a lure, swimming... but avoiding jumps and impacts for the present time; keep it gentle, yet something that leaves your dog panting and ready for a nap. This is the kind of exercise that your pup might overdo. Also consider exercising your pup’s brain. Obedience training, new tricks and games, and nosework will also make good use of puppy energy.
You may have better results by breaking exercise and training into shorter blocks that match your pup’s attention span.
More important to me would be delaying long runs or running along a bike, avoiding lengthy exercise on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt, avoiding jumps, keeping your pup off of staircases, and keeping your pup from jumping down from height until puppy joints have matured.
Second, while walking is good activity, it is not great exercise for your pup. Consider tossing a ball, tossing a ball on a hill, using a lure, swimming... but avoiding jumps and impacts for the present time; keep it gentle, yet something that leaves your dog panting and ready for a nap. This is the kind of exercise that your pup might overdo. Also consider exercising your pup’s brain. Obedience training, new tricks and games, and nosework will also make good use of puppy energy.
You may have better results by breaking exercise and training into shorter blocks that match your pup’s attention span.
More important to me would be delaying long runs or running along a bike, avoiding lengthy exercise on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt, avoiding jumps, keeping your pup off of staircases, and keeping your pup from jumping down from height until puppy joints have matured.
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