Sleeping too much? Too much exercise?

I've had so much help from posts on this forum, thank you, and I'm back with a new concern ...
Wilson is eight months old tomorrow and we have been following the 'five minutes per month of age' guideline - but TWICE a day.
I'm sure I read somewhere that it was twice a day but I've recently come across guidance that says it's the total for the day. We currently walk Wilson for 30-35 minutes twice a day. It's almost all off-lead (apart from the 100 yards down a lane to the open countryside) so it's at his pace although he does tend to zoom around a bit in the fields.
If we're indoors during the day he tends to have short naps but if we're working in the garden he will mooch around outside with us and we throw a ball a few times for him to retrieve (along with other short training sessions). If we go out in the car we usually take him with us. So he doesn't get a lot of sleep during the day.
He will sleep all evening from about 7pm apart from around 15 minutes or so of chewing toys and mooching around the living room and then sleeps again from 11pm to 7am. After breakfast he will often have another short nap. Is this normal or are we exercising him too much?
He's in great shape - very muscular and fit - but are we doing too much in your view? Thanks

 

Sounds quite normal to me, it is how my dog behaves and I am grateful for quiet evenings! Others might be able to say more about the time spent walking, but if I remember, I walked mine about the same time when that age. As long as he isn't 'forced' to walk more than he is able.

 

Oh thank you! Such a reassuring first response. Wilson would walk for ever I think, if we let him. We often stop things even when we can see he would rather continue. When we go to walking places further afield by car he never wants to get back in the car afterwards. Thanks for your reply.

 

I agree with @Stacia, sounds perfect! A balance with off lead activity bumbling along fields, time split through the day and interspersed with short training sessions is ideal . I would also add focus training, rewarding "checking in", ping pong recall games, the sort of thing where you are the focus and Wilson is enjoying the close engagement as well as exploring his environment. I suspect though, you are already working on those sort of activities. Fine looking pup from your avatar btw!

 

Jax was 7 months yesterday and we do about the same as you. Not always 2 walks, but 3 or 4 days a week he is out twice. Recently with the good weather up here, we have spent a lot of time in the garden and he has spent even more. We have been able to leave the door open most of the day and he spends most of his day outside, exploring, lying in the sun with a stick and generally just pottering about following us. He gets a fair bit of play with me in the evening and sleeps very similiar to Wilson. I consider it very healthy more than anything else. I thought the 5 minute rule per month was a daily guideline, rather than twice daily, but not sure.

 

I'd say you're doing just fine, that he has a good mix of activities, and he is contented and satisfied enough to sleep so well. Free exercise isn't as potentially damaging as repetitive lead walking.

 

You are doing great, all that sleep is perfectly normal.

 

Thank you so much. Yes we do the ping pong and he loves that - really gallops between us so only a few times at a time. And regular recall, checking in, and we still hide occasionally to keep him on his toes. Thanks for your lovely comment. We think he's very handsome. I need to change the avatar though - he's much bigger and redder now

 

That sounds very familiar. Wilson would rather be in the garden when it's fine weather and we're fortunate too to be able to leave the back door open so he can wander in and out because the garden is secure. Thanks for the reassurance on the sleep.

 

Brilliant, thanks. I was hoping that it was OK because most of it is off-lead. Thanks for replying.

 

Thank you - much appreciated!

 

Yes, that's pretty much what I've done with all mine at that age. I think the key is mostly at their own pace. easy on the walking on lead, do things that use that little dog brain. Then you get a modicum of peace in the evenings and with any luck retain (or reclaim) your sanity! Best wishes.

 

Thanks very much. The evenings are lovely and peaceful I have to say! I was just worried he was sleeping so much because we over-tire him. Nice to know it's pretty much normal