How old was your puppy when you started building them up to longer walks and hikes? i.e. 8+ miles. I'm aware of the "five minute rule" and obviously won't be pushing my puppy further than she's ready for! I'd just like to get some perspectives.
We stuck to the 5 minute rule through the week then built up weekend walks starting at around 3 miles So she would get 5 mins x month three times a day through the week and then on a weekend maybe one small morning walk 5 mins x month and then a longer 3 mile walk later in the day with no third walk. Probably started doing this around 4-5 months of age, now she's 8 months old and will happily do a 6+ mile walk once or twice on a weekend, nothing strenuous, just flat walks. I think the biggest she has done so far is about 8-9 miles in a single walk. Makes a very tired puppy! Might not be the best plan for everyone but it seems to work fine for us and she's very healthy and likes a good walk....if only I could stop her being so giddy when seeing any other dogs on the walks!
Im not familiar with the 5 minute rule: 5 mins x months is how long a walk should be? 5x2 10 minutes? A day?
Per day, Hank. The idea is to avoid repetitive exercise. The evidence for the rule is lacking. There is evidence re puppies less than 3 months and avoiding stairs but I am not aware of solid evidence re older puppies. I think the way to approach the issue is to ask oneself is there much to be gained by exercising a young dog on marches over long distances. I can't see it myself. I think there is far more to be gained from training recall, retrieve, impulse control, round the cone, and heeling. The puppy will learn a lot more, a bond will be built, while being exercised as a by-product of the training.
I'm doing those things too ... or rather, trying very hard to! She's my first dog and it's been one heck of a learning curve. I ask the question because my biggest hobby in life is hiking - I'm training for two ultramarathon walks in 2022, and I'm hoping that she'd like to join me for some of my training walks when she's old enough
I can easily imagine a dog would like to go for a longish walk. But it is far more likely to be a leisurely one with plenty of time for smelling various odours. Not sure that is what you have in mind since I do know that there are time limits in your sport.
She would do it because she wants to please you and be with you but not necessarily because she is enjoying it.When she is old enough if you can find somewhere that you can walk with her off lead so she can stop to sniff then run to catch up,that would be preferable to walking a long distance on the lead.Or a combination of both.
It would be quite a leisurely walk either way - they're challenges, but not races. In most places I should be able to have her off leash, and where that isn't possible I'd use a long line.
