Re: How much exercise does my puppy need? The rough guidance is 5 minutes for every month of his life, twice a day. So, at 4 months, that would be 20minutes twice a day. It's just a guide, though.
Re: How much exercise does my puppy need? I kept to the 5 mins per month once a day. The 20 mins would be lead walking to and from the park, with about 15-20 mins off lead play
Re: How much exercise does my puppy need? Not as far as you think I've got a pup about the same age(a spaniel) and I mostly do little bits of training through the day in the garden or somewhere secure. Then I take him out and about to get him used to stuff and socialise. Between those two things he gets reasonably tired as they both stimulate him mentally. He probably goes for a "walk" once or twice a week so that he gets used to cars and meeting people and dogs walking along but that's about it ;D
Re: How much exercise does my puppy need? We generally do one structured walk a day of up to 40 minutes, for our 5 month old girls. I know that seems like too much but often its just 25 mins and it's not every day. They are not tired when they get home, and will charge around the garden playing throughout the day too. We over walked our first dog as a pup (at 10 months she did 2 hours 7 days a week on a walking holiday!) so we're careful now not to do the same. Some days they go to day care and then we don't walk them as that's enough exercise.
Re: How much exercise does my puppy need? [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=8742.msg123852#msg123852 date=1415933239] The rough guidance is 5 minutes for every month of his life, twice a day. So, at 4 months, that would be 20minutes twice a day. It's just a guide, though. [/quote] We were guided by the five minute rule for the first 12-15 months of Holly's life. It was interspersed with play and training sessions throughout the day so Holly had many short bursts of activity during the day.
Re: How much exercise does my puppy need? I think Barabara has the right approach. I wouldn't be taking a 4 month old puppy on many walks at all. Mainly at that age, Charlie got trips to the Common or beach to meet other dogs, and we counted those play sessions as exercise really. We relaxed when he was older though, and didn't stick so strictly to the "5 minute rule" once he was older. There is an article here that might be helpful. http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppy-exercise-how-much-is-too-much/ It says of the 5 minute rule: This rule says that a puppy should have no more than five minutes ‘organised’ exercise per day for every month of his age. So that would be fifteen minutes a day for a three month old puppy, twenty minutes for a four month old and so on. ... Walking is only one form of exercise and is no more valuable or important than games or training exercises. It is the total exercise that counts.
