How much exercise for puppies?

[ZaroPack]

We have a 13 week old Australian Labradoodle. Both the breeder and our vet have recommended that we limit the amount of exercise that we give the pup; suggesting 5 minutes walking for every month of the dog's age. So, currently we take him for a 15 minute walk each day, with a bit of time off the lead in the park.

Apparently the exercise limit is to ensure that the pup's skeleton and joints develop well and to head off problems in later life.

However, our dog clearly hasn't read the right books and clearly has no interest in his long term health; because the fifteen minutes is no where enough to burn off his energy. He spends ages running round the garden at a high rate of knots and in the house he dashes round, jumping up and biting everything and everyone that moves.

We find ourselves in a bind; we love walking, but we are limited by what the vet and breeder said we should do. Meanwhile, the dog clearly thinks he needs a lot more exercise and get it in a way that isn't ideal for him or for us.

I realise that there probably isn't an ideal solution to this, but I'd value any thoughts or advice that others might have.

Thanks

 

[excuseme]

All puppies need to run freely and play, this is natural, this type of energy and "exercise" is different to that which we choose when our puppies are on a lead or out for a planned walk.

Let your puppy play freely, he will crash out when he is ready ! It is the planned walks that you are advised to keep monitored.

Enjoy your puppy.

 

[lurcherman]

Well to be honest I do let pup have fun in garden but you really shouldn't be over doing it as pups legs are growing, the time for me to start stepping things up is 7, to 8 months, people are different but I do take it easy .

 

[gypsysmum2]

Play is not the same as enforced exercise.

Spend the time you would be walking an adult dog in training your puppy. Mental exercise is just as tiring as physical exercise.

Also - Socialise, socialise, socialise. Take your pup to meet lots of different people/dogs/animals/traffic etc etc etc. Your pup should not be overwhelmed but should see and hear all sorts of sights and sounds while young enough to absorb them easily.

Have you enrolled in Puppy Classes? Look for some run by a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers). They use modern methods and are required to keep up their knowledge in order to stay registered.

 

[ZaroPack]

Thanks for the advice.

We aim to time our walks with the pup to times when there are other dogs in the park to give him as much socialisation as we can. We will be starting puppy classes in a week or so. It would have been good to have started earlier, but there were no classes starting locally just before Christmas.

We'll keep letting him go bonkers in the garden when he needs to, while regulating the time he is actually walked.

 

[lurcherman]

Good advice from gypsy.

 

[ann_e]

I also enjoyed reading your answer. Thanks also for your advice though it is not for me.