Hi,

I've got a border terrier puppy, 12 weeks old. I've been told by some people that they should build up to exercise very gradually, only walking for 5 minutes for each month of their life. That means that after a year my border terrier would still only be able to walk for an hour.

My vet's advice is totally different. He says I should be guided by the puppy, and that at 6 months old she'll be able to follow me all day if I go out walking.

The vet pointed out that it's mainly larger dogs that tend to develop joint problems from over-exercising when young, and he also pointed to the fact that my dog is a terrier, and that they're fit and very active. I specifically asked him about the "5 minutes for each month of life" advice and he said it was wrong for border terriers. He actually said he thinks some people use it as an excuse for not giving their dogs enough exercise. He's not a newly qualified vet, by the way.

Do people here know what the answer is? The advice is so completely different that I'm a bit worried about getting it wrong.

I think the vet is VERY wrong in saying people use the 5 minute rule as en excuse not to exercise their dogs. It's a proven fact that if a large breed puppy is over exercised it can develop hip dysplasia. A small breed like yours will not be anywhere near at the same risk of HD as a large breed will, and it will also be fully grown much sooner. A large breed will not be fully grown until 18 months of age (one reason for why you are not allowed to compete in agility until 18 months of age) but a small breed may well have finished growing before they are a year old. I still would not give a 6 month old small dog unlimited exercise but by the time they are one they should be able to have as much as they want.

I followed the 5 minute rule with my dog. Up until now he has had no problems and he is approaching two. My friend who has been giving her 5 month old puppy unlimited exercise is already noticing problems. Her dog already looks as though he's walking funny and i'd put money on the fact it will have hip and joint problems when older.

You do not have to follow the rule religiously but use common sense, a small puppy whatever breed will get tired (and damage bones/joints) if allowed to run freely for hours on end. Occasionally - maybe every other weekend, i would take my dog out for a longer run on the beach or in the woods etc, but generally the 5 min rule was obeyed. It's better to follow the precautions now than end up with a dog whos crippled and cannot enjoy any length walk at 5 years old due to these kinds of problems.

Congrats on the puppy by the way!!

MarianneB said:

I still would not give a 6 month old small dog unlimited exercise but by the time they are one they should be able to have as much as they want.

Many thanks for that--that sounds  more like what I'd expected to hear :)

Thanks, Freds Mum :)

Is your dog a large, medium or small breed? And thanks for the congrat's :) Puppy sends you a little bark!

I have a miniature poodle.x

With a  smaller breed I would think the five minute rule used per walk would be fine for two walks a day, and what I would use with my breed if one walk still left them needing more.

After 18 months with mine they would have as much as I an they wanted.

I doubt many people do more than an hours walk at a time every day, so shouldn't be too restrictive during the maturing period with a puppy, especially if you add in the required training too.

As i understood it, the 5min rule worked per day not per walk?! So at 4 months old its 20 minutes a day which could be 2 10 minute walks or one twenty minute walk a day?

Like I said it is as guide sand for smaller faster maturing and sturdily built breeds up to twice a day for that amount would be more appropriate.

A lot would also depend on how much exercise they are taking on home ground.

Someone with a small holding, someone with a small garden, or living in a flat will have pups getting varying amounts of additional exercise.

> I think the vet is VERY wrong in saying people use the 5 minute rule as en excuse not to exercise their dogs.

He said some people :-) I wonder if he has had some experience, you do look at some people and wonder why they got a dog ;-).  Personally I would agree with the rest of his advise.

Personally I would agree with the rest of his advise.

I think unlimited exercise for any breed at just 6 months has to be unwise -even a Border terrier will surely not have fully developed bones then -well certainly a papillon won't and they are smaller.

Yes, perhaps unlimited is a bit of a broad description but unless the owner is working the dog or a keen hill walker the amount of walking offered is not likely to be too much for a terrier at 6 months.  Most terrier breeds are not late to mature.