Just been told by the vet that I can exercise my six and a half month old GR boy for 45 mins three times a day.  This seems rather excessive to me. Would you agree?

Yes , the usual advice 5 mins a month of age for formal exercise ie lead walking where he has no choice but to follow. a bit of free running or play in the garden is fine as long as its not for to long.

It would depend on what type of exercise but coming from a breed where we don't recommend any organised walking until 6 months and then only very gradually, allowing the muscles to develop to support their heavy bone, that would be way too much!    I do question what vets actually know in things like this - unless they happen to keep/breed that particular breed.    I'd suggest having him out rambling around in a field or park, going at his own pace, for perhaps that long, once or twice a day would be fine.   But not more.    Perhaps your vet is looking for business which when your puppy goes lame, he may well get

At the moment we have a sedate 20min walk in the morning and then in the evening a 10 min walk to the fields, 20mins free running off lead (and he goes like the clappers sometimes) and 10 min walk back home.  Think I will keep to this for another 2 or 3 months.

What you are doing sounds perfect to me.  I always advise 5 minute rule and care getting in and out of car and on stairs.  Disappointing to hear that your vet has advised much more.

Thank you that is very reassuring!  Luckily we live in a bungalow and have a ramp for the car.

Mine is 4 months old and currently only gets one walk a day, either about 20 minutes on pavement or 30-40 in the field (where he is free to round about near me and we practice recall but all on soft ground at his own pace) and 2-5 short (5-10 minutes) sessions of play in our garden, either chasing or fetching or (a new favourite) "find it!" where we hide treats for him to sniff out.  Find it, which involves a lot of thinking but not as much dashing about, exhausts him most.  I also train throughout the day (for example practising "wait" whenever i want to go through a door before him, asking for sit whenever he is getting in my way, practising "watch me" whenever he happens to sit looking at me asking "what can i do now mum?").  It's never much in one go by it really adds up.

I actually think the field walks we do might be slightly excessive, but he is a bit itchy at the moment (sensitive puppy skin which i am assured either he will grow out of or it will get worse and reveal it's something else) and he licks excessively if he doesn't get some running-about freedom.  He doesn't get a field walk every day but about 3-4 times a week.  He's a poodle and apt to make his own fun if bored, and being bright bores very easily.

Anyway i think what you're doing sounds fine, unless there is some specific reason the vet said it (i.e. if you'd taken him in for damage caused by boredom habits like chewing himself or something) i would disregard it and continue.  And even if you DID take him in for that sort of reason, brain games would probably relieve his boredom and tire him out better than more walking anyway.

Your exercise regime sounds just right to me OP, and more or less what I did with my golden at the same age. 45 minutes three times a day would be far too much especially with a breed so prone to joint problems. In fact thinking about it mine doesn't get that much now especially while its so warm, she would much rather spend half and hour swimming in the sea and then go home to sleep it all off.

Thanks Jodi.  We only live a 5 min drive from the beach and my old Golden loved swimming in the sea.  Cant wait to take this one but at the moment there are so many summer visitors with dogs small children etc and he is just too excitable right now.  Waiting for a rainy evening so I can take him!

Having had 12 Goldens over the years, I think your current regime sounds just about right but don't combine it into an hour at one session just yet. Keep him restricted until his growth plates have closed at about 18 months. The restriction will pay dividends and you can then let him build up to whatever will be normal.  I would not put it to over an hour until he is 18 mths. but he can build up to an hour by a year if he has shown no signs of lameness. It will be cooler by then anyway. Have a lovely time with your Golden. They are the best!