hi, I was just reading the messages posted about the topic hips and exercise in labs and would like to know a bit more info about the 5 min rule, can someone please explain?.  I've got an 11 week old puppy who is a soft coated wheaten terrier, the breed can get hip dysplasia...his parents have the hip score 5/5 & 7/6, which I believe is okay?..... the breeder didnt explain to me about being careful with exercise etc apart from not taking him on walks which are too long, neither have I read any advice about it in all the many books I've bought.  I'm a little worried that I'm doing things right.... I havent allowed him to go up and down the stairs, however their are some steps in the garden which I find really impossible to keep him away from, he seems to get down them okay though, however tends to pounce like a cat down them!... sometimes he has mad moments in the house and garden and runs around really fast... I've also played game such as fetch in the garden which makes him run the the item I've just thrown... and we also play 'tug' games... are these all wrong??  I really want to do the right thing for him and just hope that I am... can anyone please put my mind at rest and tell me what I should and should not be doing...... thanks. 

Hi Chud
I really hope somebody comes along soon to help you out.  I have just posted on my link a question similar to yours with regard to the 5 min rule.  I would like to know whether it is 5 mins for each month so if your puppy is 11 weeks I guess 10 mins or so and does that mean 10 mins 3 x a day, or is it 5 mins period.  I hope somebody will respond to you shortly. 
Best wishes
Van

The rule is a rule of thumb. We get asked so often how much exercise to give a puppy and I saw the "5 min rule" on an American board and struck by the simplicity of it and the ease whereby people could calculate how much exercise was appropriate I brought it onto this board. It gives you a steady increase in exercise which can do nothing but help. OK, it's not perfect. A 10 week old puppy could possibly do with a little less and by a year old you could certainly give a little more but short of working out an individual time for every single day of the puppy's life and for every single breed in existence this is about the best I can think of.

Remember, it is your puppy and all people are at liberty to accept of reject anything they see on this board. I would also add, Your puppy has the hips it was born with and there is nothing you can do to improve them, but, there is plenty you can do to make them worse!

Regards, John

<< Your puppy has the hips it was born with and there is nothing you can do to improve them, but, there is plenty you can do to make them worse>>

Would like to point out that this can, in some instances include under (lack of) exercising as well as over exercising