Hiya

I was doing a 'search' on feeding time, but that came up with puppy walking time and I am now a bit worried. 

After her second vaccination last week, Roxy our 12 week old SBT was allowed 'out' on saturday but from reading the boards i think i have been overwalking her.  Instead of going in the garden she has been going out on the lead for a walk and 'sniff' instead, so that meant loads (lost count) little walks.  she was fast asleep by me feet at 9.00pm last nite instead of her usual 10.30pm!

how many times should she be going out and for how long????

I would like to add that she gets plenty of excercise in doors, charging round and playing with her toys.  also as I live in a maisonette I have stairs and a little alleyway before even getting her to the garden. 
thanks for your help
kerry

Hi Kerry, the general rule is 5 mins per day per month in age - so your 3 month old puppy should be walking no more than 15mins a day. Remember though this is walking time, so you could walk 5 mins to the park then just sit on a bench with your puppy on a lead for socialisation. I've always done this with young pups and it actually does tire them out seeing all the new sights and sounds. A good time to go and stand outside is when the kids are coming out of school, your pup will get masses of attention and lots of socialisation without the worry of too much walking possibly harming her young bones. The difference is going in and out of the garden is on soft ground and at her pace, when walking is there is a chance you'd be going to fast for her, or she'd want to stop and have a rest and she can't on the lead. There is no limit to the amount of times she can go out, particularly into the garden for housetraining :)

Also I lived in a maisonette years ago and carried pups up and down the stairs for the first 6 months, its a pain but I would be worried about her shoulders and legs going up and down the stairs so often at her age.

I have to say I find the 5 minutes per month of age very little, is it per day or per walk?
20 minutes sounds very little out time for a 4 month old if you divide that to few little walks. You do not get very far in 5 minutes with a puppy that is sniffing around and wants to say hello to every person they meet and wonder the wonders of world :)

I am not arguing the general view but just wanted to tell what I have been told...

I have always been told that puppy should get some exercise as muscles will support the developing bones! The breeder of my older dog (giant breed) always let the puppies left with her follow the bigger dogs on walks (all off lead) from pretty young age.
She pointed out the importance of exercise and not let puppy get unfit by not walking and being overly scared of letting the pup exercise.
We were told to avoid letting the pup jump up and especially down from places as the jump down can harm the elbows as they take the weight of the dog.
Our puppy was carried up and down stairs for first 6 months (30kg!) also and was also limited to go up and down on her own after that (gates).
She was lifted off the car untill about age of 9 months and after this she was supported when jumping down.
This person has been breeding for about twenty years and has some of the best hip/elbow results in the breed! I do not think they have 1 dog they own themselves and that has followed the regime and exercised from pretty young age that has had bad hips or elbows!

I do not mean taking the pup for miles of lead walking.
I believe the best way is to find a dog of a similar size and just let them run together.
But it will definitely add up to more exercise than 15 minutes of lead walking if the puppy is running about off the lead. This will obviously also develop their balance, body co-ordination and social skills.

Also the puppies used to go out on walks in the forest in the winter so would walk/jump/crawl in a deep snow...
I suppose this in a way could relate to swimming as the body is supported by the snow around it?
Something we did from when our dog was about 6 months and had had her hips checked and healthy (un-official x-rays, official ones not taken untill 2 years) was to go and run her from one person to another in deep snow!
This was also following the breeders advise to get her good muscle to support her bones and especially back (Breed with longish back).
Also we were going on bike runs on soft ground from when she was around a year old.
My dog is now 10 years old and has good hips and has never had trouble with her hips... which considering her breed is not the norm at 10 years of age.

My current puppy is 3 months old and goes out to play with a cocker at least once a day,off lead running for about 30 minutes. Obviously they do not constantly run for all this time! On top of this she gets slow poo&pee walks which on their own must add to about 30 minutes (or more) again spread over the day. plus the time she spends in the garden and runs about in the house...

So I'm one of those people who is not so sure about limiting the puppy too much...
I believe everybody has their own believes and what they have found/learned to be the best way.

Running in deep snow is definitely not something I would recommend for young puppies, it's not at all like swimming...think how sore your own legs getting wading through deep snow - it's hard work!

I actually edited my 1st post, originally I did say that I thought the 5 min per month rule could be varied from breed to breed. I'm not sure what breed you have but certain breeds such as sloughis are encouraged to exercise lots and run lots as pups - borzois are the opposite where you would follow that rule quite closely. Border collies can take an awful lot more exercise as youngsters than other breeds. However, I stand by my original post and say that for most breeds this is the rule, and it's better to be on the safe side.

I did also point out that this is walking time, not standing around looking at things, sniffing or socialising time - these can all be added on so there is a certain element of common sense involved :)

I'm in no position to question the breeder if your dog, but I would certainly question using that routine for all pups. Pups hate to be left behind so of course will follow the adults and push themselves to the extreme, in quite a lot of breeds this would result in major bone/joint problems.

I agree with the difference in breed requirments and would never take a 3 month Cavalier puppy out for 30 mins free running with another dog.
My dogs live in the house and access all areas including the garden. They play, sleep, play etc when they want. Pups get taken out to meet people,other animals and walk in a public place with a well trained adult at least daily. If I gave them 30 minutes of running I would have to carry them home I expect!!

hi,
thanks for all your replies and from other posts i have now also read through the search tool, it does seem that the 5 minute per each month old is a good rule of thumb.  but yes it also seems sensible that each breed may be a little bit different and even different dogs of the same breed may be different.  I know Roxy tears around the house and the garden mostly non-stop until she drops....so i know i definitely overdone the lead walking on sunday (and probably from the day before) because for her to be asleep and settled for the night at 9.00pm is VERY unusual.  Also by the evening she didnt really want to go for another walk, she just sat on the step looking at me as if to say 'not again!' and only lots of coaxing got her to move. 

So thanks for all your replies and advice so far, i am going to use the 5 minute per month rule for the lead walking and see how that goes with her together with the garden toilet training/play time- I should be able to tell if she can do a little bit more or not, and her enthusiasm for it should also be an indicator. 

I will also go back to carrying her up and down the stairs 

thanks
kerry

Very true about the different breeds...
I suppose also for a tiny doggie they do have to walk/run if walked on the lead too...
When my doggies are walking when walked if that makes sense (bigger steps).
30 minutes of playing with other dogs is not all spent running around, lot of it is spent on their back lying down wrestling, sprinting and back to wrestling, chewing sticks, sniffing etc...
When they see everyday it is normal, part of the routine and they do not get as exited as a puppy not doing this everyday would possibly do and push themselves over the limit.

I agree Noora,
My adults spend their walkie time for sniffing and hunting fox etc and leave most of their loopy play for the garden!
You should see the grass!

One thing I have always done with all my pups is popped them in the car and gone to Tesco with them.  You can then walk them about in front of the shop and sit on a bench with them, they get so much socialization in the one place.  they see cars, noisy trolleys endless people and children who many want to come and have a stroke  and other dogs.
I have also done it before they have completed thier puppy jabs, just carried them and sat them on my lap on the bench.  They have always come home exhausted from all the mental stimulation.