Hi everyone. Not sure if this should be inhere or health.Please forgive if in wrong place.

Can anyone advise me on how much walking a 6 mnth old St Bernard should be doing.
I have a freind with one and he is a lovely dog but his owners are taking him for long walks in hilly areas and I always thought you shouldn't exercise big dogs too much in the first year or so of life.I do not want to stick my nose in as they are lovely people and look after the dog very well but I'm not sure they know what is the correct amount.Do St Bernards suffer from specific health related disorders ?

If they are doing to much with him , how should I approach it without sounding like a know it all ?

Other than short socialisation walks, say 5 mins to a school gate or driving to a park and having a little wander then sitting on a bench with him I wouldn't be walking a 6 month old SB at all. He needs to get out and see and meet people and other dogs but it is important not to put too much strain on his growing legs. A friend who breeds them lets hers play in the garden as much as they want and takes them to ringcraft but other than that they are only on lead sitting just outside her gate watching life go past or driven to different places.

> If they are doing to much with him , how should I approach it without sounding like a know it all ?

Difficult one, I usually just opt for the 'I read somewhere that' and 'I'm not sure though, maybe we should look into it more'.

They are known like with other large breeds to be disposed to hip and elbow displasia. Even if parents were healthy and good scores they can undo all that work by over exercising. OCD is another thing to think about.
My breed i'd not be doing any more than 30mins a day on lead, and that would be split into a couple of walks. Play time in the garden and going to classes too. There would be a bit of off lead running about too, but taking that out of the on lead time.
But Saints they are a larger, heavier breed than mine and there is no way i'd be walking miles especially on terrain like that.
It is the golden saying of 5 mins added per month, this is a guideline. I'm surprised that their breeder didn't mention this at all to them?

So all in all you are right to be concerned.. Good luck..
http://www.englishstbernardclub.co.uk/page_616609.html - Even on the club site there is a little bit about exercise.

I always stick with the golden rule of five minutes for each month of age twice a day.

If you do that Uisneach then that would equate to a total of 1hr a day and for a 6mnth old Saint I feel that is way too much for them, any large breed in fact, maybe smaller breeds are different?

Over exercising can and will cause problems like slack pasterns and early onset problems with joints. Would think the two 15 min walks with free play at home would be more than enough. His bone structure will stop growing when he is about 12 to 15, although it would be fine to increase on the 15 min. slowly until he is fully grown.

No way should pup be doing that much, I would say garden play and maybe 10 mins twice daily, mainly for training and socialisation, I normally drive about and funding place to sit with them, get used to sites and sounds, people, dogs etc
I know of one dog who was walked for miles at very young ages, does come from very
good lines but to look at the dog now  is very upsetting, back end totally gone, can't walk properly, had so much potential :0( people have all the time in the world once they are 18 months plus, why on earth can't they wait
good luck with saying to your friend, but IMO some people just think they know better unfortunately!

Thanks for your advice.As I thought ,they are doing far too much.Yes I am very surprised that the breeder wouldnt have told them.I'll have to try and drop the subject in  when I next see them.
Thanks for confirmation.

Might be worth copying the kennel club link http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/395 as well as the breed club advice.