Afternoon
I just wanted some advice on excercising a 5 mnth cocker span. We had been advised 5 mins per month so i am giving him 25 minute walk up our road and back down... all the rest of time spent playing and training.

have i got this right as he is always clamering to get back out there again and i feel as if i am styfling him following the 5xmonth rule???

thanks in advance.

Hi,

Personally I always reckon until they are 9 months old they should just be socialised and not exercised as such.  I always start at about 10-15 mins at 3 months and slowly increase to full exercise by 9 months, but I don't always stick to the same amount of time every day. 

If one day you go for a longer walk, as long as the pup isn't running on hard surfaces or twisting at speed, it won't do any harm.

It's the bigger dogs you have to be careful with more than the little ones, so don't worry too much, go out and have fun.

Manda
x

I'm the person who always posts about the 5 minute rule on exercise. It's all aimed at a steadily amount of work for the muscles as the bones solidify. There is no need to time your walks exactly. A walk should be interesting for both you and your puppy. An occasional walk of a little more will do no real harm, the damage is done by consistent over work of the joints. Walking is an important training exercise. A quick look at posts on here will show how many people have trouble with dogs pulling on the lead and it is in the early lead work where the pattern of future walking is set!

Another of my sayings is that "Everything is a training opportunity!" and this applies to young puppies just as much if not more than to adults. Start a puppy right and there are no problems later. I never "Take my dogs for a walk." I go for a walk with my dogs! A world of difference!

Best wishes, John

Can't agree with you more John!!

Sarah.