Advice Needed! new puppy walking times

[Leslie Roos]

Hello!

I'm new to the website and had a small question about advice and dog walking! I have a new goldendoodle puppy (11 weeks, expect to be 25-40lbs) and am trying to figure out appropriate times / distance for walking.

We had been going on 30 minute walks and and did quite well (minor panting but we had water) but have since read that he should only be on 15 minute walks a day ?? (5 mins per month?). Is this the experience of most owners? I don't want him to have joint problems later on, but his energy is through the roof and walk are the only thing that seem to tire him at all. He is also crated for about 3 hours in the morning, so I would like to be able to give him some exercise before then

Thanks for the advice!!

- Leslie

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I have never heard of that. Daisy went on walks a couple times a day. Fifteen minutes to me seems very reasonable. You don't want him running on these walks but walking...and definitely not jumping but I should think a two 15 minute walks at 11 weeks would be more than okay.

Also playing and running in the house for 10-15 minutes is what we did and a lot of it....between resting.

I love his picture, he is so cute, which by the way you can put right in your discussion through the add image button next to the link.

[Leslie Roos]

Hmm makes sense -- would you recommend against 30-45 minute walks morning and evening?

Thanks!! (we really like walking)

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I think that was more in the lines of what we did. Cash is almost 3 months right?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I walked Peri at least 30 minutes 2x/day for probably the first year of her life.  These puppies are crazy and the walking helps tire them out!!!!!!!!!!!!  I walked though, didn't run. i have heard not to overrun a puppy because that does put some straint on their developing joints/muscles.  Good thing I'm not a runner :)

Your puppy is ADORABLE!

 

 

[L.M.]

I totally agree!  When we first got Seamus I think all we did was walk him....if he was having his zoomies, go for a walk.  If he was nipping at us, go for a walk.  When he was running like a train around our living room and jumping OVER our couch (yes OVER), go for a walk.  lol seriously the poor guy walked in sun, rain, even snow.  We also avoided running on the pavement with him at a young age, but I think walks are just fine.  They absolutely need the energy burn off.  =)   Happy walking!  

[Shannon and Finn]

As long as he doesn't seem overly tired or dragging near the end of the walk it is probably fine. I found that Finn would get pretty beat by about the 20 min mark and we worked up from there. Now it is so hot that he gets shorter walks but we did a long hike (slow because the kids were with) on a recent cooler day and did great. He stopped a lot to rest though. I think it is strenuous and repetitive movements that are hard on growing joints.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Leslie,

I alway thought that it was safe to walk five minutes per every four weeks of age.  Also, I believe that you can go longer if you're on grass than if you're walking on pavement.  

I have a six-year-old dog and a young puppy.  I'm looking forward to the time when I can take them both on long walks together.

Your puppy is adorable!

[Moe]

I had read that 5 minutes per month or you will hurt their joints thing on many internet sites. I asked my vet about it and he said it is complete hokum. He said even young pups can walk for up to an hour if they are healthy. You might want to run it by your vet at your next check up.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think you can walk longer than 15 minutes but stop and smell the roses if your pup seems to want to.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Hi Leslie... When my doodles were young I would walk them a good 15-20 minutes.  When they got older we would go longer distances.  Check with your vet when you visit but a few 15 minute walks a day is just fine.