What is the 5 minute rule for puppies?
Vivianne Bosco
2025-06-26 04:47:43
Count answers: 9
I give 5 minutes exercise for every month of age. When a puppy is trotting around the garden it can stop at any time, crash out and sleep. So the pup is not over stimulated, no reason why it should not stop for a rest. That is NOT part of the 5 minutes per month. But now look at going out for a walk, the lead goes on and you and your pup start walking, however tired the pup gets it has no choice but to keep going for as long as you do. It's YOUR responsibility to take charge, to control the situation. For a 3 month old puppy I would be looking at 15 minutes of exercise, but that 15 minutes will probably take me between 30 and 45 minutes. You can probably do this twice a day with no ill effects, providing there is a decent resting period, and if you happen to do a little much in the morning, then cut the afternoon walk down a little to balance it off.
Charley Schroeder
2025-06-26 03:17:07
Count answers: 12
The 5-minute rule states that a puppy should only exercise for 5 minutes per month of their age – so, for example, a 4-month-old puppy should only exercise for 20 minutes. Though this myth is born from a genuine concern for puppies’ welfare, it can often lead to owners spending months worrying themselves silly over how to stop their energetic puppy from doing too much. The rules around limiting puppy exercise are based on the idea that their growth plates are not yet closed. There is no evidence to suggest that simple exercise will damage your puppy’s growth plates. You may also hear people claim that these restrictions are necessary because too much exercise can result in damage to your puppy’s joints. However, damage to growth plates is caused by trauma – this could include landing from a large height, being hit by a car or being crashed into by another dog. It is true that some forms of exercise can contribute to joint problems – studies have shown that climbing stairs can contribute to hip dysplasia in very young puppies and that jarring, high-impact exercise such as running after a ball or stick can also contribute to joint issues such as osteochondritis dissecans.