If you have ever brought a young dog to Good Dog University, you have probably heard me talk about making sure the pup has sufficient levels of mental and physical stimulation to be on its best behavior. This is certainly the case for herding and working breeds. However, recent studies provide more clear guidance. According to experts, the five-minute rule works by assigning five minutes exercise per month of age (up to twice a day) until the puppy is fully grown. Once fully grown, your dog can exercise for a longer amount of time. This is around age 18 months or more depending on the breed. The actionpetz website has this awesome graphic:
The type of exercise a pup can do is walking, playing fetch, swimming or playing in a kiddie wading pool, or chase. Be sure when playing that your pup has a non-slip surface. There are many great toys on the market to encourage your dog to play, as long as you don't make it too rough or strenuous. A play time following training is a great way to reward your pup as well. For example, play for 5 minutes, settle for 5 minutes, train for 5 minutes, play for 5 minutes. Happy training!
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