Is my 15-week-old Labradoodle puppy getting too much exercise?

At 60 minutes twice daily, you are doing a little more exercise than Sammi needs at the moment. Puppies do not require as much [exercise](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-start-an-exercise-routine-with-your-dog) as adult dogs. Over exertion may lead to lifelong [orthopedic issues](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-orthopedic-conditions-in-dogs). The general recommendation is 5 minutes of exercise per month of age twice daily until fully grown, which for most dogs is about 1 year of age, although larger or giant breeds may not be fully grown until about 2 years of age. I recommend cutting back to two 20 minute walks per day, increasing it by 5 minutes each when she is 5 months, and so on. Because she has a lot of energy, you can work on [obedience training](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-obedience-commands-every-dog-should-know) with her (teaching her to sit, stay, lay down, etc.). That will use up some energy, and have the positive effect of [training](https://www.petcoach.co/article/new-dog-survival-guide-tips-for-training) her.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This distance should be fine as long as you are periodically taking breaks during these walks / runs to prevent over-exertion. In the summer months, take care to provide plenty of water for Leo and if it is too hot, I would recommend shortening the walks / runs. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. I think with a high energy dog like a BC, the exercise you are providing is fine. You are doing this off-leash, so he is not forced to keep up & can go at his own pace. I would not be concerned about this at all, as if he was in a large yard, he would probably cover this distance multiple times a day. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

What a cutie! I would follow his lead in the amount of exercise he needs. You are correct in that going running or prolonged jogging in a young dog is not a good idea, as their growth plates are still developing, so we recommend waiting until they are over a year old. Walks, however, and playtime outside with you are fantastic. If he is seeming like he is overly tired or not enthusiastic to continue walking, this would be a cue to slow down/stop. As he gets continued exercise his endurance will increase, just like a person starting to exercise.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to PetCoach. Congratulations on the puppy! It can be overwhelming to start caring for a new pup. Rather than depend on weight, we will determine if a dog is at a healthy body condition score (BCS) by using a chart that gives a dog a BCS anywhere from 1 to 9, with 4-5 being ideal. This website helps explain this system: https://www.thedrakecenter.com/services/pets/blog/fit-or-fat-your-pets-body-condition-score-bcs I recommend feeding Leo whatever the recommended amount is on the puppy food bag. Leo should be eating a kibble dog food that is formulated for puppies or "growth". As much exercise as he wants to get is perfect! Puppies are very high energy, so this is nothing to worry about. He will eventually settle down, so enjoy the energy for now! I hope this is helpful!

This is a great question! Yes, there is a concern that dogs who aren't fully grown shouldn't have too much exercise because it can have negative effects on their growth. The amount of exercise a dog of Oly's age should get is five minutes for every month of age; therefore, he should be getting at least 40 minutes of exercise twice a day. You can add on five minutes for each month of age to his exercise, and I would wait to do such long walks until he is fully grown (around 18 months of age). I would recommend scaling back on these long walks for now, and sticking to 40 minutes twice a day. I hope this helps!

There is definitely a variation between different dogs, but generally it's good if they can get an hour of exercise a day (can be broken into two different times of the day). Some dogs may need more exercise than that. A good gauge is how much extra energy she has at home. If she does not seem to calm down at home, or has some behavioral issues, then she likely needs more exercise. Exercise is also good for ensuring that Penny stays at a good weight. Nutrition is also an important factor. Below is a link to a good guide that explains what an ideal weight should be. https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20dogs.pdf I hope that helps and all is well with Penny.