i have an 8 month old and i have tried to follow the 5 minute rule but i have gone over on several occasions but not excessively. I try to be sensible and not do too much. Yes, it is tempting to go further as my boy would go for as long as I do but I don’t want to risk causing injury.
There is a lurcher I occasionally see who is younger than Ned, his owner boasts that he goes out for 2 hours plus to tire the dog out. I have advised him to go easy on the exercise but you can only advise people and he has obviously ignored what I have told him.
I have been told that taking a young dog out for too long doesn’t always tire them out, it just makes them fitter and fitter so they need a longer walk next time.
Anyway, i saw the lurcher the other day and his owner had him on an extended lead. I asked why and apparently he has got problems with his back legs and joints so he has to go easy on the exercise.
When i get a bit frustrated about the 5 minute rule, I remind myself that better to be careful during the first year than risk injury. A year being careful isn’t that long compared to hopefully the life of the dog.