u/AnalElder

Hello everyone! I am looking for some input from experienced puppy owners.

We have a beautiful Kooikerhondje puppy who is about 5.5 to 6 months old now (these are small spaniel-type working dogs weighing roughly 12-14kg when fully grown). We usually take him on longer walks on soft forest trails (no pavement or hard surfaces), and he absolutely loves it. Aside from being a bit spooked by bicycles, he seems completely tireless.

This weekend, we took him on a slightly more ambitious hike: 4.3km (2.6 miles) with 180m of elevation. The route was 85% soft, damp forest floor, with just one short technical segment featuring a rocky descent. During the hike, he was in his element. He didn't pant excessively, never needed to sit down, and easily kept pace with us. (For context, he is our third dog we previously hiked extensively with a Papillon and a Frenchie, both of whom were champion hikers!).

However, I keep seeing the "5 minutes of exercise per month of age" rule mentioned online. That seems a bit excessive and perhaps targeted more at larger, slower-developing breeds, right? We obviously don't want to over-exercise him or harm his orthopedic development, but as far as I know, Kooikers are lithe, agile dogs and aren't particularly prone to hip dysplasia or heavy-breed joint issues. Being a small breed they also develop/mature fairly quickly as opposed to larger dogs. I also found a great article by a veterinary rehabilitation specialist (Dr. Darryl Millis) that completely contradicts the 5-minute rule, arguing that steady, weight-bearing exercise on soft ground is actually beneficial for puppy joints.

What is your experience? How and when did you start exercising your puppy on actual trails? Did we push the distance/time a bit too early, or should we just focus on helping him mentally decompress after these outings?I know guidelines like the 5-minute rule are very popular, especially in North American dog-rearing culture which tends to be a bit more cautious than our approach here by us Euros where freedom and more exposure is preferred, but I'd love to hear what has practically worked for you guys.

I'd really appreciate your help and input!