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Puppy info for Angie
Hiya Angie this has always roughly worked for me and mine.
No idea on distance but a good rule of thumb is 5 minutes per month of age, 2 or 3 times a day - so at 3 months old, 15 minutes twice a day would be fine.
At this age it's all about socialisation, socialisation and ore socialisation; not exercise so I'd expect that you would sometimes walk to the end of your street, sometimes travel to new places, go and visit people, cows, car parks watch footie matches on a Sat Sun morning anywhere where people and children will fuss him and not be as quiet/restrained with him as you and hubby are, but not rough etc and if you have a nursey/infant/junior walk past that at home times get him used to husssle and bussle. Stop at ice cream vans, go to the stables, farm shop anywhere that there are people/animals he will meet in his daily life with you. I took Sal and Tess on buses trains etc. And stop for a drink in a pub (always good for dogs) have him to sit/lie down, its all training and when you stop to speak gte him to wait nicely not fuss/pull/ whine when you stand still he needs to do that to not fuss and moan.
One thing I would say because he is a small breed try not to be tempted to pick him up it could gove him what I call the Chi-syndrome, that of all small dogs that snap at people when held by their owners (false sense of security) but scared when on the floor.
But be careful with distance and time spent up and about. Puppies can fool you into thinking they are ready for more as they can be very enthusiastic about life but do remember you still have a very young pup, who will need you to be careful on his behalf! The rule of 5 minutes of on-lead exercise per month of life up to 12 months (some breeds differ) is a good one and it pays to be cautious.
Are you going to training classes? These are fantastic at knocking your pup out and prove that brain training (periods of concentration) are very tiring. I found with all of mine that mental training sent them back to bed for hours!!
Practise lead walking and recall in the garden, do sits whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, short sessions throughout the day will help a lot to keep your puppy engaged and busy.
Make a checklist or look online at the puppy socialisation checklists and take your pup out and about to experience new things each day. Due to bad weather when I got Sal (January) I spent a bit of time in the garden centre, PAH the train and with herl. At the GC I popped her in the trolley on a bit of fleece and we went for bone shaking rides round the car-park. She loved it all and so did all the people you meet everyone loves a small pup.
Take him anywhere you will go when he is older maybe go with hubby to the golf club and let Monty be fussed and then sit with him and potter about while hubby plays golf. All social meeting are good, and you will have a pretty bomb proof pup. If he is suddenly scared of something maybe a "black bag flapping by do not pick him up (tempting I know) but the key with dogs unlike cats is to sure confidence and he will pick it up through the lead. The lead is a direct link to you he will feel tnesion, anger, fright through it so try to keep a loose lead and be confident.
I do envy you this time it is heart breaking, time consuming and seemingly never ending but it like childhood and honeymoons ends all to quick. But you get the benefits.
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