Puppies should be walked to adhere as close to the 5 minutes per month of age up to 12 months - long walks is setting up a recipe for disaster for any pup predisposed to joint problems - if you want your pup to have the best chance of a happy, healthy and pain free life, then stick to the 5 minute rule up to the 12 month mark and then gradually build up from there if you want to do more.

Any dogwalker advocating 45 minutes twice a day at 6 months old wouldn't be getting their hands on my dogs.

Training is the key to wearing out - exercise builds stamina and if you do end up with a poorly pup because of over-exercise, you are going to have one seirous problem trying to keep that pup rested and stimulated whilst it recovers.

You will always get those who say "oh - well I walked my dog x times when it was a pup and it was fine" - and if the dog doesn't have a pre-disoposition to joint problems, then yes, it will be fine.

The fact is - even with the use of all health tests, whilst you know you have minimised the risk of problems - this MUST be coupled with sensible advice on both diet and exercise whilst it's joints are developing.

Mine - much larger dogs than yours - still get far more worn out from a 20 minute training session than an hour on the beach.

I have a girl here with bad hips, we adhered to the 'rules' whilst a puppy - if e hadn't - it could well have spelt the difference between a bitch with asymptomatic Hip Dysplasia and a dog needing major surgical intervention.

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy