I just got a 14-week-old Lab puppy and he has SO much energy. How much exercise should he be getting? I've been taking him on long walks but someone told me that's bad for puppies.

Congratulations on your new Lab puppy — they are bundles of joy and, as you've discovered, bundles of energy! The person who told you to be cautious about long walks was actually giving you good advice, and it's great that you're looking into this early.

Puppies, especially large breeds like Labrador Retrievers, have growing bones, joints, and growth plates that are surprisingly fragile. Too much structured exercise — long walks, jogging, repetitive jumping, or running on hard surfaces — can put excessive stress on developing joints and potentially contribute to orthopedic problems later in life. Labs are already predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia, so protecting those joints during puppyhood is especially important.

A commonly referenced guideline is the "five-minute rule": roughly five minutes of structured walking per month of age, twice a day. So for your 14-week-old (about 3.5 months), that would be around 15 to 20 minutes of walking at a time. This is just a general benchmark, not a hard scientific rule, but it's a sensible starting point.

The good news is that free play in a safe, enclosed area is perfectly fine and actually better for puppies than leashed walks. Let him run, sniff, explore, and play at his own pace — he'll naturally rest when he needs to. Short training sessions are also great mental exercise, and a tired brain is just as satisfying as tired legs for a puppy.

When to see your vet: Bring up exercise at your next puppy wellness visit — your vet can assess his growth and give breed-specific recommendations. If you ever notice limping, reluctance to move, bunny-hopping when running, or stiffness after rest, schedule a visit promptly. Early detection of joint issues leads to much better outcomes.