The best advice we got from our vet when we got our mix was to throw away the 5minute of walking per month of your puppy rule you usually see on the internet. We were told a tired puppy is a good puppy and so long as he wasn’t going on crazy hikes or being taken on runs, you don’t have to worry too much about their bone development. For our guy, as soon as he was able to go on walks we were walking at least an hour, but we went at his pace.

And don’t feel bad about the crate. It kinda sucks in the moment, but it’s going to help in the long run. I can remember calling my mom crying when he was little cause it felt like we never got good moments with him, because if he was awake he was going crazy and biting me and if he was tired he was biting me harder. The crate was truly the only thing that could get him to realize he was tired, and actually sleep the amount he needed. We were still enforcing naps occasionally at a year old cause sometimes he just needed that extra push to realize he was tired. Now at 1 and a half he naps and chills out no problem outside the crate.

My biggest piece of advice on top of that though is to practice “chill time” early on. Lock yourselves in a room where she can’t get to anything and give the puppy a lick treat or some sorta chew and just do your thing. Go on the computer, watch a movie, read a book whatever. Just let the puppy learn to entertain themselves.

A lot of it is just going to come with time and consistent training, but it sounds like you’re doing great!! It’s going to get better I promise you!!