How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need? Tips for All Life Stages
Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities, making each one as unique as the bond you share with them. As a dog parent, you might wonder: how much exercise does my furry friend need to stay happy and healthy?
While there’s no one size fits all answer, there are some helpful guidelines to ensure your pup gets the physical activity and mental stimulation they need. Exercise doesn’t have to mean marathon walks-for some dogs, a quick game of fetch or a leisurely stroll can make all the difference.
In this guide, we’ll explore tips to help you determine how much exercise your dog should get at different life stages, the best types of activities to keep them engaged, and tips to support their overall wellbeing.
SEE ALSO: A Guide to Dog Dental Care
How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?
Depending on the size, breed, age, and health of your dog, the amount of exercise varies. Generally, dogs need to get between a half hour to two hours of exercise daily.
When choosing your puppy, you should consider thinking about their exercise requirements. It isn't a great idea to buy an active breed if you work for long hours every day and won't have the time to ensure its physical exercise needs are met, just like you wouldn't get a tiny teacup dog and expect it to run marathons with you.
Factors That Determine How Much Exercise a Dog Needs
Many factors can come into play when determining your dog's daily exercise. Your dog's breed, size, energy levels, age, and overall health all play a role in determining how much is needed.
Breed and Energy Levels
Your dog's breed can determine how much exercise it should be getting. High-energy breeds include working and sporting dogs, like Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, and Siberian Huskies. These dogs need at least an hour and a half to two hours of vigorous physical activity each day.
Moderate energy breed dogs like Beagles and Boxers require about an hour of daily activity each day. The lower energy breeds include Bulldogs and Shih Tzus and small dogs like Chihuahuas or Yorkshire Terriers, who will do fine with only 30 to 45 minutes of physical activity.
Talking to your vet about your dog's exercise needs based on size and breed is always a good idea. A smaller-sized dog doesn't always need less regular exercise than a bigger-sized breed.
Age and Life Stage
Your dog's age and stage in life are other factors to consider when determining how much exercise it needs. For example, puppies often require short bursts of controlled activity to help their developing bodies.
Exercising adult dogs is more considerate of their breed and lifestyle. Adult dogs typically need at least thirty minutes of exercise daily and can perform many more exercises than puppies or senior dogs, so you can mix things up when creating their routine.
The physical health of a senior dog may impact their mobility. If you set your dog up with consistent exercise every day, you'll be contributing to its overall health so that they'll stay healthy as they age. You'll still likely have to cut back on some exercises when they are in their senior stage of life.
Overall Health and Mobility Level
Keep your dog in good health by ensuring regular checkups with your veterinarian. Healthy dogs can handle more strenuous activity that's in line with their breed and age.
If your dog has health problems including arthritis, heart disease, or is obese, it may require you to develop more tailored, low-impact exercise for your pet. If your pet suffers from weight gain, nutrition will come into play as well as regular exercise to help your dog reach a healthy weight.
Swimming can be an effective way to exercise without adding to hip or joint issues. Avoid throwing a ball for fetch since fast starts and stops can be harsh on joints and lead to more pain and strain.
How Much Exercise a Dog Needs at Each Stage of Life
Different stages of life may require more or less exercise for your dog. If your dog has health issues at any stage of life, you'll also want to be mindful of overexertion. Here is a breakdown of each stage of your dog's life and how much exercise is necessary.
Puppies: Short Bursts of Activity
In the puppy stage, you should begin with shorter play sessions since, after their burst of energy, they'll need long periods of rest. Be mindful of their safety, and don't overexert them when they aren't fully grown.
Consider having short five-minute play sessions with your puppy a few times daily. You can do light fetch, short leash walks, mental health puzzles, and play with toys. Avoid high-impact activities like jumping or longer runs to protect their joints.
Adult Dogs: Consistent Routines Based On Energy Level
Adult dogs at least one-year-old and higher thrive on more consistent routines that match their energy needs. It could range from daily moderate walks to more high-energy play sessions, from a minimum of thirty minutes to two hours.
Less active breeds will be happy with a brisk walk or two, but more active dogs might like to be your running partner or may enjoy an hour or so of play at the dog park. If you have a toy sized dog, short walks are a great way to give them exercise without overexerting their energy.
Large breed dogs like Basset Hounds and Retrievers also need mental health stimulation, so it's a good idea to include food puzzles or puzzle games as part of their playtime or exercise routine.
Senior Dogs: Gentle, Low-Impact Exercises
Senior dogs still need some physical activity, but you must be mindful of overexertion. Consider incorporating thirty minutes to an hour of low-impact exercise in the latter stage of life, especially if you notice that mobility becomes challenging for your pup.
Swimming is an excellent, low-impact activity for older dogs. You can also break up exercises or daily walks into shorter and slower sessions. Senior dogs still need a little exercise when they get older, even if they aren't as mobile.
Why Exercise Is Important for Dogs
Regular exercise is vital for dogs' behavioral, mental, and physical health. It helps prevent health conditions like obesity, strengthens their muscles, and supports joints.
Active dogs are less likely to experience boredom or anxiety when given enough exercise. It also keeps them from performing more destructive habits like chewing on furniture or shoes, barking, or excessive digging due to separation anxiety or insufficient exercise.
Signs Your Dog is Not Getting Enough Exercise
If your dog isn't getting enough exercise, some noticeable signs indicate as such. If your dog suffers from lack of exercise, you may see the following behavioral issues and symptoms:
Weight gain from unburned calories,
Pacing, whining, or other restless behavior to try and exert energy,
Excessive chewing, digging, or shredding of items and toys due to boredom,
Lots of barking because of under-stimulation, and
Lethargy or low energy due to persistent lack of exercise.
Remember that dogs aren't a one-size-fits -all type of exercise routine; different breeds and sizes of dogs will need varying activities for stimulation.
Signs Your Dog is Over-Exercised
As a pet owner, you may be on top of your exercise routine to ensure your dog is healthy and active. However, you can over-exercise your dog too much as well, and some signs of that include excessive panting or drooling and a reluctance to continue walking.
Dogs with too much exercise can become injured, so you may see torn paw pads, irritability or unwillingness to play, or even limping or stiffness when trying to be active. Over-exercised dogs can result in long-term health issues, particularly for puppies and senior dog breeds, so it's important to monitor your dog's limits and not go overboard.
Fun Ways to Keep Your Dog Active
Besides walks, you may not know where to start when keeping your dog active. Regular dog activity is necessary, and there are some fun ways to keep your dog active that you can include in your daily routine.
Here are some suggestions for helpful activities indoors and outdoors. They can work for puppies, adult dogs and dogs in their senior years.
Outdoor Activities
Playing fetch in the backyard is a fantastic outdoor activity for dogs, especially retriever breeds, who will be happy to go back and forth for long periods. Walks, hikes, and swimming are all ideal for keeping your dog engaged and mobile, with swimming being more joint-friendly if you have a dog In need of physical therapy or dealing with a condition such as hip dysplasia.
Indoor Activities
Dog owners love to play with their pups inside as well, and some fun and easy physical activities include playing tug of war with toys, hiding treats or toys around the house for your dog to sniff out, or even a light game of fetch (as long as you're not concerned about anything getting broken!).
Interactive toys like puzzle feeders or treat-dispensing toys are a great way to give your dog mental exercise. If you're okay with your dog moving around more, you can create a mini obstacle course with chairs and cushions for indoor exercise on rainy days.
Enrichment Activities
Take opportunities for enrichment so your dog can keep an active lifestyle and you can spend quality time together. Consider setting up a scavenger hunt with treats indoors or outdoors.
You can also work on training your dog at home to teach it tricks, skills, and how to obey commands. You can also bring your dog around other humans and animals for social interaction, contributing to exercise.
Cater To Your Dog's Exercise Needs
Every dog has individual needs when it comes to exercise, and different factors come into play when determining how much exercise is adequate. It can be most helpful to consult with a veterinarian or breed expert on creating a healthy exercise routine that is mindful of your dog's health, life stage and age, and breed.
Regular activity ensures your dog leads a happy and healthy life, whether a playful puppy, energetic adult, or gentle senior. You need to monitor and make adjustments as your dog grows, and don't forget to make their exercise fun and have a bonding experience with your furry companion.
Still have concerns for your dog's activity level or exercise needs? Schedule a same-day appointment with our veterinary experts or hop on a telehealth visit to ask questions so you can ensure you keep your pup thriving!