How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need? Exercise Ideas

Young dogs and puppies will require much less exercise than an adult dog as their body is growing and developing. Too much exercise can put strain on their bodies and cause stress or injury. Take your puppy on short walks and allow them to play with dog toys inside to help them get the physical and mental exercise they need.

Older dogs and senior dogs may not have the same agility and endurance as they used to, but they still require the same amount and frequency of exercise as when they were younger. Try slowing down the exercise to prevent injury, and try less vigorous activities like long and casual walks or low-impact exercises like swimming. Regular exercise for older dogs will help them stay healthy for longer and can help older dogs who are more prone to obesity lose weight and avoid heart disease.

Once your dog is fully grown, you can determine roughly how much exercise your dog needs based on its size and breed. Different dog breeds require different amounts of daily exercise and mental stimulation to keep their mental health and overall health in top shape. Dog owners can use these general exercise needs to determine the amount of physical activity their dog needs or the type of exercise routine for their pooch.

• Larger dogs and giant breeds: If you have a large dog or a giant breed, such as a Great Dane or a Newfoundland, you should try to provide at least forty-five minutes of exercise daily—but try to be mindful of their joints and bone health as their large frames can cause excessive stress on their bodies during exercise. A low-impact option for large dogs is swimming, which provides plenty of exertion with less stress on the joints.
• Smaller breeds and toy varieties: If your dog is a smaller breed—such as a chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier, or pug—you should try to provide a minimum of thirty minutes of exercise daily. Many toy varieties, like toy poodles, tend to be more active and may need slightly more stimulation.
• Sporting breeds and sighthounds: Some breeds are naturally inclined to need more exercise due to their hunting instincts and intelligence. These include breeds like sight hounds (greyhounds and whippets), sporting breeds (which includes many retrievers), working breeds (like rottweilers), and herding breeds (such as border collies and heelers).

There are many ways you can give your dog the right amount of exercise even if you can’t go outdoors. Try some of these indoor dog exercise options and easy forms of exercise to make sure your active dog gets cardio during the day:

• Engage in tug-of-war. Use a rope toy or a stuffed animal to play a game of tug-of-war with your puppy. Be gentle but give them a challenge and make them chase you for their favorite toy to get their heart rate up.
• Play hide and seek. Make your dog search for you around the house by tempting them with a treat and then finding a hiding place. Have one person hold onto your dog while you hide and then have them let the dog go and run around the house searching for you.
• Try fetch. Choose the largest room in your house and clear space so you can throw your dog’s favorite toy and have them run to fetch it. You may have to teach your dog how to play and go pick up the toy for them if they don’t know how to fetch yet.
• Take a walk around the room. Have your dog walk with you around the perimeter of a room to help them get the health benefits of a walk without leaving the house. You can also walk up and down a set of stairs with them to help them get their heart rate up.

Taking your dog outdoors for exercise gives you a wide variety of options to make exercising with your dog exhilarating and fun. Choose from these fun games and playtime exercises you can do in your yard or at a dog park.

• Long-distance fetch: Dogs who like running and sprinting will love to play a game of long-distance fetch. Try using a baseball or a plastic disk to get your dog to go long.
• Obstacle courses: You can create an outdoor agility course to make exercise fun and mentally stimulating for your dog. Create obstacles for them to jump over and place sticks in the ground for them to run around.
• Outdoor walks: Walking dogs is one of the most common and healthy ways to get your dog exercise. Try a long walk or short walk based on your dog’s needs. Planning different routes every day can be a fun way to make your walks interesting and mentally engaging for your dog.

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