Bark About! Blog

A puppy pile of dog information and stories

How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

Published March 11, 2022
| Comments: 0

If you’re a new dog parent, the question of exercise may seem a bit elusive. Last time you checked, your dog was still snoring (quite happily) on the couch. Or maybe your middle-aged dog is still plagued by zoomies. Regardless of the situation, we all want our dogs to lead as healthy and happy lives as possible.

Generally, there are good guidelines to follow. Just like people, many suggest dogs should get at least 30 minutes to 1 hour of exercise a day, and sometimes more.

But honestly? It can depend. We’ll dive into tips that can help tailor an exercise plan for your pup.

What if you don’t have a dog yet?

Actually, if you haven’t brought a dog home yet, it’s a great time to consider your lifestyle. Are you very active? Is your pace a little more laidback? What’s your job situation like? Your lifestyle, time, and energy levels are good factors to consider.

If you’ve never lived with a dog before, quizzes such as Pedigree’s Dog Breed Match can be a great way to decide what kind of dog is right for you. The right breed will help you stick with a consistent exercise routine, and can ensure happiness for both of you.

Consider these first

Breed

Breed does influence the amount of exercise needed. French bulldogs have short noses, and cannot keep up with vigorous bouts of exercise. Greyhounds, on the other hand, can benefit from long-distance running because of their legs.

Photo by S J

Age

Age also matters. Puppies generally have more energy and may need more consistent exercise throughout the day. And older dogs shouldn’t be neglected—they need exercise to keep their joints healthy, even if your walks are at a leisurely pace.

Health

Finally, if your dog is on any kind of medication, or has a health condition, double-check with your vet to see if these factors should affect their exercise at all.

Is some exercise better than others?

Should my dog just walk? Should they run more? What about swimming? Each kind of exercise has its benefits, and it can also depend on factors mentioned above.

Walking

All dogs benefit from walking. Even if you have space outside for your pup to roam, walking is needed for mental stimulation. Walking also promotes healthy joints, prevents obesity and even separation anxiety. A walk gives them a chance to meet other dogs, people, and become comfortable with new sights and smells. Best of all, it’s just time that you get to spend together.

Running

Running shouldn’t necessarily be neglected, even for dogs that may not run as much or as often. Dogs are considered aerobic animals, and giving dogs space to run as they please is great for overall physical and mental health. Dog parks, daycare, or playing games together in the backyard are great, flexible options for running.

Photo by Marcia Soligo

Swimming

Swimming provides its own unique benefits. For older dogs that struggle with arthritis, swimming helps ease joints, and overweight dogs can burn calories without putting additional stress on their muscles. You can check your local area to see if there may be places around that offer swimming pools for dogs.

Okay…but how much is too much?

Just like people, your dog’s exercise should be balanced. Thankfully, dogs can give us clues if they’re getting too much, or too little.

Below are signs a dog may be getting pushed to their limit:

Photo by Herbert Goetsch

Below are signs a dog may be wishing for more:

Tips for a healthy routine

As best you can, setting up an exercise routine helps your dog stay calm and happy (among other benefits). If you work from home, walks throughout the day gives them consistent stimulation, and may decide to snooze between sessions—giving you the chance to get more work done (a win-win!).

If you work outside the home, getting your dog out in the mornings and evenings is still a great thing to do. If you’re able to set something up during the day, below are some ideas:

  • Daycare – even taking your dog once or twice a week can provide enough stimulation and excitement for them the rest of the week. Consistent exercise is still important though.
  • A dog walker / sitter
  • If you’ve got friends or family that work from home, they may be willing to help take care of your pup
  • Set up an open space for indoor play

We hope this helps provide good tips for exercising your dog. Life is busy for all of us, but establishing steady exercise reaps a lot of rewards in the long run.

Recent Blog Posts

Dogs Make Happy Campers Happier

We all want to get away from the hustle, the bustle, the daily stress and the people, all those people! Camping allows us to see new sights, be alone, figure out stuff, bonds us as a family, creates life-long memories and reminds us how lucky we are to live in this...

A New Year, A New You, and A Better Life for Your Dog

New Year's resolutions for dog owners can help enhance the well-being of both the owner and their furry companion. Here are some resolutions that dog owners may consider: Increase Exercise Routine: Commit to more frequent and longer walks.Take your pup to dog daycare,...

To Test or Not to Test?

With advances in human medicine, we often see advances in animal medicine as well, which is great, because we want the best for our furry (or scaly or feathered) companions. One interesting capability that has grown in popularity over the last decade is pet DNA...

How Does Your Dog Halloween?

Halloween kicks off the holiday season, breaking ten months of peaceful calm and quiet. How your dog handles the holidays is mostly an inborn quality. You know your dog better than anyone else, so you know how they will react to changes in their routine. They will...

Is Your Pup Feeling the Back to School Blues?

It’s not just the kids who get back-to-school blues. Our dogs may also feel the blues, just for different reasons. After a summer with their people, filled with trips and fun outings, staying at home alone for longer stretches can be a challenge. In this post, we’ll...

Doggone Hot! Keeping Your Pawsome Pooch Cool and Happy This Summer

The summer sun sizzles and the pavement turns into a frying pan. It's time to talk about our furry friends' favorite season: summer! While dogs adore outdoor adventures, it's crucial to keep them cool and comfortable during the dog days of summer. So, grab a popsicle...

Does My Dog Watch TV?

These days, in the competitive pet care industry, some dog boarding businesses offer TV in their overnight suites. Usually, DOGTV or Animal Planet are the chosen channels. This assumes your dog is going to watch TV in the first place, which is meant as a calming tool...

Comments

0 Comments

Recent Blog Posts

Dogs Make Happy Campers Happier

Dogs Make Happy Campers Happier

We all want to get away from the hustle, and camping allows us to do just that. And camping with your dog can make it even better! Learn how to explore with your best buddy safely and easily.

read more