How Much Playtime Does a Puppy Need?
It is hard to answer the question “how much playtime does my puppy need?” The breed and age of your pup, among other factors, can vary how much playtime your energetic furball will need. However, there are baseline rules to follow as a starting point for you and your four-legged friend. Here at Sit Means Sit, we know that puppy play is essential to socialization. We also are well versed in puppy training.
Start by following the modified version of the 5-minute rule and then make small adjustments from there depending on the energy level of your puppy.
5-Minute Rule
The five-minute rule states that for every month of age, your puppy can have up to five minutes of playtime. For example, your 8-week puppy would be given 10 minutes of exercise. Or your 3-month-old pup is given 15 minutes, and so on. However, there are modified versions of this rule. This includes limiting your pup to this time restraint per play session and having roughly two play sessions a day. For example, an 8-week-old pup is given 10 minutes of playtime twice a day. Stick to the 5-minute rule and then use your best judgment to determine how many play sessions are best for your pup.
Modification By Age
It only makes sense that as your dog gets older, they will enjoy and even need longer play sessions. Now, the approach for figuring out exactly how long that is will vary depending on who you talk to.
As far as puppy playtime/exercise goes, you’ll commonly hear professionals refer to the five-minute rule. This rule says that for every month-old your pup is, they need up to five minutes of exercise.
So, according to the rule, young puppies at 8 weeks old, will need ten minutes of intentional physical and mental stimulation. However, with so many sizes, breeds, and energy levels, is there really one rule to handle every situation? The five-minute rule isn’t a bad one, but we will also talk about a way to modify it a little later on in this post.
Modification By Breed
How long you play with your puppy each day will greatly depend on which breed the dog is. Some working breeds like German Shepherds need a high level of physical interaction. Great Dane puppies can often keep up on a 2-mile walk! (Don’t forget that there is balance. Just because a breed can endure it doesn’t mean that it isn’t too much exercise.)
Another example of breeds being different is the following: A Border Collie will have more stamina and energy than a Bulldog, so a Bulldog puppy’s daily routine will look very different than a Border Collie puppy.
It’s important to learn as much about your puppy’s breed as you can so that you know how much exercise is best. Some breeds will have a lot of energy, other dogs will move slowly. It’s all relative.
Growth Plates
Veterinarians often point out that growth plates are in the long bones of your dog’s body such as the front and hind legs and the dog’s feet. Most of the long bones have one growth plate at each end of the bone and they lengthen as the bones lengthen with growth. Humans also have growth plates and the concept is the same.
Growth plates are a rubbery material called cartilage. This material can flex and stretch while the dog is growing from around three to nine months of age. Once the dog has stopped growing, the growth plates harden and close giving adult dogs some extra stability.
When people talk about exercising a puppy too much, the main concern is causing the growth plates to close prematurely, which will stunt growth and cause orthopedic issues such as osteoarthritis.
Now, there are other reasons that growth plates could close early (genetics, nutrition, medical conditions), but the main reason is through a traumatic fracture. This could be an instance where a puppy jumps from too high a spot, gets hit by a car, or something else equally traumatic. It’s not commonly caused by a too-long walk or a particularly long play session.
Best Times to Play
Playtime and crate training go hand-in-hand. The goal is to train your pup to only bark if they need to be let outside or for other specific commands. If your furry friend is bored in the crate, they will bark to be let out to play and could form a habit of barking in the crate. Prevent this by tiring your pup out about 30 minutes before they need to be crated. Your tired and happy puppy will begin to associate positive feelings with the crate.
Playtime is important to keep your pup from being bored and getting into trouble. Here is a resource to help determine if your pup is bad or just bored.
Best Types of Play
It is best to keep leashed walks short. Long walks can be too demanding and too much exercise for your little friend. Avoiding running, jumping, or jogging is recommended as it puts too much stress on their little underdeveloped joints. Before puppies’ growth plates close around 14 months of age, they are prone to injury or stress on the growth plates from strenuous exercise.
Keep your puppy healthy and occupied with games such as fetch or tug-of-war to help strengthen the bond between you and your pup as well. Chew toys are another great way to keep your pup entertained, especially when home alone.
Modified 5-Minute Rule
One of the most popular answers to how long a puppy should exercise per day is 5 minutes for every month of age, twice a day. This means a two-month-old puppy should get 10 minutes of exercise twice a day. This is a good starting point, but not all dogs are the same. You need to take into account the breed, gender, and energy level of your puppy. It’s also important to split up the exercise into multiple sessions throughout the day.
Why Limit Puppy Play Time?
We all know that not playing with your puppy or giving them time to exercise is bad for the long-term health of the dog. But did you know that too much play and exercise time is just as bad as not enough?
Puppy’s growth plates close around 14 months of age. Puppies that run around and play too much can place a lot of stress on their growth plates. This stress could lead to bone deformations, which will cause long-term issues. That’s why it’s important to split up exercise sessions, so your pup can have some time to recover.
Never end a play session with your pup exhausted. Always leave him wanting a little more playtime. It takes a little practice, but you’ll eventually learn what’s best for your puppy.
Why Play Time and Toys are Important
You can discourage your puppy from problematic behavior by having a healthy amount of exercise. Hyperactivity at night, knocking over furniture, rough play, biting, barking, and whining will be prevented with the right amount of playtime. Exercise is essential to your pup’s mental and physical well-being to keep them happy and healthy.
Exercise will improve the health and strength of your pup as well as increase their agility and socialization while reducing behavioral problems. Your four-legged friend needs toys to reinforce healthy chewing, chasing, and biting. It is a great way to challenge them mentally and physically. Get your pal toys in many textures and shapes to satisfy your puppy’s impulses to chew. Keep them away from inappropriate items such as your shoes and socks.
Here are a variety of best selling dog toys that will keep your pup entertained and happy.
In short, keep play sessions short and fun! Be sure to reinforce calm, good behavior. Keep running and jumping minimal and get lots of toys for your new best friend!
How Much Time Should You Spend With Your Puppy?
A two-month puppy should get two, 5 minutes exercise sessions a day.
Dogs are incredible. They’re energetic, social, and loving. They are explorers, adventurers, and the best companions. Because they are all this and more, it makes sense to want to do right by them. Part of the way we give dogs their best lives is by spending the right amount of time with them. Not many dog parents have a clear understanding of what this looks like.
Something we often forget to consider when talking on this subject is how much we’re away from home. If you work an eight-hour shift, your dog will need some extra love and attention when you get home. If your dog isn’t often left alone and then has a several-hour stretch, some special care will need to be devoted to your pet when you see each other again. This attention will make your pet feel loved and connected with, but it will also prevent feelings of fear and anxiety, and help prevent destructive behaviors such as barking, chewing, and scratching. From the very beginning stages of your puppy’s life, it will be important to set time aside to bond.
In many cases, your interactive playtime is more about quality than quantity. A couple of hours a day to play with a chew toy, go on walks, and maybe even meet some other puppies will keep your pet well-adjusted and feeling loved. The more time you spend in each other’s company, the stronger the bond will be, but you don’t have to feel like you’re neglecting your furry friend if you can only devote a few hours a day to them.