How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

As pet parents, our top priority is to make sure our furry friends are happy and healthy. Whether that means giving them tons of love, taking them for long walks, or bringing them to the dog park, we want to see them live their best lives. A key factor to our dog’s health is exercise. Exercising your dog encourages the body and metabolism to function well, stimulate the brain, promote good behavior, and increase socialization.

So, how much should you exercise your dog?

Well, every dog needs daily exercise. But not all dogs need the same type or amount of physical activity daily. The amount of exercise your dog needs depends on his breed, age, size, and overall health. A general rule is that dogs should get between 30 minutes and 2 hours of exercise each day.

Larger breed dogs, like retrievers and shepherds will need the most exercise. While smaller breeds like terriers, don’t require as much daily physical activity. Moreover, flat-faced breeds, like bulldogs and pugs do not need much exercise.

How Should I Exercise My Dog?

Taking your dog for a walk or run, hiking on a nearby trail, playing fetch in the backyard, visiting the dog park or beach are some ways to keep your pup healthy and happy. Large breed dogs are more prone to joint issues, which makes daily activities very important for them.

While smaller breeds don’t need a ton of exercise, it’s still a good idea to make sure they get 30 minutes of activity each day, even if it’s split into two 15-minute sessions.

Lack of exercise can lead to many more problems than weight gain and joint issues. Large breeds in particular can get very anxious when they are not exercised properly. This can result in unwanted behaviors such as barking, destructive chewing, digging and hyperactivity. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog!

If you have any fun exercise tips you do daily with your pup, we would love to hear about it!