Perhaps you’re curious because you want to optimize your dog’s health, or perhaps you are having a busy day and are wondering how few walks you can get away with. Either way, Dan’s Pet Care is here to help clarify exactly how much exercise your dog needs!
How Much Exercise Does My Dog Really Need?
In short, you should aim to give your dog 30-45 minutes of exercise a day. We get it, life is ridiculously busy, and sometimes your dog’s daily walks, or trips to the dog run, fall down on the list of priorities. It should give you some comfort that, while you could only give your dog the minimum amount of exercise in a day, your dog will probably be fine with just 30-45 minutes.
With that being said, if you can only fit in 30-45 minutes of exercise a day, it is best that you split that time between 3 separate walks, so that they have the opportunity for multiple potty breaks.
The More Exercise, The Better
However, as with most things in life, an answer is much more complicated than it might initially seem. While 30-45 minutes of exercise is the minimum amount of time for exercise for your dog per day, it’s much better to give them as much exercise as possible. Multiple daily walks spanning from 30-50 minutes do wonders for both your dog's physical and mental health. Walks are where they can burn calories, blow off steam, and socialize with other dogs and humans.
As we all know, life can be hectic, and some jobs demand more from us than others, and that’s perfectly normal. In these situations, it’s a wonderful idea to outsource your labor, so you can have a little more peace of mind at the end of the day that you did everything you could to get your dog exactly what it needs.
Check out our article on the Importance of Daily Walks!
Different Dog, Different Needs
It’s important to understand as a dog owner that, depending on the dog breed and age, your dog may require more or less exercise than another. For example, miniature dogs or bulldogs are probably fine with a few walks a day totalling 30-40 minutes. Others, such as a labrador or a golden retriever, may need much, much more. This is why it is essential to keep in mind your dog's breed, personality, and age when implementing an exercise strategy fit to their needs.
Top 5 Ideas For Dog Exercise
Don’t limit your dog’s exercise to just walking! There are many other ways to exercise your dog of varying degrees of convenience for their owner. We took the trouble to provide a few ideas to help your dog get exercise.
Your Local Dog Run/Park
If you’re tired of walking with your dog, and just want to sip coffee and chat while the dog park does the rest, your local dog park can be a wonderful place to help your pooch get some exercise.
Game of Tug With Your Dog
This classic game is fantastic for your dog! Try to add a little structure to it by making sure your dog sits before each game.
Dog Swimming
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool or live by a lake, and your dog is a swimmer, this is a fantastic place to take your dog for a good bit of exercise. Just make sure to bring a towel! Don’t forget to supervise your furry friend and bath them after!
Fetch
The most iconic form of dog exercise. This game is excellent for both getting your dog some exercise, but also as a training opportunity. Make sure to reward your dog each time it successfully releases the ball to your command.
Hide and Seek
Put your dog’s mind to the test by hiding treats around the house or surrounding area, and let them get to work! This can be a great way of putting their brain to work as well.
A Tired Dog Is a Good Dog
Ultimately, you want to develop a relationship with your dog based on mutual respect and communication. If you are giving them the requisite exercise, they will be all the more receptive when you ask them to drop the slice of pizza they nabbed off the counter! Remember, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog.
