How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need Every Day?

The amount of exercise your dog needs, depends on its breed and age. We know how busy live gets and it’s hard to keep up with the daily exercise needs of your dog. Let’s have a look at suggested activity time based on your pup’s breed and age, and how to exercise your dog even if you’re short on time.

How much exercise does your dog need every day?

Your dog’s exercise needs change based on its breed and age. As puppies grow older, it’s vital for them to get enough outdoor playtime and potty time. A good rule is a ratio of five minutes of exercise per month of age until the puppy is full grown, i.e. 15 minutes (up to twice a day) when three months old, 20 minutes when four months old etc.

Great exercises for shorter periods of time will be things like swimming, short games of fetch with small exercise balls and short walks. These are all great forms of puppy exercises.

When dog grow older, they generally require less and less attention. The perfect exercise activities for adult dogs would be hiking, relay-race games and play dates with doggy friends. These are fulfilling activities that will leave you and your dog feeling well worked out.

As dogs get to a more senior age, they will start needing a lot less exercise, just like us senior humans. Although walks should still be an important part of a senior dog’s life, they should be short walks at a slower pace. Another great exercise is swimming. It’s a great exercise alternative for senior dogs.

How much exercise does a dog need every day based on breed?

It’s not entirely possible to give a blanket recommendation for exercise time amounts as exercise needs vary vastly between individuals.  Factors such as age, breed, weather and general health all plays a big part in the amounts of exercise your dog needs.

Every dog is different, just like every person, but it is possible to follow a guideline according to your dog’s breed.

Smaller Breeds: Smaller breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Poodles and Yorkshire Terriers, is less active. They do not need a lot of exercise time throughout the day.

Giant Breeds: Despite their big size and strength, giant dog breeds such as Great Danes, Mastiffs and Newfoundland’s are known to actually be less energetic.

Flat-nosed Breeds: Flat-nosed or brachycephalic breeds, includes Bulldogs, Pugs and Shih Tzus. These are brachycephalic dogs, which means they suffer from breathing and respiratory issues that cause them to slow down and live a more sedentary lifestyle.

Active Breeds: Active breeds, need plenty of exercise, action and attention. These breeds include Terriers, Retrievers, Scent Hounds and Shepherds.

In essence its actually easy to keep your dog active. When you have free time, treat your dog to a walk in the park or a playdate with their furry friends. It takes only the smallest token of affection to receive a little more time with your best friend!