Keep Your Dog Fit And Healthy With The Right Amount Of Daily Exercise

We all know how important exercise is to stay healthy and fit. The same applies to dogs too. They also require an adequate amount of exercise to stay healthy and active.

However, a common question many people ask vets and other petcare professionals are how much exercise dogs need. They also wonder what type of exercise dogs should get.

You can find answers to these questions by reading this blog. Here is a guide on keeping your dog fit and healthy with the right amount of daily exercise.

How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need?

You often get very vague advice when it comes to taking care of your dog. It can be about feeding it food, taking it for health checkups, and many other considerations.

Exercise is also one part of pet care that is unclear to some owners. Does your dog require daily exercise? What type of exercises does it need to do?

Here you’ll find the answers to all of these questions.

Dog Exercise: How Much Is Necessary?

A healthy dog should typically get 1 to 2 hours of exercise daily to stay healthy and active. However, it could change depending on your dog’s breed, age, tolerance, and other factors.

Some breeds, such as Shih Tzu, like to laze around the house, getting barely an hour of exercise. Other breeds, like Rhodesian Ridgeback and Border Collie, never get enough of the exercise that they do and may want more.

Too much of anything is not good, so you must ensure that your dog doesn’t overdo it with exercise.

There are many devices that keep track of your dog’s activity so that you know when it is overdoing it.

If you have a very energetic dog, you must have one of these devices to keep track of your dog’s activities. Find out more about these devices, their features, and their benefits to decide if it is the correct device for your dog.

How Much Exercise Does A Puppy Need?

With puppies, you need to get them used to doing exercises gradually. So, it’s better to start slowly and increase as time goes on.

The ideal way is to allow them one to two sessions of walking for five minutes every day for each month of age.

For example, a 1-month old puppy needs 5 minutes of walking once or twice a day. A 3-month-old puppy needs 15 minutes of walking once or twice a day.

Why is it necessary?

Taking your dog for regular walks and exercises is essential to keep it healthy and active. Here is how regular exercise helps dogs:

It keeps dogs agile and limber.
It improves the quality of sleep.
It reduces stomach problems.
It builds confidence.
It helps eliminate unwanted behaviors like excessive barking, chewing, and garbage raiding.

Best Exercises For Dogs

There are many different types of exercises that you can do with your dog. All of these will help your dog become fit and healthy.

You can choose any exercise you prefer for your dog based on your convenience.

Walking

Walking is the best and easiest physical activity for your dog. Most dogs love to walk.

Waking helps your dog get some exercise and allows it to explore the surroundings with its nose.

Don’t try to rush it when taking your dog for walks. Let it explore the world through sniffing. Remember to change the route frequently so your dog can smell and see new things.

Running

Running is another excellent form of exercise for your dog. Not every dog may be as keen to run as others. However, some will need more running, especially the highly energetic breeds.

Start slowly with running and gradually increase the pace and duration. Ensure not to make your dog run on hot asphalt, which could burn its paws. The grass surface is the best for running.

Hiking

If you love hiking, it’s time you take your dog on your adventures. Hiking is a great way to explore the world at a different level.

Hiking could be tiring for your dog, so remember to start slow. In the beginning, go on short hikes on cooler days. Always take water with you; you and your dog need to be well-hydrated throughout the journey.

Cycling

Some dogs may be accustomed to coming with you while you cycle around. Start slowly and gradually increase the speed so your dog can keep up with you. Also, avoid taking a lot of turns when starting.

When cycling, you need to keep your dog on a leash. Therefore, you need to get a suitable bicycle attachment, so you don’t need to use your hands. Cycling is a fun activity to do with your dog.

Swimming

Some dogs love to swim, while some don’t. If you have a water dog, let it swim. You can play something like a fetch game in the water to make swimming more fun for your dog.

Sometimes, your dog may like to be in the water but doesn’t know how to swim. If that is the case, you can teach your dog to swim wearing a life jacket.

Once it gets used to the water, it will enjoy swimming, which is an excellent exercise for dogs.

Playing Games

Playing games provide excellent physical stimulation to dogs. You can play games with your dog, including hide-and-seek, fetch, and tug of war.

All these games provide a moderate level of physical stimulation to your dog, which is an excellent way to give your dog some exercise.

Indoor Dog Exercises

During inclement weather, below are some indoor activities that your dog can engage in.

Playing indoor hide-and-seek
Running up and down the stairs
Playing a game of tug
Engaging in treadmill workouts

Safety Tips

It’s vital to keep your dog’s safety in mind before engaging it in any physical activity. Discuss your dog’s exercise regimen with your vet to see if it is the best option.

Start slowly and gradually increase the pace and intensity of the exercise. Avoid doing exercises in hot weather.

Watch out for signs of tiredness, illness, or any other problem. If you detect anything unusual, stop exercising at that point.

Conclusion

It is vital to ensure that your dog gets adequate exercise daily. Always start slowly with a dog new to exercising or when dealing with a puppy.

Watch out for signs of exhaustion and stop exercising if it is the case. Try changing different physical exercises, both indoor and outdoor ones.

The right amount of physical workouts will help keep your dog happy, healthy, and active daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need Daily?

A dog needs 1 to 2 hours of exercise daily. The exact amount depends on several factors, including age, breed, and tolerance.

Why Is Daily Exercise Essential For Dogs?

Exercise helps keep your dog fit and healthy and builds confidence from within.

Is It Okay To Not Walk My Dog every day?

It is okay not to walk your dog every day. Missing one or two days of walking will not negatively impact your dog’s health.