Is Your Dog Getting Enough Exercise?
With summer in full swing, it’s been nothing short of amazing being able to bask in the sun and let your paws run free in the grass for hours. Yes, our four-legged friends live their best life in the summer with endless sunshine but are they really getting what they need for physical stimulation? We all know summer can be hot, but that doesn’t discount the fact that our pups need to get out and burn energy, so how do we know when they’re getting enough exercise? Let’s do a little deep dive into what exercise means to your dog and how much they should be getting.
Just like humans, dogs need, want and love various types of exercise and play to help them cope with boredom, destructive behaviors and copious amounts of energy. Most love a good walk or a long hike while others benefit from a run with their owner. Swimming, fetch, agility work or just playing with other dogs and wearing themselves out also works for many types and breeds of dogs. But why do dogs need exercise?
For their physical health.
For their mental stimulation.
To reinforce positive behaviors and reduce unwanted ones.
To find a balance.
Dogs need to stay in shape just like humans do, so they can live longer and have more years of playing. But mental exercise is just as important as physical stimulation. Physical activity plays a huge part in a dog’s mental state, providing stimulation for both the body and the brain. Being physically and mentally stimulated will help to keep your dog’s unwanted behaviors at bay; as the saying goes, a tired dog is a good dog. You want to find a happy medium for your dog and their exercise routine to keep everything balanced.
When it comes to determining how much exercise your dog needs, a good ‘rule of thumb’ is that dogs should be getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. Breed, age and the fitness level of your dog are three important factors to consider when it comes to choosing exercise and how much is needed to satiate your furry companion.
Adult sporting and herding dogs - collies, shepherds and golden retrievers - will need somewhere around one to one-and-a-half hours of exercise daily to help get out their energy. Whereas toy breeds - Pomeranians, Yorkies, dachshunds - and brachycephalic breeds - pugs, Boston terriers and boxers - only need about half an hour of exercise a day.
Senior dogs and dogs that may have underlying medical conditions still benefit from daily routine exercise too. They require 30 to 60 minutes of exercise but broken up into a couple sessions throughout the day. Dogs that are over the age of eight years old for small breeds, over 10 years old for mid-size breeds and over 11 years old for large breeds are all considered senior or geriatric dogs.
Puppies are a little more tricky when it comes to figuring out how much exercise for them is good. According to the U.K. Kennel Club developmental issues can happen if your puppy excessively exercises, causing damage to their developing joints, growth plates, cartilage tissue and their developing skeletal system. To help find that balance, one of the common rules for exercising a puppy is five minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice a day. So for example, if your puppy is 3 months old, you would have two 15 minute play sessions to help them get their exercise in for the day. Once your puppy is fully grown, they will be able to play (aka exercise) longer.
What it really comes down to when wanting to find the right balance of exercise is not the size of your dog, but rather the breed. Do some research on the breed of your dog to find out what their specialty is and what they specifically need to help them with their energy outlet. Not everyone has the time and money for some of the activities your dog may need to fully get their exercise on, so committing to a daily exercise plan that gets your dog moving and panting a little is a great way to make sure they are getting the movement they need to stay healthy and active. Your backyard is also a great resource to use! Teaching new tricks, playing fetch and setting up your own obstacle course are great ways to get your dog moving without breaking the bank.
If you start to notice some of these signs, it could mean that your dog is lacking in the exercise department and needs some extra sessions to get their energy out:
Destructive behavior
Weight gain
Hyperactivity
Excessive barking and whining
Stiffness in their joints
Pay close attention to when your pup is talking to you; any of these signs can be pointing towards needing more activity in their life to help them calm down. Just like humans, dogs need outlets when it comes to their energy and their behaviors can tell us a lot about what they may need if we just become more aware of what is needed to help them. Going for a walk around the neighborhood, finding a new hiking trail or swimming in a lake or creek are great outlets for your dog to exercise. Every little bit helps, especially if we want to keep their lifestyles healthy so they can make as many memories with us as they can.
If you need a little extra help in the exercise department, we have just what you need: daily dog walks! Going Mutts Pet Services would love to help out your best furry canine friend when it comes to their daily exercise. We provide daily dog walks and pet transportation to nearby parks for walking outside of the neighborhood. It’s easy to customize your pet care needs when it comes to Going Mutts, just contact us through our website or drop us an email at info@goingmuttspetservices.com to let us know how we can help you and your pup!
Sources:
https://www.caninejournal.com/how-much-exercise-does-a-puppy-need/
https://www.academyanimal.com/news/how-to-know-if-your-dog-needs-longer-walks
https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/how-much-exercise-does-my-dog-need/