How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need?

Perhaps one of the most important things to consider before getting a dog, as well as when deciding what type of dog you’d like to get, is how much exercise your dog needs. And we don’t just mean squeezing in a walk every day. Some dogs need much more time to exercise and work off their energy, as well as mental stimulation with their exercise as well. 

In this guide, we’re going to talk you through how much exercise a dog needs every day based on a variety of factors, inlcuding age and breed.

Contents: 

• How much exercise does a dog need by breed
• Highest energy dog breeds
• How much exercise does a puppy need?
• How much exercise does a senior dog need?

Absolutely. One of your core responsibilities as a dog owner is to ensure your dog gets the appropriate amount of exercise and mental stimulation, both offered by walks. The better question is how long you have to walk a dog, as this is where things begin to vary. 

There are a few things you need to take into account when finding how long you need to exercise your dog, including: 

• Your dog’s size and breed
• Your dog’s energy levels (this can vary for individual dogs of the same breed)
• Your dog’s health (whether they have any conditions that may affect their ability to exercise, e.g. arthritis or respiratory problems)
• Your dog’s age may also affect their ability to exercise. 

Unfortunately, our dogs are not able to tell us if they're bored or need more exercise, so it's important to pay close attention to their behaviour and overall demeanour. Some of the signs your dog needs more exercise and enrichment include: 

• Restlessness
• Barking (even after going out for a walk) 
• Behavioural issues (such as chewing things, whining, howling, eating things they shouldn't, and more)
• Anxiety
• Rough play or pestering
• Weight gain (although this can be for a variety of reasons, so be sure to speak to your vet before making any big lifestyle changes)

Some dogs are restless by nature, and the above issues may be more to do with a lack of stimulation than bexercise, but this can be tricky to work out unless you know the ins and outs of your dog's breed. This is why it's essential that you do your research before getting a dog so you can be sure that you're able to provide them with all the exercise and enrichment they need. 

Dog Exercise Requirements by Breed

Perhaps one of the reasons dogs are the most popular pet on the planet is down to the sheer variety that is available. There are over 200 breeds recognised by the American Kennel Club, and that’s not including all the new crossbreeds that have been gaining popularity over the past few years. 

To put it simply, when it comes to dogs, there really is something for everyone (unless you’re a cat person). 

However, with all this variety, it makes it much harder to generalise the needs of dogs as a whole, and so things need to be broken down. For example, just because a dog is small doesn’t mean they don’t have a whole lot of energy to burn. This is why we’ve broken down the exercise requirements for dogs depending on their breed and energy levels.

Smaller breeds typically tend to be less active than their larger counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need exercise! If you have a small and low-energy dog, you should look to be walking them for at a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of every day, which you can break down into two separate walks if you’re short on time. 

Some low-energy dog breeds include: 

• Toy breeds (such as Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, and English Toy Spaniel)
• Some flat-faced dogs (such as English Bulldogs and French Bulldogs)
• Short-legged dogs (such as the Basset hound)

You should also provide mental stimulation for your dog during the day, such as interactive play or puzzle toys and obedience training, but this shouldn’t be substituted for a walk. Dogs need walks as much for mental stimulation as they do for exercise, and it’s important they get this daily.

Dogs with medium energy levels may not be medium in size. In fact, many smaller dog breeds have an energy level higher than is expected of their size, which can lead to problems if they’re not getting enough exercise every day, including boredom, anxiety, and other behavioural issues. 

Dogs with medium energy levels should be getting a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise per day or more if they’re still unsatisfied, as well as mental stimulation and obedience training throughout the day. 

Some dog breeds with medium energy levels include: 

• Some Terriers (such as Irish Terriers, Border Terriers, and Minature Schnauzers)
• Some Spaniels (such as Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Field Spaniels)
• Some hounds (such as Italian Greyhounds and Otterhounds)
• Extra-large dog breeds (such as Irish Wolfhounds, Tibetan Mastiffs and Saint Bernards) 

Unless they have a preexisting health condition or are a working breed, most of these dogs are usually happy with a 60-90 minute walk every day (split into two if needed) as well as obedience training and mental stimulation throughout the day.

If you find yourself wondering if you have a high-energy dog, the chances are you don’t. High-energy dogs are nearly impossible to wear out, even with a 90-minute walk and need far more mental stimulation than their lower-energy cousins to thrive properly. 

The vast majority of high-energy dogs come from the class of working dogs. These canines were previously bred for a specific purpose, such as the Border Collie with sheep herding. If they don’t have an outlet for their energy, they can display a lot of destructive behaviours and become very stressed or even depressed, which is why they are most suited to those with an active lifestyle or who live in rural areas with plenty of space to run.

Some high-energy dog breeds include: 

• Herding Dogs (such as Australian Shepherds, Corgis, Anatolian Shepherds)
• Retrievers (Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers)
• Other breeds (Borzois, Siberian Huskies, Dalmations, Samoyeds)

These high-energy breeds need approximately 2 hours of exercise a day, split into two separate 1-hour sessions if necessary, as well as plenty of mental stimulation and active play throughout the day to keep them enriched.

Because of these high requirements, some of these breeds are not well suited to a quiet life on the couch but need someone with an active lifestyle or plenty of space where they can run and exert their energy to prevent any behavioural problems or unnecessary stress. 

Highest Energy Dog Breeds

Research is essential before choosing a dog, whether you’re buying or adopting, to ensure that you can offer the best possible home and environment for the dog you choose. If you’re looking for a particularly active dog to have an adventure partner, or you are trying to avoid overly active dogs because of the demands of exercising them, then these are the highest-energy dog breeds you should consider or avoid: 

1. Australian Cattle Dogs 
2. Border Collies
3. Jack Russel Terriers
4. Weimaraners 
5. Belgian Malinois
6. Boxers
7. Irish Setters

Another contributing factor to how much exercise your dog needs is their age. While puppies are always bounding with energy, they’re still small and growing, so too much exercise can be detrimental to their development, whereas older dogs can be more prone to aches and pains, which lessens their mobility. 

The above recommendations are applicable for adult dogs of particular breeds and energy levels that are in good health. If you have a puppy or senior dog, then you can see the recommended exercise requirements below. 

How Much Exercise Does a Puppy Need?

Your puppy’s exercise needs will depend on their breed, health, and personality. Because of this, it’s hard to put a blanket time on how much exercise they need. However, a general guide for exercising a puppy is to allow them five minutes of exercise (such as walking) for each month of their age until they’re considered an adult (typically between 9 months - and 1 year)

Keep in mind that puppies still have a lot of growing to do, so you should avoid high-impact exercises like running or swimming until they’re fully grown. Puppies can easily get their required daily exercise from a 20-minute walk or a potter around the park, smelling new things and getting to know the world around them. 

As we’ve said, these times are a general guide. If your puppy is still full of beans after their exercise, consider extending their walks or playtime to keep them entertained. Or, provide them with plenty of toys that they can play with independently, like the KONG Puppy Activity Ball, which makes a great interactive toy for puppies. 

Make sure not to exercise your puppy outside of your home or garden until they are fully vaccinated and that you are keeping up to date with their routine puppy flea and worming treatments so they’re protected from parasites.

How Much Exercise Does a Senior Dog Need?

Senior dogs can vary in energy levels depending on their breed and whether they have any health issues that occur with age, which may affect their mobility, including: 

• Arthritis
• Obesity
• Heart Disease
• And more. 

For the most part, senior dogs have lower levels of energy, and so don’t require as much exercise as when they were young, but some dogs truly stay young at heart. Because of this, it’s best to speak with your vet about the best recommended exercise times for senior dogs so you can be sure you’re not putting too much strain on their joints, hearts or lungs. 

Mental stimulation is just as important for adult dogs as it is for adults and puppies, so even if they’re not running circles around you in the park anymore, you should still work to keep their cognitive health up. You can do this by introducing a range of dog puzzle toys, like the Pet Remedy Boredom Buster Foraging Kit, which encourages your dog’s natural snuffling and digging behaviours.

By better understanding your dog’s needs, you can ensure that you’re giving them all the necessary care and enrichment needed to let them live a happy, healthy life. If you’re looking to add a little more enrichment to your dog's exercise, then check out our great range of dog toys, including puzzle toys, boredom breakers, and interactive dog toys. 

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.

This post was written by a human.