One of the questions we get asked all the time is “how much exercise should I be giving my dog?” This is usually because people are looking for a minimum amount that they should do in order to give their dog a good life, but also not take all of their time. To answer this appropriately, we should ask ourselves a comparative question like “how much time should I spend with my child,” or another question that seems ridiculous. The answer to all of these questions is “as much as you can possibly do” because physical activity just like mental stimulation is necessary for animals and people alike. You as well as your dog get healthier and stronger every time you perform a physical activity, and you literally should do as much as you possibly can with your dog in order to keep them active. Keeping your dog active will help them as they age to not succumb to many of the issues that are related to aging over time, and it will also keep your dog interested and having fun.
The minimums you should be concentrating on with regard to your dog’s activity levels are the following, if your dog is young and healthy.
Walk your dog at least a mile a day, and try to do it over uneven surfaces. Walking your dog extended amounts on flat pavement is not good for joints and muscles.
Play with your dog every night for at least 30 minutes, but preferably until they stop. This is going to involve chase and fetch, tug and any other game your dog enjoys.
30 minutes of high intensity running exercise at least once a week. This is full on running or weight pulling so as to raise their heart rate. Do not necessarily go until the dog is exhausted, but until they are panting hard.
These are the suggestions we make for good dog health, and are the rules we follow with our own dogs.
