As a new puppy parent, one of the most common questions you’ll have is, “How much exercise does my puppy need?” Puppies need the right amount of exercise to stay healthy and develop properly. The amount of exercise varies depending on their age, breed, and energy levels.
It’s much less than you might think! Generally, puppies should have 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age, up to twice a day. Understanding their unique needs helps ensure a healthy, happy puppy.
In this blog, we will break down the essential factors influencing your puppy’s exercise requirements and provide you with a balanced approach to ensure they grow into a happy, healthy adult dog.
Why is Exercise Important for Puppies?
Exercise plays an important role in your puppy’s development. Here’s why:
• Physical Health: Proper exercise helps build strong muscles, bones, and joints. It also keeps their cardiovascular system in good shape.
• Mental Stimulation: Regular play and walks can help prevent boredom, which can lead to destructive behaviours.
• Socialization: Regular exercise often includes interactions with other dogs and people, which helps your puppy learn appropriate social behaviours.
• Behavioural Benefits: Puppies with sufficient exercise tend to be better behaved. They are less likely to engage in unwanted behaviours like chewing, barking, or digging due to excess energy.
How Much Exercise Does a Puppy Need Based on Their Age?
The amount of exercise your puppy needs will depend on their age. Puppies’ energy levels and stamina increase as they grow, so it’s important to adjust their exercise routine accordingly.
Puppies (8-12 Weeks):
At this age, puppies are still in the early stages of development. Their primary exercise should be focused on play and short, gentle walks.
• Exercise Time: 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day. For example, a 3-month-old puppy should have around 15 minutes of exercise per session.
• Type of Exercise: Short walks, supervised playtime in the yard, or indoors. Puppies at this age are still learning coordination, so be gentle and avoid overly strenuous activities.
Adolescent Puppies (3-6 Months):
As your puppy grows, their energy levels will start to increase, but they still have a lot of growing to do.
• Exercise Time: Increase exercise time to 10 minutes per month of age, twice a day. A 5-month-old puppy may need up to 30 minutes of exercise.
• Type of Exercise: Longer walks, play sessions, and short runs are suitable. Start to introduce more structured training sessions to help with their behaviour and coordination.
Older Puppies (6-12 Months):
By the time your puppy is 6-12 months old, they’ll have a lot more energy and stamina, but they’re still not fully grown.
• Exercise Time: 30 to 60 minutes per day, split into two sessions.
• Type of Exercise: More structured walks, runs, hikes, and interactive games. You can start to introduce activities like fetch and obedience training. However, be careful not to overdo it, especially with large breeds that are still developing their joints.
Bark Busters can help you develop safe, age-appropriate training activities that align with your puppy’s energy level.
How Much Exercise Does My Puppy Need Based on Their Breed?
While age is a significant factor in determining how much exercise your puppy needs, breed plays a role too. Some puppies are naturally more active than others, while some breeds are more laid-back. Here’s a general breakdown (remember individual dogs may have slightly different needs!):
High-Energy Breeds:
Breeds like Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, and Australian Shepherds need more exercise to burn off their excess energy. These breeds thrive on regular, intense activity and require both physical and mental stimulation.
• Exercise Needs: 1 to 2 hours of exercise per day, split into multiple sessions.
• Best Activities: Fetch, long walks, runs, agility training, and mentally stimulating games like puzzle toys.
Moderate-Energy Breeds:
Breeds like Golden Retrievers, Beagles, and Cocker Spaniels need moderate exercise to stay healthy. They are generally happy with a mix of mental and physical stimulation.
• Exercise Needs: 1 hour of exercise per day.
• Best Activities: Walks, jogs, and light play sessions. These breeds also enjoy mentally engaging games, such as scent work and trick training.
Low-Energy Breeds:
Breeds like Old English Bulldogs, or Basset Hounds, typically don’t require as much exercise as their higher-energy counterparts. However, they still benefit from daily activity to prevent obesity and keep them healthy.
• Exercise Needs: 30 minutes to 1 hour of exercise per day.
• Best Activities: Short walks, light playtime, and occasional gentle indoor games.
Tips for Exercising Your Puppy Safely
While exercise is essential, overdoing it can lead to injuries or long-term health issues for your puppy, especially if they’re still growing. Here are some tips to ensure safe exercise:
• Avoid Intense Exercise: Puppies have developing joints, so avoid prolonged running on hard surfaces like concrete and be mindful that a very small puppy may need to be carried up/down stairs at first, especially during early growth stages.
• Monitor for Signs of Fatigue: Puppies do not always know when to stop. Watch for signs like a reluctance to continue. However, just like small children, puppies will often get more excitable as they tire out. (Think how small children can get a little loopy or cranky before bedtime). Know when to put an end to playtime and allow your pup to rest.
• Gradual Increase: Slowly increase the intensity and duration of your puppy’s exercise routine. Let them build stamina over time to avoid overwhelming their developing muscles and joints.
• Hydration: Ensure your puppy has access to fresh water, especially during exercise. Puppies can get dehydrated faster than adults, so keep them hydrated during play and walks.
How to Keep Your Puppy Engaged When They Are Inside
When the weather isn’t ideal for outdoor exercise, or if your puppy is too young for long walks, indoor activities can keep them mentally and physically engaged.
• Interactive Toys and Puzzle Games: Toys that dispense treats or require problem-solving are perfect for keeping your puppy’s mind active.
• Training Sessions: Winter is a great time to focus on obedience training, especially as you and your puppy are spending more time indoors. However, training can be challenging for new puppy parents, especially when you’re not sure where to start or how to structure sessions effectively. This is where Bark Busters can help
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much exercise does my 8-week-old puppy need?
A1: At 8 weeks old, your puppy needs 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day. This means about 10 minutes of play or walk time per session.
Q2: How can I tell if my puppy is getting enough exercise?
A2: This can be a tricky one! Don’t overdo it. Puppies don’t have an ‘off’ switch all the time, and can appear to need to keep going. Don’t let this trick you into overdoing it (see below)
A good way to tell is: if you stop engaging, they will fall asleep (ideally in their safe space).
Q3: Can too much exercise harm my puppy?
A3: Yes, over-exercising your puppy can lead to joint stress, fatigue, and potential injuries, especially before they are fully grown. Always stick to age-appropriate exercise limits.
Q4: What’s the best way to exercise a large breed puppy?
A4: Large breed puppies like Labradors or German Shepherds need moderate exercise and should avoid high-impact activities like running on hard surfaces or until they’re older. Focus on low-impact walks, and gentle play sessions.
Key Takeaways
• Puppies need age-appropriate exercise to ensure healthy development.
• Gradually increase exercise intensity and duration to match their growing stamina.
• Breeds with higher energy needs require more vigorous daily activity than low-energy breeds.
• Safe, supervised indoor activities can help keep puppies engaged when outdoor exercise isn’t possible.
By understanding your puppy’s exercise needs based on their age, breed, and energy levels, you can ensure they grow up healthy, happy, and well-behaved. If you need expert help with training and behaviour, Bark Busters is here to support you with in-home, personalized training for your puppy.