Yes, dogs should be very active during the day, but for how long? Often we are wrong in thinking how much exercise our dog needs per day. If it doesn’t get tired even after a very long walk, it may need a few more miles. If it sticks out the tongue after several fetches, then we should stop.
The answer to the question of how much a dog needs to exercise is individual. We should consider factors such as the breed, age, and health of our pet. Also, we should not neglect the conditions that concern us, like do we always have time and whether we can train our dog in the right way.
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Why Dog Should Exercise?
Each dog has the specific anatomy to which you should adjust the level of its activities during the day. They like being active, not just lying and eat. Dogs who get used to this way of life can suffer from the same diseases like people who behave likewise: diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart problems, etc.
Another problem that regular exercise can regulate is hyperactivity in dogs. If you notice that your pet destroys its toys, bites the furniture, and scratches the walls, it’s a clear sign that there is a lot of energy it doesn’t channel in the right way.
Walking is not the only form of exercise. Your pup will burn all that energy if you just let it stroll around the yard. You need to change its habits to become more active. You also have to participate in and control its movement so you can achieve the maximum together.
Another problem that daily exercise routine can regulate is hyperactivity in dogs(1). If you notice that your pet destroys its toys, bites the furniture, and scratches the walls, it’s a clear sign that there is a lot of energy it doesn’t channel in the right way.
Some examples of indoor exercises find in this video:
Exercising Length Depending on Factors
Experts agree that adult dogs need at least an hour of activity per day(2). For more active, “sports” and hunting breeds, even more. A dog that burns enough energy over the day will behave better than a lazy, inactive dog. Exercising length depends on various factors, and you’ll find the explanation below.
Breed Size
Small breeds which are classified as toy dogs (Shih Tzus, Pomeranian, and so on) are generally less active, and there is no need for too many running and exercise. Sometimes it’s enough for them to walk around and give them some plaything to animate them.
This can be the case with giant breeds, like Mastiffs, who are not known for their energy. They definitely won’t play fetch with you. These dogs don’t like to run unless they really have to. So provide them with a long daily walk, approximately an hour or two.
On the other hand, there are small breeds that are real furry energy balls, like terriers and beagles. Since many of them stay indoors for a long time, they need at least an hour of activity per day. They enjoy running, chasing, and searching for hidden things.
Breed Type
The dog breeds meant for guarding and used, for example, in the army or the police, require a lot of exercises. These are breeds like Stafford, Cane Corso, or Malinois, whose anatomy is very muscular and strong.
These dogs can train swimming to preserve the health of the bone structure, then walking and running (on the treadmill or with the owner while jogging or riding a bike), and jumps. Daily is recommended between an hour and hour and half of various exercises.
Hunting dogs must be in good shape(3). Due to conditions in which they are used, swimming, running, and fetch are recommended. Daily training routine training is a must. When you can’t take your dog to the training area, you can let them run in the yard for half an hour, and another half an hour you can play fetch.
Dogs like Pugs or Corgis shouldn’t exercise much. Due to the specific structure of their face and legs, their breath is shorter than in other breeds. In addition to the daily walk, you can give them to play with balls and toys every couple of hours. They quickly get tired and need a lot of time to rest.
Puppy, Adult or Senior
Aging is a natural process for every living creature. As dogs get older, they lose energy, strength and their reflexes become weaker, so you have to adjust the level and length of training to their age. While they are still in young age, exercise should be dosed.
To keep your dog healthy and vital as long as possible, they should exercise every day, from the age of several months to the senior years. When they get old, short walks before bedtime or in the morning after breakfast will be enough.
The active dog won’t keep its physical performance only, but it’ll save cognitive abilities too. A dog that has exercising routine will avoid heart or digestive complications. Also, correct training activity is an excellent prevention of bone muscular disorders. And to keep your pet active, you should give it a good example.
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