How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?
You know that you should get at least 10,000 steps a day to stay active and combat common health issues, but are there similar recommendations when it comes to exercise for dogs? Is there a specific number of steps your dog should be taking, like you? When it comes to exercise for dogs, pet parents can have a lot of questions. We all want to take the absolute best care of our pups, but it can be tough. Between conflicting answers and our busy schedules, we may not be able to do as much as we’d like. With our tips and help from doggy daycare, we think we’ll be able to help!
Determining How Much Exercise Your Dog Needs
When discussing exercise for dogs, you need to keep in mind that every dog is unique. However, there are some general guidelines for exercise that will depend on a few different factors, which we’ll discuss below.
Your Dog’s Breed
One of the most important factors that will determine how much exercise your dog will need is his breed. This is why it’s so important to do research on dog breeds before bringing a dog into your family.
Working breeds like Huskies, Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, and Boxers are known for having very high energy levels. These breeds may need more than 2 hours of exercise every day, in addition to mental stimulation throughout the day, to remain happy and well-behaved.
Other dogs have medium energy levels and need somewhere around 1-2 hours of exercise every day, along with mental stimulation. These breeds include Newfoundlands, Cocker Spaniels, Shiba Inus, and Dachshunds.
Some dogs with lower energy levels – who still require exercise and mental stimulation, just not as much – include French Bulldogs, Basset Hounds, Mastiffs, and English Bulldogs.
Your Dog’s Age
Dogs have different exercise needs at different stages of their life. Puppies tend to have a lot of energy, but usually in short bursts, while an adult dog might be able to maintain longer stretches of exercise. Once a dog reaches his senior years, he starts to slow down and won’t need as much exercise as he did when he was 5 years old.
Your Dog’s Health
If your dog has a health condition or an injury, this will affect how much exercise he needs or should get. In fact, he’ll probably need less exercise than he usually would. Even when you have a high-energy pup, it’s important to let him rest while he recovers from an injury or illness. You’ll probably get recommendations from your vet regarding how much rest he’ll need, so stick to what your vet tells you.
Your Schedule
Even once you’ve determined how much exercise your dog needs, your personal schedule will play a role. Long workdays, family schedules, and other commitments can make getting our dogs 1-2 hours of exercise a day difficult.
There are a few different options for anyone with a busy schedule, but one of the best ways to exercise your dog is at doggy daycare! Daycare at Fon Jon Pet Care will allow your dog to get all of his energy out while playing with other dogs, our staff, ramps, kiddie pools, and other fun activities. At the end of the day, your pup will return home tired and happy, having gotten all the exercise he needs for the day.
When it comes to exercise for dogs, you know what’s best for your dog, but most dogs benefit from dog daycare at least a couple of times a week.
Just remember that when it comes to dog care services, Fon Jon Pet Care is here to help. With more than 70 years of experience providing top-quality dog boarding, dog grooming, dog daycare, and dog training in San Diego County, we have what it takes to help you keep your pup healthy and happy!
If your dog isn’t currently registered with us, we welcome you to contact us or register online. You can also schedule an appointment to meet with us and get answers to any questions you may have about our services.
