How much exercise does my dog need - 5 tips for fun, games and fitness

• It prevents obesity and promotes physical health.
• It provides mental exercise and more satisfaction.
• It prevents behavioural problems such as excessive barking or destructiveness, as your dog is more balanced.
• Regular walks, training and play sessions strengthen the bond between you and your four-legged friend.
• It supports healthy digestion and ensures a good metabolism.
• It improves the quality of your dog's sleep.

Does my dog need more exercise? You should know these signs

If your dog displays one or more of these behaviours, you should take notice:

• Frequently begs for attention.
• Destroys furniture or objects in the house.
• Barks excessively or for no apparent reason.
• Roams around the house at night.
• Pulls strongly on the lead.
• Picks over rubbish.
• Is overweight or has less stamina than before.

As with us humans, exercise ensures that your dog can work off all his energy and thus becomes more balanced. Your four-legged friend wants to be able to run and romp freely instead of just lying at home all the time.

Breed-related differences in exercise requirements

In principle, however, there are also breed-specific differences. Depending on the purpose for which your dog was bred, it may need more or less exercise in order to be fully utilised:

• Working dogs such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds or German Shepherds were bred for endurance work and generally need 2 to 3 hours of exercise a day.
• Hunting dogs such as beagles, setters or pointers have a strong urge to move and should be active for at least 1.5 to 2 hours a day.
• Terriers were also bred for hunting and are usually full of energy. Despite their small size, they need about 1 to 1.5 hours of exercise a day.
• Social dogs such as Pugs, French Bulldogs or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels often manage with 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise.
• Giant dogbreeds such as Great Danes, Mastiffs and Newfoundlands are deceptive because of their size - they often have a lower activity requirement than you would expect.

A helpful rule of thumb is that: An adult dog should get about 5 minutes of exercise per kilogramme of body weight per day. A 20kg dog therefore needs about 1 hour and 40 minutes of exercise per day. However, please bear in mind that these are only guidelines. Even within a breed, individual exercise requirements can vary greatly.

1. adapt exercise to age and state of health

Puppies (up to approx. 1 year): A puppy needs at least 5 minutes of continuous exercise per month of life - twice a day. A three-month-old puppy should therefore not be walked for more than 15 minutes at a time, but several times a day. A short walk every 3 to 4 hours is also recommended for house-training.

Adult dogs: Adult dogs need regular, longer exercise sessions. Ideally, you should divide the total exercise time into several units throughout the day. It is best to walk your dog at least twice a day for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. There should also be an extended play session once a day.

Seniors: For older dogs, make walks more pleasant by choosing smooth, flat surfaces such as pavements or paved paths. Avoid steep slopes that can strain their joints. Swimming is a wonderful exercise option for dogs with hip dysplasia or orthopaedic problems, as it is easy on the joints and still improves cardiovascular health.

2. fun and games for physical and mental exercise

A long walk alone is not enough, because your dog also wants to be challenged. The best exercise for dogs therefore combines physical activity with a mental challenge.

Advantages of combined exercise:

• Your dog is more balanced as he can work off all his physical and mental energy.
• It promotes your dog's mental fitness. 
• Joint activities strengthen the bond between you and your dog.
• Search games or short training sessions where you teach your dog tricks are ideal. Just half an hour of intensive play and training is often enough to tire your dog out effectively.

Integrate dog exercise into your own everyday life

Let's be honest: many people do far too little exercise themselves. The great advantage of having a dog is that it gets you out walking and doing activities together. Exercise is not only good for your dog, but also for you.

In addition to extensive walks, your dog can also accompany you on these activities:

• Jogging
• Cycling → only with a well-trained dog
• Walks at the weekend
• Dog sports such as agility, flyball or tracking work
• Visits to the dog park to socialise with other dogs

5. pay attention to the weather

Rain, snow, sun - all no problem, but extreme temperatures can be a problem for your dog. You should therefore adjust your dog's exercise sessions and walks according to the season and the weather, especially in:

• heat above 25°C
• very low temperatures
• short-snouted breeds (brachycephalic)
• old dogs or dogs in poor health
  
  

Summer: Move walks to the early morning or late evening hours, offer water games and always take plenty of drinking water with you.

Winter: Shorter, but more frequent walks and more activity indoors.

Remember: If it is too hot or too cold for you to exercise outside, it is usually too hot or too cold for your dog.

When exercising with a dog, mistakes are often made unintentionally that can lead to over- or underchallenging:

1. individual needs are ignored

Not every dog is the same. This makes it all the more important that you observe your dog closely: Does your dog display unwanted behaviour such as destructiveness or excessive barking despite regular exercise? Does your dog still seem hyper and restless after a walk? Or, on the contrary, is he exhausted and takes a long time to recover? All these signs indicate that you should adjust the amount or type of exercise. Your dog either needs more or less exercise.

2. Puppies and young dogs are overtaxed

A common mistake is to exercise puppies and young dogs too intensively too early:

• Please refrain from longer walks and jogging laps.
• Avoid climbing stairs and high jumps.

 3. Physical signals are overlooked

• Panting that does not stop when the dog is resting.
• Dragging of the hind legs or a change in gait.
• Unwillingness to walk or sit/lie down. Abrupt changes in behaviour during exercise. If these signs occur, you should stop the activity immediately and consult a vet if necessary.

There is no generalised answer to the question ‘How much exercise does my dog need?’. As the owner, you know your dog best and should observe him closely. This is the only way you can pay attention to his individual needs.

The basic rule is: a combination of physical activity, mental exercise and social interaction forms the basis for a balanced, healthy and happy dog.

Our recommendations for a busy dog:

🐾 For a comfortable walk: Pro-Training Hands-Free Leash - the perfect leash for active dog owners who want to have both hands free.
🐾 For water fun in summer: Aquafoam Shark - robust and buoyant toy for active water games.
🐾 For small rewards on the go: Pro-Training Treat Pouch - the practical food pouch for treats and valuables.
 🐾 For exercise-hungry treats: Schulze's Best Bites - high-quality treats for effective exercise training.