Daily exercise is good for both your pooch’s mental and physical well-being. Exercise can help your baby dog avoid arthritis and other problems with his joints later on in life. Dogs are also prone to the same types of obesity-related illnesses as humans, so exercise is crucial to helping them keep off the pounds.
Puppies need exercise for mental stimulation. Moving around keeps them from becoming bored. Many owners find that taking their dogs out for regular outdoor play and walks cuts down on behavioral issues like incessant chewing and digging and nonstop barking that make owners want to pull their hair out.
How Much is Enough?
Make sure you’re consistent with the amount of exercise your puppy gets. You need to help him build his stamina, and the only way he can do this is by exercising regularly but with caution.
The amount of exercise your puppy needs depends on his age, breed and medical condition. Not every breed will be up for a long walk. Some breeds are just not built to go the distance, while others are always ready to romp.
Puppies need five minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice a day. In other words, a 3-month-old puppy will need 15 minutes of exercise while a 4-month-old will need 20 minutes. This may take the form of low-impact activities like swimming or playing with small dog exercise balls. You can also take your puppy out for short walks on a leash. However, if he starts to sit down, give him time to rest. If he does not start walking again, you may have to carry him home.
Most adult dogs should participate in some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes and up to two hours every day. Your puppy’s genetics will determine when it’s time to move her up to adult dog exercise. If she won’t get any larger than 25 pounds then she can start at around 9 months. If she’ll end up weighing between 25 to 100 pounds it’s best to wait until she’s at least 14 months old. If she’ll be tipping the scale at 100 pounds or more, you can introduce these activities to her when she is at least a year and a half old.
So, how will your pooch feel after exercising? Pretty much the same as you and I feel after a great workout. Taking your puppy on a nice short walk or letting him play in the yard translates to a calmer dog that will more than likely sleep very well that night.
